Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-07-29
The Mission OF benjamin Franklin
That Resulted Ira Hn alliance he
tween the Countries

not as yet ready to aDi:ucNic,'-
independence. aEl Ey SO doing L.
woke 4 conflict wiz. .! Great f:vii:;,:.
war. thus far. hch GO, 80. ~:
news OF the IL Li:s... ..t ii. &c
Observation-Disclosures wisely at Trcn.
ton-had taken five t.oi....s 10 reach
France, SO difficult N:.s il e escape
from the British cruisers watc:.in. our
coasts.
Some muskets and n private loan of
S4Oo,OOO were secured, AVID single VOL
unteers were plenty. To ti~!it fer
America became with the young
French mobiles What nowadays VIC
should cal! n FIAT" Franklin .?as he
sieged by requests 20 be officer, in or
army, or for letters of recommends
ton to congress. and he was at his
wits end to refuse with kindness, so
that he should not make promises of
rank hat he could not fulfill.
In contrast 20 many of these re-
quests at this time stands Lafa yette's
generous offer of money, arms, and
his life if need be, without promise of
rank or reward; but the French gov
eminent still withheld it's aid, waiting
Tor some decided victory to prove to
the nations of Europe that the united
olonics stood some chance of winning
their liberty.
During this winter of darkness for
freedoms cause. Franklin must plav
his part in the gay world OF Paris. To
make friends for our country was his
constant aim: her cnemics lie dcfcd.
n ~cvcrywhpre he expressed his GER
tnintS NJ thn E,,n1 fr;,,, r -
in the struggle.
we have al heard Of TIE thrasc:
"IAHS" are II Times that g.. ,,;":':,
souls These words were used al inst
this time by Thomas Paine. Who vTcta
n series OF articles On thr American
war. Fer ": i!c il was d.: i~.',.l on
u Side or ~" ocean,. il sv""-rG $50 -
II no naticC abroad wn.ii helm us.
~Fran!GiH cont his :,%Eoci.tc+. Lee and
Dean". to-? "aU:i~of Sr:.i. aud i'rug-
STA for" -. ..i:t neither Was dis:osed to
take the rs; step.
DiP:u:.a2y among nations is often
a tcf.l;:S and selfish proceeding.
Meanwhile the doctor G:,i what Er
could toward acmiig s@,::3G aYd MAJ
ing easier the LOT IF ~pTi"rG,:H Of war
ABROAD. AS 10 IN" i fps. - w:i< .omc-
what successful. and WAS g...IiiicI by
his success; for iIe was ca.vg 10 rive
England some OF the t~reafr!cn the
colonies had received from her men-cr-
n
All of these matters kept the envoy
very busy-so much so. that his grand
son Temple was obliged TO act as his
secretary. and the idea OF his going to
n university was given up. At Iasl
came the sunshine through the clouds,
for the Wise Providence that guides
the affairs of nations as we'll as of men
brought about the surrender of Bur-
goyne and his army in October, 1777,
after the battle OF Saratoga.
The news was dispatched with all
haste to Il representatives abroad.
Massachusetts scnL the glad tidings by
special messenger. q youn~ Mr.. Austin.
BcfG"" t:;i departure. a layer was Of
fcrcH. from the pulI.it of n church in
Bostor-tHe !Hi3istsr, it is said, being
so absorbed !. praying especially that
h dispatches might be delivered that
he mad" 40 mention of the messenger!
In a little over n month, however,
both messenger and packet arrived in
'"' NsItn lS uIONt
into the courtyard of the Hotel Valcn-
tinois was n memorable one.
Our representative had received
word of his landing, but knew nothing
of the nature Of his news. AS the
chaise dashed up to the group around
the door, and the messenger elighted,
DR.. Franklin grasped his hand, X
claiming:
Il 49,.
"Sir, is Philadelphia taken?.
"Yes, sir" was Austin's reply.
Then the old statesman wrung his
hands in disappointment and had be-
gun to return in sadness to the house
when the messenger cried:
"But. sir, | have greater news than
that! Gen. BurEoyne and his whole
army are prisoners of warl"
Temple carried the news to the
French prime minister, Comte de Yer
gennes, and n few days later ii private
interview took place at Versailles.
! About n wear from Tho IopJ;,r ~