Evening journal., 1898-10-15
THAr FIRlENOEIMlAN.

jlctors OF enterprises to make use OF
the schools to secure from the parents,
through the children, donations, little
or big, to swell the funds required TO
carry such enterprises to a successful
issue, still, there are exceptions, and
the Lafayette memorial movement is
one Of them. No man is more deserv-
ing of a memorial at the hands OF this
nation, and the rising generation of
a great and free republic which the
patriotic Frenchman helped to found
should be permitted to play practical
and potent part in the movement tor
which October 10 has been set apart
from one end Of the United States 70
the other.
Lafayette was Fronchman OF gem
tie birth. lie was titled nobleman
and married the daughter OF a duke.
He was a member of the kings guaros
in liza, and his family connections and
the character ofhisassociationsa and SER
vice would naturally have led him to
be a staunch supporter of royalty. But
I'M 1776 he offered his sword TO the
struggling colonies. Silas Deane, the
American commissioner in Paris, prom
ised him a major generals COM
mission. The young marquis bought
Ship fitted it out, selected his COM
rades and was on the eve OF sailing
for the United States when the French
government, at the instance Of the Brit
ish government. had him arrested. His
ship sailed without him. He afterwards
escaped to Spain, boarded his snip,
eluded the pursuing British cruisers,
and landed in South Carolina, the voy-
age having consumed two months.
when lafayette reached Philadel-
phia the Continental Congress was In
disposed to live up to Silas Deane's
promises. claiming that he had exceed
ed his authority. He Immediately Of
fered to serve as q volunteer without
pay. Congress. wishing to form an al
lance with France, and appreciaung
the substantial pecuniary assistance
which was offered, issued the prom
ised commission on July 81, 1877, and
Lafayette was attached to Washing
toms staff. becoming a member OF his
military family. AT the battle OF the
Brandywine. but few miles from this
city, he was shot in the leg. On the
recommendation OF Washington he was
made a general OF division ana, Tor MIS-
conduct at Monmouth IN ITS received
the thanks of Congress.
That same year France declared wal
against England and the young no
bleman was sent to France on a mas
sion which resulted in the securemen'
of material aid. He returned to Amer
lea, participated in the defense or Vir
ginia. and took an honorable part Il
the signal victory which resulted IL
the surrender of Lord Cornwallis II
1881. To provide his men with necee
saries he borrowed money from M
own bankers.
American independence having beel
established and peace declared, Lafay
cite returned to France and played
prominent and honorable part in IN
stupendous political upheavals whc
racked that unfortunate country 10
several years. We arc told by his b
ographers that he entered political nj
IN 1857 as a member of the chambe
Of notables, Of which he was an nereu
tary member. That body gave piaC
10 the states-general, and Lafayette, O
July II, 1889, presented to the nations
assembly, the outgrowth Of the state
general. a declaration Of the rights 4,
man. This was adopted and markC
an important step in the great revolt
tionary movement. He was made con
mandant of the Partisan militia ana a
terward Of the entire national guard
France. which numbered 100000
men. For a time he was the idol OF Il
French people. A consistent repub
can, friend OF order and a devot
VI NAANAAes TX AOA AhN AltAN oaNNA VI
lives Of the king and the queen, al
but for the hatred of the reactionari
and the intrigues of the court par
might have succeeded in averting 0
tragedy CT 1892. He resigned his col
mission on July IA, 1890, the frst a
niversary of the destruction OF the B,
tile and was a candidate for {
mayoralty of Paris, but was defeated
the intrigues of Marie Antoinette a
the nob;esse. In the Winter OF 1871
he was given command of an arr
corps to repel the invasion Of the Al
trians. After the attack on the Tuilerl
June 16. 1892. he returned to Paris d
denounced the Jacabins at the bar
the assembly. The insurrection of
gust 10. 1892. gave the ascendency
the mountain party, and Lafayette '
deprived of his command. To csc
his enemies he 1odto Liege and fell /
the hands of the Austrians, who
a.