The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-11-12

of militarism and the mists of false
hood and false sentiment which sur
rounded the achievements and the age
of Napoleon. The historian and the an
nalist are today laying bare the secret
motives and the hidden springs of
action that animated the men who then
controlled the destinies OF France.
for one, am able to find but little to
admire in that recital, but it thrills the
heart of every American to know that
the fierce light Of criticism discloses no
flaw in the private or public character
of Lafayette. The friend of Washing
! ton, Franklin and Jefferson remained
true in soul to the ideals of his youth,
| and the sword that he had drawn in de-
Tense of the liberty of America was
never drawn against the liberty of
France. Above all the Frenchmen of
his day and generation he stood in that
awful time as the embodiment of cool,
common sense, the opponent of unneces-
sary bloodshed. the representative of
equilibrium between liberty and license.
He loved neither kings nor kingcraft,
but with heroism and constancy and at
the risk of life and fortune, he opposed
the excuses of Jacobinism and the
fierce doctrines of the revolution. To
him as commander-in-chicf of the ma
tional guard, was committed the per-
Sonal safety Of the king and queen, and
legally he protected them from injury
and violence. Driven from his own coun-
try by men who idly fancied that they
could teach to him the doctrines of
liberty and equality, he was imprisoned
for years in the dungeons of Germany
and Austria. Once having escaped with
the assistance of young American,
then resident of South Carolina, he
was recaptured and re-imprisoned. In
his behalf Gen. Washington wrote in
vain a pathetic appeal to the emperor
or Austria, begging that Lafayette be
released and allowed to come on parole
to America. Finally, on being released
and returning to France, Napoleon fruit
lessly sought to procure his allegiance
by Offers of title and position. When
Napoleon fell. Lafayette was called
from the quiet of private life and for
several years served as a member Of
the chamber of deputies. In the even
ing of his long life he was the recipient
OF an honor perhaps the greatest of his
singuarly brilliant career. A resolu-
Inv no ~,
ed States, by unanimous vote, re-
qucsted President Monroe to invite La
stirred the heart OF this venerable man
on re-visiting the scenes of his early
life? Almost half a century had passed
away since the young officer rendered his
services to the young republic. When
he first visited America he was COM
PEELED to flee in secrecy from his own
land like a criminal and an outlaw.
he now came on the invitation of the
president of congress and amid the APP
pallse and admiration of the world. In
It'll he landed in South Carolina and
Travelled overland on horseback for the
period of month before reaching the
continental congress at Philadelphia.
In 1924 he landed in New York the
guest Of the nation, greeted with the
reverence and gratitude of the entire
people. The half century of his alb
sence had been fraught with momen-
tous events for the government which
he had helped to institute. 1t was no
longer an experiment or temporary eX-
pcdient. The continental congress had
and that by the constitution The con-
stitution, interpreted by Marshall and
enforced by Washington, Jefferson,
Adams. Madison and Monroe had
proved itself strong enough and light
enough for the conservation of the
rights and liberties of the states as well
as the people. Instead of thirteen col
onies. he was met by the representatives
of twenty-four sovereign and equal
states. AS the people greeted him in all
the great cities of the country, he mar
vcled at the wondrous development Of
this new land. He remembered with
pride that only ten years before the
navy of the United States had success
fully disputed with Great Britain for
the title of mistress Of the seas, and
had taught the nations of the world to
admire and respect the flag that in
his earlier day hung humbly over the
starving camps and ragged battalions
OF the patriot army. In peace and in
war. America had made rapid strides,
and her future was secure forever. All
this Lafayette saw and understood, but
he saw more than material prosperity,
than earthly wealth, than great cities
and powerful states. He saw nation
which had remained true to the ideals
Of its founders and had vindicated the
doctrines of liberty and equality for
which Jefferson wrote and Washington
fought. Mans ability for self govern
ment had been demonstrated, the peo-
pie had shown that they were fit for
power. the new and startling dogma of
mans equality before the law had been
fixed and made staple forever Amid
the solemn thoughts that filled tho
heart Of the great Frenchman, as he
stood by the grave at Mount Vernon,
may we not believe that that heart