The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-20

Lafayette at ST. JOseph's Acad-
emv He Recommends That En-
tangIing Alliances Be Avoided,
but Uncle Sam Should Take No
Back Seat Among the Nations.
Lafayette day was duly observed yes
terday in response to the suggestions
OF the Lafayette monument commits
SIGN.
There were services in honor Of
Americas French compatiot in the
various schools of the city, and at the
instance of Gov. Cough the offices at
the capitol were closed during the aft
ernOOn.
AT st. Joseph's academy last night
there were also exercises of a patriotic
character, the chief feature being an
address by Daniel w. LAWYER, who elo-
QUently reviewed the career of Lafay-
cite and some Of his associates. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. LAWYER said:
In this connection there Is another thought
which ii might be well to express, not for the
purpose of evoking the latent hostility of
Americans TO any foreign power, but in or
der that the truth Of history be spoken and
claims Of International gratitude be admitted.
The United States is now a mighty force on
land and Within the past six months
our country has emerged from the isolation
of the past and in the cause of humanity
the American soldier and sailor have taught
the world that hencefOrth America must be
reckoned with in underworld affairs. With
power comes responsibility. Hitherto, in ODE
dience to all the dictates of prudence and the
traditions of the fathers, America has
Trained from participation in the disputes Of
the Old World. She has pursued the tenor
of her way without changing alliances, heed
ing neither friend nor foe beyond her borders.
! believs that the policy should be adhered
to, and that neither territory nor trade should
tempt lis from the teachings of Washington
and Jefferson, but I also believe that from
this time on the moral force of this nation
will be a mighty factor in the solution of
problems which are extensive civiliza-
ton itself The guns of Dewey and Of Schley
ushered in a new era of American activity
and opened up a new theater for American
craftsmanship. The nations realize that the
Republic Of the West has burst the letters of
provincialism. and they appreciate as never
before the mighty strength of their new COM
Pe'titor l speak not now of material power,
o. battle ships and cannon and ali the treas
ures of the earth, but l speak Of the keen
Intelligence and the courageous conscience
which energize the things Of earth and give
them vital force and irresistible power. A
few short months ago the carptng critic of our
institutions Rugged himself in the fond belief
that the sturdy vigOr of this people had been
sapped by the habits Of cOmmercialism and
that the heroic virtues of our sires had de-
generated to the vices of a colorless and I'M
romantic money getting. But when from
farm and factory, from metropolitan city and
rural village, from lumber camp and cattle
ranch came millionaire and cowboy and all
the flower CT the American people TO shed
their blood that human beings might be
free, We knew that the age of chivalry had
not passed, and that the heart of America
was uncorrupt And when the skill and Valor
of the American sailor shOne out over the
water of antipodal seas, when the American
soldier charged to victory on the heights Of
Santiago and before the ramparts Of Manila,
scOffers were turned TO suitors, and they who
before had pitied would now become c0nfed-
crates and allies. Is it not well to remember,
when alliance with that power from which We
won our freedom IS being discussed, that from
her came no proffer OF alliance in the days
Of our weakness and adversely but that from
the land of Lafayette came Rochambeau and
his 5000 soldiers to fight beneath our flag
until it waved in triumph over the defeated
battaliOns of CORVALLIS? 1t is said that re-
publcs are ungrateful but the time will
surely never come when the people of this
land Will forget the timely and unseIhSn AID
that in the infancy of their country came
from the gallant people Of France. To the
glory OF Lafayette it should also be remem-
bered that it was largely due to his personal
influence and energy at the court OF France
that the military force which has been re-
ferred to was sent to this country.
SiXty-four years have passed away since
Lafayette stepped forth from the things of
life but his name and fame grow brighter
as the years roll on. His name and fame are
forever linked with the sorry Of the Amer
lean Revolution. He is one of the founders
OF this republic That story shall never
fade away. and that republic shall, IN the
providence Of God, abide forever. With 1t
shall abide the memory Of the man whom
at this moment all America delights to hon
or. Never in any history that l have read
has there been recorded a parallel to the
scene which America this hour presents.
The pupils of the entire nation pause in their
accustomed round Of scholastic work to hon
this noble life and blessed memory. He
needs no monument; need it to show our
gratitude to him. Above his grave a shaft
will rise to tell the world that the children
1or1 hn low Cd of0d fnITeyF afn hnlH
him in remembrance green, but on this Gay
the children of that land have reared on
histOry's immortal plain monument more
lasting than brass, and higher than the re-
gal size Of lofty pyramids. The shaft of
marble will decay, but the mighty testi-
mCnial of a nations love, offered within the
sacred shrines where youth and innocence
are taught and trained, VIII endure in never
ending beauty and sublimity, so long an
American flag shall stream above the portals
OF an American school.
One word more. I thank your devoted
teachers for the privilege Of being able to
address you upon the subject of the day. It
Is high privilege, well as a pleasant
duty, to view with such an audience even a
vista Of the glCriOus history of country.
I do not detract from the value of your
other studies when l say that your minds
can have no more profitable and ennobling
occupation than the study Of the history of
your land. The deeper your studies be-
come the greater will be your love for this
free land and all its institutions. Be not
afraid of becoming too patriotic. have little
respect for that American, man or woman,
who for moment will admit that any other
land is as fair as this, that any other people
IS as true, that any other flag is as bright
] know that On every field of peace and war
America has achieved supremacy. Cicero
was no greater orator than Wendell Phillips
Demosthenes no nobler tribune than Daniel
Webster. Caesar and Hannibal were not
greater generals than Grant or Lee. The
Spartans at ThermOpylae won no brighter
laurels there than did the First Minnesota at
gettysburg. The Greeks who retreated with
Aenophon pale into insignifcance when
marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the
sea- Horatius at the bridge and Winkelried
at Sempach, gathering to his heart the Aus
TRAN spears will ever live to fire the BLOOD
of youth and valor, but for deeds as great