The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-10-11
IN HONOR OF A HERO.
School Children Will Raise a Mon
ument to La Fayette.
October 10 Has Been Set Aside As
''La Fayette Day" by the
Governors of the Diff
ferent States.
Especial Correspondence

On the 10Th day of this month the
students and school children all over
these United States will unite in do
ing honor to one of the greatest and
most beloved heroes of all history.
The governors of the different states
have issued proclamations setting
aside October 10 as LA Fayette day"
in all the schools and educational in
Stitutions of the country. This is in
compliance with a request from the
special La Fayette memorial commits
| sion organized by the commission-gen-
eral of the United States to the Paris
exposition and in response to the warm
| and earnest personal recommendation
of President Mckinley. On this spe-
| cial day exercises of a patriotic nature
will be held in all the institutions of
| learning throughout the land, recall
| ing the days of our early struggle fer
| liberty and the connection of generous
and boyish La Fayette Herewith, con-
tributions to be made at the same time
| by the students and children to the
fund which is to erect a monument 10
the gallant hero's memory.
The following letter has been issued
from the executive mansion by Presi
| dent Mckinley recommending the
movement to the educational officials
and youth and school children of the
country:
"Your letter, written in behalf of the La
| Fayette memorial commission, has greatly
| interested me, and have read with much
| satisfaction the plans already outlined for
| the proposed monument to the memory Of
| a great soldier and patriot.
THE undertaking is one in which I am
| sure it will be considered a privilege to
| participate, and the idea that the students
| In the schools, colleges and universities
shall take a prominent part in this tribute
| will not only be of vast educational value
| as one of the most important epochs in
| history, but will keep prominent before
| them the inspiration of high ideal of de-
| votion to great principles and of the pub
| lie recognition paid to lofty purposes.
"Gen. La Fayette was but a young man
when he espoused the cause of liberty and
| independence, overcoming well-nigh in
| surmountable obstacles to do so. 1t is all
| together fitting, therefore, that the youth
| of America should have part in this tes-
| timonial to his goodness and greatness.
| 81 am glad to note that your committee
| has fixed a date when our people, in every
| part of the country, may testify their in
| terest in this proposed monument and their
| determination that the movement already
J begun shall achieve the greatest success.
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM M'KINLEY''
La Fayette, a boy of 10, gave up all
| Lis prospects of wealth and high posi-
/ ton in France to come to the aid of
this country when it was struggling
for liberty, and that in its very darkest
hour. 1t was when report came to
Europe of great American losses and
reverses and English victories that La
Fayette started out, and, in spite of
| the direct mandate of the French king
and the protests of his wealthy rela-
tives and royal friends, and notwith-
standing arrest and delay and all con-
| ceivable obstacles which were put in
his way, set sail with IL picked COM
panions for American shores. When
| this black news came from the patriot
camp he said: ''Then, the more do
they need me-" and after much diff
Guilty escaped in disguise over the
| French border into Spain and there
| set sail.
He had been promised by Silas Deane,
the American representative in Paris,
a commission as major general in the
patriot army. When congress dissent
ed to this on account of his age and in
experience, La Fayette, who was wait
ing without, sent in word that he be
| permitted to enter the army as pri-
vate and without pay. From this mo-
ment to the end of the revolutionary
war this young Frenchman was one of
the most ardent and able champions
of the patriot cause. He Immediately
became Washington's dearest friend
and engaged with him in many of the
councils which led to the final colonial
victories. Monmouth, Brandywine.
Baron Hill and Yorktown were scenes
of his exploits on the field. His aid
to America. however. in this trying
time was not confined TO vaior alone.
He was instrumental in securing the
patriots success in a more material
way. Through him ii was that the
| alliance with France was finally Sc
cured which brought the turning point
of the revolution. La Fayette, by his
| influence in Paris. did possibly more
than any other agency to induce the
French king TO take up arms with us
against tyrannic England. 1t was
through La Fayette's agency also that
the colonies secured that famous loan
of 27,OOO.OOO livres from the French
government. of which that nation said
later in regard to its payment: "Of the
q, OOO,O we have loaned You We for
give you 100000 as a gift of friend
ship. and when with the years there
comes prosperity you can pay the rest
! without interest"
Washington's friendship for La
| Fayette continued throughout life,
and formed one of the greatest exam
Piles of mutual attachment in he>his-
tory Of great men, and both he and
his successors unit, the death of La
Fayette let no opportunity pass to
| do the noble Frenchman honor. Upon
| the occasion of his visit to this coun-
| +rv nfter American indie Oendence had