Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-06
MAX KLEIN

caused the destruction of great
amount of shipping, England denolnc
him in the most violent terms.
Cruising under rebel fiag-our same
Old Glory of to-day-and bearing a
commission from a traitorous govern
ment-that of our fathers-Britaln
branded him as traitor, pirate, a
rebel and felon. His destruction Of
shipping was denounced as crime.
against civilization. While making
these charges Great Britain was Civ
ing rewards to the savages on our FROM
tier for butchering the settlers, theit
wives and children. She had thou>
sand ships Of war, and many of these
patrOlled our coasts, burning our
towns, destroying our vessels and trans
porting our citizens to filthy prisons
in Great Britain, where many died
from brutal treatment. The greater
number of these citizens were exchang-
ed for prisoners taken with prizes that
were captured by Paul Jones along the
British coast.
After the close of our war of indie
pendence, there being no further need
OF active service. Jones, though still
retaining his citizenship, entered the
naval service of Russia with the rank
of rear admiral, subject, however, TO
recall by Congress. After serving with
distinction in the Baltic against the
Turks, he retired to Paris, where he died
at the age of As, on the 18th of July,
1892. Previous to his death he learned
of the indignities practiced upon Amer
leans held by the Algerians and he i'm
mediately made a protest to Congress
and was commissioned to proceed to
Algiers at once. but he died before
his commission reached him. During
his last hours he was attended by
Gouverneur Morris. u. S. minister to
France, who wrote his will. He was
buried in a lead casket in order that
his remains might be brought to Amer
ica-the land of his adoption.
Napoeon-a Corsican-in his will,
expressed a desire to be buried on the
banks Of the Seine, among the French
people that | loved SO well" The
French, with commendable patriotism,
brought his remains from distant Hell
ena and placed them in the present
tomb at the Tuvalides amid ceremonies
of uneuqalled pomp and magnificance.
Yet, from forgetfulness, born perhaps
of that ''ingratitude of republics" the
ashes of one of our most glorious
heroes have been allowed to rest for
more than a hundred years in a forgot
ten grave-in a foreign land mot a
tomb marks his last resting place-not
a blossom is placed above his ashes on
Memorial day. Although a Scotchman
by birth, Paul Jones was essentially an
American, as he himself said from his
thirteenth year. When invested by
Catherine of Russia with the ribbon of
the order of st. Anne, he, as an Amer
lean citizen, received permission
through Mr.. Jefferson to wear it. Be-
side this favor from an European ma
ton, he received others. He was pen
stoned by Denmark, received the Or
der of Merit from France. and from
Louis XVII he received a sword bear
ing on its gold and jeweled scabbard
the intertwined flags of the two ma
tons. He received the thanks of our
Congress and gold medal was stuck
in his honor.
In our present naval hero worship
our awakening to the glories of the
heroes of the sea-does it not seem that
we should have the ashes of this father
of American naval glory among us?
For what Lafayette was to our army,
even more to our navy was John Paul
Jones. BARON JONES.