Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20

ginia He clothed his followers and fed
them. Ten thousand pairs of shoes were
paid for from his own pocket. He drilled
his army and borrowed money to equip 1t.
After a while he went away, but returned
in few months with fleets of warships and
splendid armies of French soldiers, the best
in Europe who marched side by side with
the ragged continentals under Washington,
showing them the greatest kindness and
respect, and paying from their private
means for everything our country people
gave them. They fought and bled and died
with US that we might be free
who was this young man SO rich and
powerful that he could equip an army from
his own pocket-and who could influence
the King of France to send his armies and
fleets here to fight for US? Who was this
young man who left a beautiful wife, a
pa1atial home, fortune and fame in his own
land to help people he had scarcely heard
of before? Who was he? He is called the
knight of Liberty" He should be en-
shrined in the heart of every American as
the ideal patriot-his name was Lafayette.
ITO build in the land of his birth a me-
mortal to Lafayette is something more than
the rearing of mere structure of bronze
and granite to the memory of an indi-
vidual. 1t IS the erection of monument
to our own ideals. 1t is challenge to the
world of the success and fruition of the
republic 1t is an answer to the prayer of
him to whom it shall be dedicated.
1.-The opening of the twentieth century
shall be by the final success of this project
heraded to the world as a promised era of
good fellowship and brotherly love-upon a
foundation wrought by the songs of chill
dren, the praise of lips we love and of
hearts we adore. we present to France, our
great sister republic, lasting emblem of
the gratitude OF people neither too young
to be Indifferent nor too old to forget.
THE dedication of this monument shall
be suspicious au curry of that eternal
spirit of liberty which today and forever
lights the pathway of mankind onward and
upward to goal undreamed of by our
sireS.
The budding thoughts of nearly 5000 900
children, the future keepers of our coun-
try's destiny, lave been directed toward
and centered upon these stirring periods of
our national life which form-especially in
the relation to the parsonage we honor-the
greatest romance In the history of nations.
Mr.. VIM. r. Cox, secretary of the United
States Senate, reviewed at some length
Lafayettes history. The erection of a
monument to his memory, he said, is a
tribute of American gratitude, an appre-
citation by this country of its sense of duty.
Mr.. Cox declared that the motives prompt
ing Lafayette were the same those aris-
ing in the breasts of the volunteers in the
late war with Spain.
Young Soldiers Career.
Representative Frederick H. Gillett of
Massachusetts was the next speaker. With
rare eloquence he lauded Lafayette, going
through the details of that young soldiers
| career and pointing out forciby the great
SdCTll1ceS ne IQdue LOT ilueIly.
France sent him to u.s." said he IAN
enthusiastic young adventurer, with only
a warm heart and a good sword. We sent
| him back to France a trained soldier and
accomplished general, with a Pandora's
box of free sentiments, which flew abroad
and pervaded the whole nation. He came
an impetuous boy; we sent him back with
the principles of freedom so deeply stamped
upon his heart that all the allurements and
| threats of royal power could not erase
them. The theories hee had learned here
won here Equality, liberty. fraternity
| were irresistibly attractive when proclaimed
| by the youthful hero of a successful war,
| the heir of an ancient title and $4,000 a
year II France gave us, freedom from the
| inspiration to throw on the yoke of Louis
XVI. "a "a
Lafayette now lies in the little cemetery
Of Pictus. beside his wife. That same
democratic spirit which discarded the titles
| of nobility marks his tomb, and no word
| of the simple inscription upon its plain
| stone reveals that he was ever in America.
| That omission we should MI. There is a
pleasant tradition that Frederick the Great
| sent to Washington a sword with the in
| scription, From the oldest to the greatest
general. In that spirit should we send to
| our young sister republic across the seas a
| memorial of the old ties that bind us,
| recognition of our obligation, pledge of
| friendship and tribute to the man of all
| French history whom every citizen Of
! every republic must sincerely honor and
every citizen of this republic must CRATE
fully love-" lse
| Mr. Brown took occasion here to ex-
press the thanks of the committee of ar
| rangements to Messrs Luckett and Dwyer
| for the free use of the Columbia Theater;
| to Prof. Santelmann and every member Of
| the Marine Band for the music furnished:
to Mr.. Barry Buckley, the local representa-