The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-22
WHAT WE OWE 10 FRANCE.
Louis XVI Helped Our Fathers I'm
Their Struggle for Independence.

Louis XVI Helped Our Fathers In
Their struggle for Independence.
Baltimore Herald: Mr.. Robert ].
Thompson. the secretary of the Lafey-
cite memorial commission. has unde-
nlably performed q timely service in
reminding the people OF the United
States Of their debt to France. 1t has
been said by a great eplgrammatic
writer that gratitude Is the flower Of
the human heart, and no nation Of peo-
pie should permit this beautiful prod
uct to pine and perish for want OF
nourishment. No patriotic American
can ever forget Lafayette. ROchambeau
and the thousands Of intrepid French
soldiers who came 70 our rescue in the
darkest days of the revolutionary war.
and without whose aid the great repub-
Lie might still be an unfulaIled dream.
But while 1t Is meet md proper for
US TO perpetuate the spirit Of thankul-
ness 70 France. there can surely pc
nothing wrong In our taking an intelli-
gent view OF the circumstances under
which French aid was extended 70 US.
and the motives which prompted the
prefer Of such assistance. On TINS
point II Is enough TO say that no stu
dent Of history can be made to be-
lIeve that Louis XVI, the monarch OF
France. had the least particle OF sym
patty for the principles In behalf OF
which our RoFefAtherB were struggling
He wanted the colonies 70 achieve their
Independence. It Is true; but not for
their happiness, nor for the sake Of hui
man freedom. II was hatred OF Great
Britain that moved Louis XVI. to grant
the Americans men and money-it was
to humlllate George III. and England
that the French king was persuaded
to send his legions across the Atlantic.
OF course, we do not include Lafayette
in this reference-that apostle OF hu.
man liberty the world over. and the
worthy associate Of and sympathiEer
with George Washington In his noblest
aims and aspirations.
We merely deem It proper whWile
minimizing, in no respect, our obliga-
lions to France, not to ignore the well.
established fact that our friends had
motive, which was not altogether un-
selfish, in responding TO our Macedonian
cry to come over and help US. It Is also
In order TO remind the world that the
people Of France also owe debt OF
ETdLlkuue " tue pGuplG " eALS NSAS4AaNt
whom they helped. In his history Of
the French revolution Carlyle main
talns that II was the glorious and sue
cessful example set by the American
colonIsts, under the leadership OF
George washington. which inspired the
French to revolt against the Bourbon
tyranny. and enabld ethem to throw on
the baneful yoke with which they had
been burdened for ages.
But even II our debt to France had
been wholly unrequitted, Secretary
Thompson's Insistence that the Amert-
can people should not indulge in con-
demnatory remarks about the French
government on account Of the Dreyfus
verdict is scarcely In order. A man or
nation should not be expected to APP
prove wrong under any circumstance.
Nor should a Just and liberty-loving
people be expected to remain quiescent
Of a wrong which has shocked the whole
civilized world.
While we love France for what she
did for US, we must despise the lnfamy
that has been perpetrated by the mil
ltary branch Of the French govern
manL