The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-05

trious son of old Auvergne! Oh that 1
could pronounce his name with the rev.
ererce with which my countrymen across
the sea wish me to pronounce it before
the people of France.
In America two names are the idols of
our national worship, the burden of fire.
side tale the inspiration Of the poet 5
song, the theme of the orators dis
course; the name of him who was the
father of his country, George Washington.
and the name of him who was the true
and trusty friend OF Washington, Gilbert
Nfotier. Marquis de Lafayette.
Strange were it II America did not
cherish the name of Lafayette. He loved
America, From the moment that I
heard the name of America, - said he, Il
loved her; from the moment l learned Of
her struggles for liberty l was infiamed
with the desire of shedding my blood for
her" He understood. above most men
of his time, the full significance OF Amer
fca's contest. Never" said he, had so
noble purpose offered itself to the judg-
ment of men; it was the last struggle for
liberty, and It's defeat would have lie
freedom without a home and without
hopes" His devotion to America was
as unselflsh as it WIS intense. Il eff r
myself" he wrote, Ito serve the United
States with all possible zeal, without
pension or allowance.
BRAVE LAFAYETTE.
Wealth and rank. the favor of court
and king. high distinction in the service
of his own country, the endearments of
wife and child-aH that ambition could
covet or opportunity promise. the you n
of nineteen summers put resolutely aside
to cast his lot with a far-off people bat
Ting against fearful odds-and that at a
moment when their fortunes We're at
their lowest ebb. and hope had we'll nigh
abandoned their standards. When the
agent of America in France sadly con-
feSsed that he was even unable to fur
nish a ship to carry Lafayette and 9TH
er volunteers, Lafayette said: Il will
n
Given a command in the army of in
dependence Lafayette was at all times
| ''preux chevalier, sans peur ct sans re-
proche" The highest traditions of French
ard Du Guesclin lived again In the
camps and on the battle fields Of Amer
lea.
treat. When his charger fell, he fought
on foot; with blood streaming from his
wounds, he still faced the foe; when his
soldiers quailed before the Overwhelming
masses of the emmy. he compelled the;E
i by his own unfaltering courage to hold
! their ground and turned defeat into vic
tory. The marquis, says an official re-
/ port, lis determined to be in the way Of
DANGER Fearless when feaflessness
awaited, he was slow and self-eontroiled
when haste was fatal This nobleness, .
wrote Washington ''unites to all the mil
itary fire of youth an uncommon maturt-
ty Of Judgment" Washington knew men
well, and trusted only where trust was
justified. To Lafayette he confided most
important and perilous enterprises-tasks
which were always filed with consum-
mate ability One is lost in amazement
at the thought that this youth. bordering
on his twentieth year, should display sc
much prudence and skill as characterized
| certain operations of the war which fell
to his lot.
| So hopeless was his position at Barren
Hill, so certain seemed his defeat. that
Gen. Howe, before marching against him
invited friends to meet at dinner a cap
| tive marquis; when the hour for dinner
arrived. Lafayette and his men We're fal
eraI was alone with his anger and disap
| Doiut ment