The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-14

den rays have risen higher above tn
horizon and shed more richly their ligh
upon human thought and action.
And here behold the final conse
quence, the Cr0wning glory of the al
lance of America and France in tn,
War of Independence Behold tn,
realization of the fondest dreams 0.
our Bafayettel in the worlds arena "A
the mighty champions of humanity
new age there stand side by side, as
once they stood at Yorktown, America
and France-both republics today, both
republics tOmOrrow-republics by de
cree of what among men is the final
absolute arbiter Of the political de5ti-
MES of nations, the will of the people
To America and France is given the
noble mission to be TO the world the
exemplars of civil and political liberty.
That they be true to their mission must
be the prayer of all friends of liberty,
of all friends of humanity. The better
to insure the possession of liberty they
have taken TO themselves the hi-hest
form of demOcraCy-they have made
themselves republics. They must show
that such form of liberty is capa-
BILE Of enduring amid all the writh-
lngs and passions of humanity, and
that beneath it in harmony with its
promises there are to be found liberty's
best and sweetest blessings. Do as our
republics may, they will not reach the
ideal which they have put before them
selves; while men are the representa-
tiveS and agents of an ideal, there viii
necessarily be in the realization of it
the shortcomings of men; there will be
from time to time the Inconsistencies
and the contradictions which the limi-
tations of the human mind and the
play of human interests bring into the
practical life of man. But, despite all
this, and indeed because of this all.
must the worlds great republics never
relax in loyal and strenuous efforts. to
be in their whole national life the en-
bodiment of liberty as far as this beau
teous spirit of the heavens can find |
embodiment upon earth. To them is |
assigned the task of proving that the |
fullest democracy guarantees to a peo- |
pie, together with liberty, the security |
of law and order, and the growth and |
prosperity Of the nation-that the full
est democracy ever true to it's name |
and profession, means for the individ-
Ual man and citizen the actual and as
sured enjoyment Of the personal rights
which he inheritS from nature and ma
ture's God, save only inasmuCh as q re-
trenchment of such rights is impera-
tive for the maintenance of public or
der and safeguarding the rights of 9th
er members of the community.
And now, what is said today be it
said tomorrow; be it said adown the
ages to come.
Here upon this historic place" in
Frances own capital city, where meet
the nations of the earth, there will
stand, with Frances gracious permis-
sion, an abiding interpreter of Ameri-
ca gratitude to France, foR her par
ucipation in Americas war, and of the
principles of civil and political liberty
which were the life and soul of that
nomentous struggle.
Our interpreter, who shall it be? Who /
could II be. if truth has rights and
merit has reward. but Gilbert Motier,
Marquis de Lafayette? '
Then, Genius of Art, we pray thee c
give US back the form of our loved
LAFAYETTE! Bid him live again in his
'wn France to speak in Americas s name t
o France and to the world S
Who more fittingly than Lafayette a
,ould be hidden to speak to France the J
of America? Lafayette knew s
he full extent of Frances faYors and a
he full extent of Americas gratitude. a
often did he speak of America to
france, always interpreting Alright the
leart Of America, always touching c
right the responsive chords in the G
eart OF America, always touching n
right the responsive chords in the d
cart Of France. Jet him speak again,
peak today and speak tomorrow for
america TO France lC
And who more fittingly than La
ayette could stand forth before the
'orld as the representative Of the prin- 81
iples of civil and political liberty for
'hich he and Washington fought? The
assion of his soul. the inspiration of / 81
II ms thoughts and acts, was liberty;
berty drew him to America: liberty
ut words of fire upon his lius in the c
liberty led him to the f
r1son of OlmutZ. He understood-no OF
ne ever understood better-what true
berty is, and as he understood it, so
loved it and defended ii unto death. M
liberty he 2ved as the fulness of en- fo
'yment of ones own natural rights re
lth proper regard to the natural
ghts of others. the fullest play of
les own powers Of mind and heart A
with public welfare and pub IF
order. The enemies of liberty he II
in its arbitrary au-
ority and anarchy in its chaotic riot
e. ae stood the strenuous defender re
the rights OF man and the citizen of
hlch abSolutism would fain destroy. St,
Id championed them in the name of he
in the name of citizenship.
the name Of conscience; he cham
oned them beneath the frown of the ~.
'tentate and in defiance of bribe and or
reat. He stood the strenuous de- ~.
nder of law and order which are the ~,
nditions Of liberty and which an Of
chy would fain subvert. When the 49,,
ruggle in France for liberty degen- a.
ated into mad riot he cast aside the A. A.
ldership which he had taken in the sc -
me Of liberty and which he could ~ ~
We retained if he bore il in the name A.
laWlessness, and he sought the exile w
l1ch ended for him in the prison of
inutz. He suffered persecution from ~
E extremists on both sides. He strove ~, ~
r the golden mean, and for this we III III
spect and revere his name. Adsolut- :"
n and anarchy alike hate Lafayette a.
they alike hate liberty; the friends ftiIi5S
liberty love Lafayette as they hate ~
solutism and anarchy an an
And now, Lafayette, thy task is Civ n n
thee. Speak, we charge thee. the " sio
altitude Of America to France: speak NJ ".
the liberty for which America and OF
ance once fought together and which Le
lay they together cherish and up NJ
Id! Speak, we charge thee through sol
1less years, Through endless years I5 Lal
leEica's gratitude shall last and lib 81,
Y shall reign in America and Jol
ancel Br'
IRELAND oRrTI- \
CISED. at