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

military operations counseled the attack;
De Grasse and st. Simon, anxious to 1e-
turn to- their task in the West Indies
urged it; success seemed assured and TO
Lafayette would belong the prestige of
the victory. But Lafayette. dear alike
to the dictates Of personal ambition and
70 the entreaties of friends and allies
waited for Washington.
Signal as were Lafayettes services in
the field, they were the least part of his
contribution to the cause of American
independence; his enduring and inestima-
bic work for us he performed as the
INK binding together the two countries
France and America. His enlistment in
the American army, dfsapproved though
it was at the time by the French
court for reasons of foreign policy, was
In itself a significant token of the deep
sympathy with which men of thought
and influence i'll France regarded the
revolutionary war. Such token COM
forted and cheered the sOreIy pressed pa
tr.ots, making them more than ever con-
Seious OF the business and nobleneSs of
their cause, and giving them hopes that
France had other and more substantial
faverS in store for them. When their
hopes were realized and the ships of the
Count dEStaing were sailing in Ameri-
can waters, Lafayette's tactfuI media
ton was OF inestmable value in main
tanning the harmonious co-operd ton of
the two armies. At later period of the
war, it was Lafayette's power4u i inIfu-
ence at the French court, and his tirelesS
persistence in putting before it the needs
the second expedition undef De Terney
and Rochambeau, without whose coming
York town would not have been possible.
During his visit i'll France in the critical
year of the war. 1II9. ne made appeal up
on appeal to the French court, urging ar
gument upon argument, now IN the name
of Frances own honor and glory, now
/ in the name of Americas dependency
upon her ally. insisting, too with all del
| icacy, that the forces of France should
so to America as auXiliaries of the Amer
| lean trOOnS and ShOl11d hli ba
mand of Washington. Success crowned
his efforts. No difficulty could withstand
| mis- enthusiasm. 1T was WELL" said de
| Maurepas, that Lafay cite did not ask
| to be allowed to strip Versailles of it's
| furniture for his dear Americans, for
stripped it would have been.
As long as the starry banner shall float
| so long shall the name of Lafayette be
| loved and honored beyond the sea-so
| long also shall the country that gave
| him birth. whose spirit of chivalry he
| personined. be loved and honored in the
/ United States of America.
HIS COUNTRY FIRST.
| But. much as Lafayette deserves and
| receives our love and honor in return for
! his personal services in the cause of
| America, his chief title TO the gratitude
| of our people is that his heroic ,gure
| ever looms up before their entranceL
! fancy as the symbol of the magma ninlity
| which France as a nation displayed to-
| ward our country IN her labori3us strug-
| gle for life and liberty.
The value of the aid given us by France
| in our war for independence is :nestima-
bic; the joy which the memory OF it
| awakenS in our souls is that which comes
| to us through the consciousness ef eur
| national life itself.
| France first stood sponsor for our ma
| tionhoCd We entered into the great
| family of nations leaning on her arm, ra-
diant with the reflection of her historic
| splendor and strong in the protection ot
her Titanic stature. When Franklin
stood In the palace OF Versailles, the ac-
| knowledged envoy of America. and Gen.
! de Rayneval as the minister of France,
| salutei lie congress of America at Phil
| adelphia, the young republic thrilled with
! new life and leaped at c-lee into a full
| sense Of security and a true conscious
ness of her dignity. The ENJOYS of Great
! Britain bearing to the Americans the
grant Of all the rights and privileges