The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-12

important work was still before him
| Made at once a member of the continental
congress, ne entered with all his soul in
served on committees. he wrote. he ar
gued, he made long journeys to New
York. to Montreal. to Boston, to Balti-
more He was member of the COM
| mittee to draft the Declaration of indie
pendence. And amid all these tolls he
preserved that unbroken serenity for
which ne was so justly noted. He did not
we'll for the dignity of that famous doc
ument that he did not. for Parton, his
b1ographer. says: He would have put
a joke in the Declaration of Indepe :,
ence if it had fallen to him to write it,
one must not be too witty or displ9
too keen sense of numor If he wishee
| to make himself impressive when a..
| world" or il he desires to be under
stood by Englishnen. But, although he
did not pen the great instrument, he
marked the occasion with characteristic
bon mot. In response to Harrisons anx.
ious appeal that they must now hang
together he said: Yes, we must in.
deed sn all an together. or, ,assuredly.
In 1776. after hostiiities were well I'M
der way, and after the declaration had
been adopted, Franklin was sent by con-
gress as an envoy to France. No MAJ.
siasm than was this l1Atn Republican in
the gayest capital OF Europe. He be-
came at once the lion. the dad in all
walks of life. He could hardly appear
by crowds and greeted with cheers. He
was the companion of the most famous
men and the pet of the most beautiful
and fashionable women. He was honored
by learned societies and was the sage
and oracle among the servants of the
kingdom. There were Franklin hats and
Franklin coats and Franklin hose His
portrait was seen in store windows
everywhere. Paris went fairly crazy over
him. Yet amid all this flattery, Franklin
kept his head upon his shoulders and
his heels upon the ground. He did not
forget fer moment the mission on which
he had come. He enjoyed the popularity
and made the most of it for the sake
of advancing the interests of his strug-
Cling country. Other Americans were
associated with him, but Franklin was
the one who did most of the business.
France was then at peace with England
and negotiations must be carried on with
great discretion. But Franklin conduct
ed himself with admirable tact.
France was then jealous of England
and would not have objected to contrib
butte to the island Kingdoms downfall.
But that was another matter, and open
assistance ito England's enemies would
be naturally interpreted as an act OF
war. So aid must be given with utmost
secrecy and care. But such aid the
tanning. Secret loans. ship loads of sup
plies. guns and ammunition were all Sc
cured at critical junctures through h.
diplomacy. He discovered La Fayette
and commended him to Washington.
After the surrender of Burgoyne he re-
doubled his efforts and at length sue
ceeded in negotiating an alliance by
which France was brought to declare
war against England and openly to fur
nish money ships and soldiers to the
American republic. The service he thus
rendered to the American cause is ines
Unable. Without the aid of France the
struggle probably would have been much
prolonged, and might have resulted In
American failure. And without the d.
plomacy of Franklin the aid of France
might never have been secured.
After the surrender of CornwalliS
Franklin was chosen one of the COM
missioners to negotiate terms of peace.
In this delicate undertaking he displayed
his usual wisdom. Both France and
England had to be considered, and many
conflicting interests had to be adjusted.
Largely to Franklin must be given the
credit for adjusting them to the reason
able satisfaction of ALL Certainly Amer
lea had no reason to complain. She OBJ
tanned all she asked, and many think
much more than she had any right to
expect.
The last service of Importance he rem
dered his country was as member OF
the convention that framed the consti-
tuition of the United States.
Three years later. in 1870, after a more
successful life than falls to the lot OF
most men, he quietly fell asleep, and
was followed to his grave by ", C0o mourn
ers Today the nation which he helped
to make free and united and the worid
which he helped to enlighten, unite to
Copyright, 1900.