The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-24

the laurels of success and the bearer Of
every token of recognition which 9 grateful
country could bestow. II he were permitted
to return to EARTH he would see in the
matchless prosperity Of the country an am
pie vindication of the principles OF govern
ment for which the battles in America were
fought. q. 49,. i +.
This statue Is not simply to commemorate
war, but to typify peace and good will be-
tween the newest republic Of the old world
and the Oldest republic of the new world.
Seas made US distant, comradeship has made
US near. This Inauguration takes place be-
meath the three resplendent colors which at
the present day are those Of the respective
banners Of the sister republics Their folds
have a right to be placed in close touch, for
the old flags which they represent were in
terlaced In battle, waved together III victory,
and were .intertwined in peace May the
ruthless hand Of discord never rent them
asunder. ..: - T.. --s.:..-
The orator of the day was Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts,, who tegan his
address as the French band concluded a
selection. " go" s>1.i +
The Grafton OF the Day. ~. ~
.statecraft has cynical maxim that there
is no such thing as gratitude between ma
tons If we must accept this as true of those
practical dealings when sentiment comes into
hopeless collision with self-interest we may at
least say that no nation really great vii! ever
hesitate to make public Acknowledgements of
its obligations to others in the PAST.
The new world of North America has had q
long and close connection with the people of
France. The French names mark the pass
Ing of the French discoveries from Montreal
to st. Louis, and from st. Louis to New
Orleans.
Presently it appeared that there was rot
room enough even in the vast wildernesses OF
North America for the rival powers of Franco
and England. A few, shots fired nv sundry
Virginians under the command of George
Washington, whose name springing forth sud
denly from the back woods was then first
heard in two continents, began a stubborn
war which ended only with the fall OF the
French power and the triumph of England
and the English colonies. st-...
The rejoicing at the close of the victorious
war had hardly ended, the congratulations to
the "Great Comnoner had hardly ceased, the
statue of George III. was scarcely firm on its
pedestal when the Americans rose in wrath
against the star.p act. England gave way
sufficiently to make the colonies realize their
power and yet not so completely as to ex-
tinguish suspicion End hostility. There YVES a
lull, period of smiling deceptive calm then
the storm broke again and this time there
was not wisdom enough left in London to
allay it.
where for SO many years she has played such
great part and had fought so bravely and
so unavailingly for dominion. The opportun-
ity: had come to wreak an ample vengeance
on the power which had driven her from
Canada Covertly at first she aided the Eng
dish colonies and after the surrender of Bur-
goyne at Saratoga the treaty Of alliance was
signed and France entered into war with
Great Britain. The French government aided
us with money and with men, by land and by
sea, but the decisive force was that which
landed at Newport in the long July days Of
$780,
To the brave. we'll oficered, highly dis
ciplined army we raise a monument to-day
by placing here in the nations capital the
statue Of its commander. For their service
and for his own we owe him debt OF graft
tude, for which we should here make last
ing acknowledgment, one which will stand
unchanged beneath the sunshine and the rain
long after the words we speak all have been
forgotten.
Rochambeau reached the United States at a
dark hour for the American cause. The first
fervor Of resistance had cooled the active
fighting had subsidized in the NORTH, congress
had grown feeble and inert, government and
finance both dragged heavily and it seemed
as II the revolution, so successful In the
field would founder upon the rocks of political
and executive incapacity. Washington and
the army, in the midst of almost unparalleled
difficulties, alone kept the cause alive The
coming Of Rochambeau and his army was =
great good fortune.
Time forbids me to tell the brilliant story
of the last campaign; of the manner in which
De Barras was induced to bring his squadron
from the north; of the adreitness with which
Clinton. was deceived in New York; Of the
skill and rapidity with which the French and
American armies were hurried from New
York to the Chesapeake and thence to York
town. The great, the golden moment go
longed for by Washington when he could
unite 10th land and sea power had arrived.
De Grasse was master of the bay. The Eng
lish feet was scattered and divided. Clinton
slumbered in New York and CORVALLIS, with
| some 5000 men, was in Yorktown, with the
| united French and American armies drawn
close about him. Fast followed the siege,
nearer came the enclosing lines Lauzun
dashed back Tarlton's cavalry at the very
beginning, and every British sorte from that
| moment was repulsed. Day by day the par
allels were pushed forward and at last Wash
lington declared the advanced British redouhts
practical for assault. The French. under
viomenil, the grenadicrs OF Gatineis the regi-
ment of Auverne and Deux- Points stormed
one, and here the most famous OF the French
regiments recovered from their king the
l. 49,. A..- ~ A. : !.