The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-24
CONTINUED from page one.)

us out OF that dim past touched with the
glory OF the Admiral OF France. There In
the old books we can read of Ribault and
Laudonniere and their comrades. OF
their daring and intelligence and OF the
settlements they founded. Then come Me-
nendez and his Spaniards, the surprise
and slaughter OF the French massacred
for their religion and then a few years
later DE Gourgues swoops down upon the
Spanish forts and the Spaniards in turn
drench the sands with their blood and
swing on gibbets to remind all men OF
the passing OF the avenger.
Thus driven from the south the French
still held their grip on the heritage OF
Cartier. Champlain gave his name TO the
great lake OF New England where rival
nations were one day to fight for domin-
ion. French missionaries died for their
faith among the red men of New York
Pere Marquette explored the west and the
gallant La Sale bore the lilies of France
from the source 10 the mouth of the Mis-
slssippi. The French names mark the
passing of the French discoverers from
Montreal TO st. Louis and from St. Louis
TO New Orleans.
And while the "Roi Soliel" was rails
ing his frowning fortress on the banks
of the st. Lawrence, dispatching Auver-
gnats and Normans and Bretons to set
across the continent some others OF his
best subjects, driven forth into the world
by revoked edcts and certain things
called dragonnades were bringing their
wit and quick intelligence to strengthen
and upbuild the English colonies which
were growing up not at all In the order
ly way dear TO the heart of grand
monarch but In a rude, vigorous. scramb-
ling independent fashion after the man
Of uyhn found nations and g.
tablish states.
Presently II appeared that there was
not room enough even In the vast will
dernesses of North America for the rival
powers of France and England. rev
shots fred by sundry Virginians under
the command of George Washington,
whose name springing forth suddenly
from the back woods was then first heard
I'm two continents. began a stubborn
war which ended only with the fall of
the French power and the triumph OF
England and OF English colonies.
AMERICANS ROSE IN WRATH.
Thus was a new situation created in
North America Instead of two rival
powers struggling for mastery one reign
ed supreme from the st. Lawrence 10
Florida. The danger from the North,
dark with Indian warfare which had so
had passed away. The need OF the strong
support of the mother country against
the mower OF France had gone and the
position of the colonies in their relations
with England was enormously strength
ened.
A laundering ministry, a few meddle-
some and oppressive acts on the part OF
parliament, departure from Waipoies
wisemaxim about America "quieta non
movere" and mis- chief would be foot.
IL all came sooner than any one dreamed.
The rejoicings at the close OF the victori-
Gus war had hardly ceased, the statue
OF George III was scarcely firm on Its
pedestal when the Americans rose In
wrath against the Stamp Act. England
gave way sufficiently to make the colonies
alize their power and yet not so COM
pleteIy as TO extinguish suspicion and
hostility.
There was n hull, n period of smiling,
deceptive calm, then the storm broke out
again and this time there was not wis
dom enough left In London to allay 1t.
The little minds which Burke thought so
i'll suited to a great empire were In fun
control and the empire began In conse-
auence to show an ominous and ever wId-
ening rent.
DECISIVE FORCE AT NEWPORT.
Again France appears upon the conti-
nent where for so many years she has
play such a great part and had fought
so bravely and so unavailingly for do
minion. The opportunity had come to
wreak an ample vengeance on the power
which had driven her from Canada.
France would have been more or less
human IL she had not grasped the OPP
portunity at once so satisfying to wound
ed pride and so promising politically.
Coyertly at first she aided the English
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 govern
ment 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 1ISO.
To that brave, well officered highly dis
ciplined army we raise a monument TO-DAY
by placing here in the nations capital
the statue OF it's commander. For their
service and for his own we owe him
debt OF gratitude, for which we shauld
here make last acknowledgment, one
which will stand unchanged beneath the
sunshine and the rain long after the
words we speak shall have been forgot
ten.
TRIBUTE TO GALLANT HERO
This statue is the counterfeit present.
ment OF the gallant ngure OF Ralant
gentleman Born in 1T25 of noble FAMILY
native OF Vendome, Jean Baptste Do
natien de Vimsur. Comte de Rochambeau
had lust passed his fifty-fifth birthday
when he landed at Newport His career
had been long and distinguished. His
honors and his rank in the army had been
won in the field. not in the antechambers
OF Versailles.
In an age when the greatest nobleman
OF France thought IL no shame to seek
advancement from royal mistresses by
whose whims ministers rose and fell and
the policies of state were decided, Ro-
chambeau I'm time OF peace turned from
the court TO his regiment and his estates:
He had shared in all the campaigns OF
France from the time when his elder
brothers death had taken him from the
church I'm which he was about 10 become
a priest and placed him In the army. AZ
the siege OF Namur he earned the rank
OF colonel by the surprise OF an outpost
which led to the surrender OF the town.
He was twice wounded at the head OF his
regiment at the battle OF Laufeld.
He captured the enemy's magazine AZ
the Siege OF Naestricht and won the Cross
OF ST. Louis leading the assault upon the
forts OF Nincorca. He fought the Prince
Ferdinand OF Brunswick and captured the
fortress OF Kegenstein In 175i. Al Gre
field he sustained for long time the at
tack OF the Prussian army. he took
49, In A hattie of Mipdgn and