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

under Lafayette, led by Alexander Hamilton
and John Laure,,s. Both assaults, brilliantly
delivered, were successful, and the American
lines included the ground which had been 30
CALAMITY won. A desperate sortie under
Colonel Graham completely repulsed vain
attempt to escape by water, and then all was
over. On the 18th Of October CORVALLIS sur
rendered. and OH the following day the British
filed out and laid down their arms. passing
between the ordered lines OF the French
drawn uo under the lilies and the ranks OF
the Americans standing beneath the thirteen
stars fixed on that day In the armament OF
nations. The American revolution had feen
fought out and tho new people had won
Through all these events. through all the
months Of weary waiting, through the weeks
Of rapid march and the hurrydng days OF siege
and battle. there shine out very brightly the
fine qualities of the French general. Nothing
Is more difficult than the management in war
Of allied forces. Here there was never jar.
Rochanoeau was large minded enough to IN
derstand the greatness of Washington, to re-
alize the height OF mind and the power OF
character which invested the American leader
with dignity beyond aught that royal birth
or Nngly title could confer. No small jeal-
ousies marred their intercourse They wrought
together for common cause. and the long
experience the thorough training, the keen
military intelligence, the wisdom and honest
purpose OF Rochambeau were all freely given
to the Americans and their commander
Honor and gratitude, then. to Rochambeau
for what he did for US. and gratitude and
honor likewise to DE Grasse and DE Barras
for the sea power with which they upheld and
sustained both Washington and Rochamheau
But we know their destinies. There is
Rochambeau himself, chief figure among the
French. He will go homo to added honors,
L.
ment for reform and will receive from new
government q marshal's baton. Then tor
rent of blood flows. Others In his rank Will
fly across the frontier, but he Is made OF
sterner stuff. He will retire to his estates,
be dragged to prison, will be barely saved
from the guillotine by the Ninth Thermtdor,
and will live on to receive the compliments
of the greatest soldier of modern times, and
will die full OF years and honors. There Is
Lafayette For him an Austrian prison is
waiting. There is viomenil, who commanded
the force which took the redoubt He Will
die In hiding, wounded in defense OF his
kings palace against the onset OF mad
dened people on the 10th OF August There
is Damas, wounded at the Yorktown redoubt.
In q few years he will be a fugitive and an
exile fighting against France. There -
Lameth, wounded also at the redouot For
him, too the future holds a prison ana
ancient regime, the victor over Tarlton 8
horse, the bearer of the brave news to Yer
sailles; he, too, will stay by France and his
end will be the guillotine. The prophet VINO
should have foretold such fates as these for
that gallant company would have peeh
lsughed to scorn. From 80 men did disaster
seem more distant than from those brave
gentlemen OF France on that October morn
ing aud yet the future held for them exile.
$ha And 1t all
inevitable, for the American revolution not
only made a new nation, but It was the be-
ginning OF q worldwide movement There
was something stronger than government,
or ministers than kings or politics which
brought the French to America
From America 1t passed across the sea say
ing to all men that what had been done IN
the new land could be done likewise IN the
old.
The army of Rochameeau, flushed with VIC
tory, bore back the message with them and
it fell upon listening ears. France mao
helped US to liberty and independence and
we had shown her how both were won. The
force which we had summoned they, too
evoked and banded Europe. blind to the
deerer meanings OF the American war. went
to pieces in dull surprise before the onset
of a people armed, the makers of revolu-
ton in which thrones tottered, privilege anc
feudalism went down to ruin and the an
Gent boundaries OF kings faded from the
map. The lilies which had foated 80 trium
phantly in the Virgin!an air gave way te
the American colors which French armies
carried in triumph from Paris to Moscow and
| from the Baltic to the Nile, wiping out for
ever the petty tyrannies which sold men tt
| fight IN quarrels not their own ana clearing
| the ground for the larger liberty and thu
united nations of to-day. The United States
| with independence achieved passed out o
the network of European politics IN which 10
century and a half the American colonies
! had been entangled, but the influence am
| example of tbs American revolution were Tel
throughout tho civilization Of the west
We unveil this statue in honor OF Draw
soldier who fought by the side OF Washing
| ton. We place it here to keep his memor!
fresh In remembrance and as a monumen
| Of our gratitude to France. But let US no
| forget that we also commemorate here tnt
men who first led in arms the democratic
| movement which during century OF con
| Aict has advanced the cause Of freedom and
| popular government throughout the world o.
western civilization.
AS Mr.. Lodge closed the French band
| played the "star Spangled Banner The
| closing remarks of the day were by Gen
eral Brugere of the French army.
Bishop Satterlee brought the ceremonies
to a close with benedictton, ana the
French guests visited the capitol and the
congressional library.
" e.