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

The prophet who should have fortold
such fates as these for that gallant COM
pany would have been laughed to scorn.
From no men did disaster seem more
distant than from those brave gentle
men OF France on that October morning
and yet the future held for them exile,
prison and the guillotine. And II was all
inevitable for the American revolution
not only made a new nation, but IL was
the beginning OF a world wide movement.
There was something stronger than gov
eminent or ministers, than kings or poll
tics which brought the French TO Ameri-
ca.
SYMPATHY OF FRANCE.
Across the square there stands the stat
ue OF Lafayette. He brought no army
like Rochambeau: no fleet like DE Grasse
He came by no command OF his king.
Yet he has always been nearer TO the
hearts of Americans than any man not
of their own people. The reason Is not
far TO seek He came of his own accord
and brought with him the sympathy OF
France. He represented the new spirit
of new time the aspirations, the hope,
the visions which had come out or the
intellectual revolution wrought by Vol
taire, Rousseau and the Encyclopedias.
Purposes OF state, calculations of chan
ces, selfish desires might guide the
French government, but Lafayette was
the living embodiment of the sympathy
of the French people for the cause or
the United States. He came because
he loved the cause and had faith In II
and so the American pople gave faith
and love TO him And this impalpable
spirit of the time stirring strongly but
bindly In France, was even then more
powerful than monarchs or cabinets or
coalitions.
In America 1t passed for the first time
from the world OF speculation to the
world of action. There in the new coun-
try, on the edge of the yet unconquered
continent theory because practice and
doctrines lived as facts. There a people
had risen up declaring that they were
weary of kings, had fought their own
battle for their own hand and won. The
democratic movement had begun.
From America 1t passed across the sea
saying to all men that what had been
done i'm the new land coul dbe done like
wise in the old.
CoLoRS TRIUMPHANT.
The army of Rochambeau flushed with
victory bore back the message with them
and 1t fell upon listening ears. France
had helped US to liberty and independ-
ence and we had shown her how both
were won. The force which we had sum-
moned they too evoked and banded Eu-
rope. blind to the deeper meanings of
the American war went to pieces in dull
surprise before the onset OF a people
armed, the makers of revolution in
which thrones tottered. privilege and
feudalism went down To ruin and the
ancient boundaries of kings faded from
the map.
The lilies which had foated so tri-
umphantly in the Virginian air gave way
TO the American colors which french ar
mics carried in triumph from Paris to
Moscow and from the Baltic TO the Nile,
wiping out forever the petty tyrannies
which sold men To- fight In quarrels not
their own, and clearing the ground for
the larger liberty and the united nations
OF today.
The United States. with independence
achieved. passed out OF the network or
European politics In which for century
and a half the American colonies had been
entangled. but for the influence and ex-
ample of the American Revolution were
felt throughout the civilizad don of the
West
We unveil this statue in honor OF a
brave soldier, who fought by the side
of Washington. We place ii here 10 keep
his memory fresh In remembrance and as
a monument of our gratitude To France.
But let us not forget that we also com
memorate here the men who nrst led IN
arms the democratic movement which
during a century OF conflict has ad-
vanced the cause Of freedom and popular
government throughout the world or
Western civilization.
AS Mr.. Lodge closed the French band
played the "Star Spangled Banner The
closing remarks of the day were by Gen.
Brugere of the French army.
Bishop Satteree brought the ceremonies
to a close with benedction and the French
and American forces passed In review
before the president
This afternoon the French guests vis-
ited the capitol and the congressional IL
brary.