The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-25

vengeance on the power which had driven
her from Canada. France would have been
more or less human II she had not grasped
the opportunity ut once 80 satisfying TO
wounded pride and so promising politi-
cally.
10 that brave. well differed, highly dis.
clplined army we raise a monument today
nv placing here In the nations capital the
statue Of its commander. For their sery-
Ice and for his own we owe him a debt Of
gratitude, for which We should here make
lasting acknowledgment, one which win
stand unchanged beneath the sunshine and
the rain long after the words we speak
shall have been forgotten.
ARRIVED IN
THE TIME OF NEED.
He reached the United states at a dark
hour for tho American cause. The first
fervor Of resistance had cooled, the active
fighting had subsidized in the North, congress
had grown feeble aud inert, government
and finance both dragged heavily and IL
seemed as II the revolution. SO successful
Ia the field would founder upon the rocks
Of political aud executive incapaclty Wash
ington and the army in the midst of almost
unparalleled difficulties alone kept the
cause alive The coming OF RochAmbeau
and his army was a great good fortune ana
yet its first result was to induce further
relaxation Of effort on the part Of congress.
Washington, realizing all the event meant,
opened correspondence at once with
Ruchambpau, but II was not until Septem-
her that he was able TO meet the French
commander IN person az Hartford.
Time forblds me to tell the brilliant Story
Of that campaign; OF the manner in which
De Bdrras was induced TO bring his squad
ron from the North of the adroltncss With
which Clinton was deceived In New YORK
Of the skill and rhpidity With which the
from New York to the Chesapeake ana
thence 70 Yorktown. The great. the gold
Gu moment so longed for by Washington
when he could unite botn land and -
power had NJ last arrived. De Grassc was
master Of the bay. The English fleet was
scattered and divided
Through all these events through all the
months of weary waiting, through the
weeks of rapid march and the hurrying
days of siege and battle there shine out
very brightly the hne qualities Of the
French general. Nothing is more difficult
than the management In war Of allied
forces Here there was never a jar ltoch
1mbeau was large minded enough To UNI
deFSiand the greatness Of Washington, to
realize he height of mind and the power
of character which Invested the Am1ri AN
leader with dignity beyond aught that
royal birth or kingiy Title could confer No
small icalousies married their Intercourse
They wrought together for Il common
cause aud the long experience, the thor
ough training, the keen military .ntclli-
genrc, the wisdom and honest purpose NJ
Rochamhcau were all freely given 20 the
Americans ana their commander Honor
and gratitude then to Rochambcou fcf
"hat ne did for us and gratitude and
honor likewise 10 De Graesc "nd De Bnr
ri's for he sea power with which they no
held rnd sustained both Washington ana
Ruchgmhcau
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
kOClIAMBEAU AND LAFAYETTE.
Across the square there stands the statue
Of Lafayette He brought no army like
Rochamhcau; no fleet Ike De Grassc lie
came 10y no command Of his king Yet has
ne always becu nearer to the hcHrts of
Americans than any man not Of their oWa
people The reason Is not far to scek.
lie came Of his own accord and brought
with him the sympathy OF France. He rep
resented the visions which had come out
OF the Intellectual revolution wrought hy
Noltairc, Rousseau aud the encyclopcdlstrs
Purposes Of state, calculations ~ chances,
selfish desires might guide the French gov
eminent. hut Lafayette was the living en-
oodimcnt Of the sympathy of the French
people for the cause Of tho United States
lie cltmc bpcause he loved the cause aud
had faith in II and so the American people
gave faith and love to him.
A SUCCESS WHICH
STlPE'lED EUROPE.
The army Of Rocha,nhean. flushed with
victory bore back the message with them
and IT fell upon listening ears France had
helped LIS to liberty aud Ind 'pendcnce and
We had shown her how both We're won
The force which we had summoned they
too, evoked aud banded Europe blind To
the deeper meanings OF The American war
went To piece. In Hun surprise before t.p
onset Of people armed. the makers of q
revolution in which thrones totttred, p.yi
lego AMI feudallSm went down to ruin and
the ancient boundaries ut kings faded FROM
The map
we unycu this statue in honor OF @
brave soldier who fought 10y the side uf
Washington. We place IT here to keep hIs
IA a