The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-10-01
LAFAYETTE.

Last week Montpelier commemorate
co signal event in its early history.
A small community in the wilderness,
their town but recently made the
Capital of the State, it's people enter
tanned some very distinguished guests.
Besides Lafayette, there were the
royal Duke OF Kent, fourth son of
George the Third, and President
Monroe. Each visitation has become
historic, and story and tradition
mark each event with interesting in
oident The old landmarks for the
most part have disappeared. The
house in which embodied royalty was
entertained, the first framed structure
il the new town, exists on Elm street.
1t was cut in two and removed from
its old site--the locality of the old
jail-and the curious are still shown
the room in which the Duke slept.
The Caldwell house, associated with
early history, long ago gave up the
ghost. the Blanchard opera house ris-
ing on its ancient site. The old Pa
vilion, connected with the entertain
ment of Lafayette, gave place to the
new, and the old brick church" to
the Bethany" of the present day.
1t is fitting thing to put up some
visible token of Lafayette's visit to
the Capital of the State. There is
virtue in the commemoration of his
+or;o oIorootors aud ovaD+c Thara il
peculiar virtue in keeping alive the
story OF the great Frenchman who,
still in his teens, came to the rescue
of Washington and his fellow reb-
els In America his name lives in
mountain peaks, and is scattered over
the land IN the titles of cities towns
and counties a grateful people has
done much to perpetuate his memory,
and the local Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution, who have given the
Marquis name to their chapter, in
recalling, in public place associated
with his personal presence, his name
strangers coming within the city s
gates, are doing work of practical
patriotism.
American freedom is nightly in.
debted, not only to Lafayette, but to
that chivalric and liberty loving band
of foreigners, also, who came to this
country without solicitation, without
hope or promise of reward, to help
Ali hot Of hn CIV vol inc
colonists, -Kosciusko, Pulaski, De-
Kalb, Won Steuben and their less
noted comrades from the ice-bound,
absolute monarchies of Europe. They
we're noble company. 1t is perhaps
idle to speculate ON the issue Of the
conflict with Great Britain had not
the colonists had the powerful and
uncalculating assistance of these for
eignors, supported by their intense
and unfaltering loyalty unto
death They brought military knoWl-
edge and experience, which they en-
ployed to the advantage of the en-
battled farmers" drilling their ranks
and schooling them in the principles
and practice OF military science. They
helped to convert a raw militia into
an effective military force. They led
the continentals in battle and covered
their retreat when the British bat
talions were sorely pressing. Pull
aski went down in the assault ON
Savannah, and DeKalb in defending
the rear of Green's forces, fleeing
through the Carolinas. All did noble
service in camp, in battle and in
seige.
Lafayette came to cheer the heart
of Washington at time when the
fortunes of the cause were none too
reassuring He brought not only
moral assistance, the good cheer OF
young, sunny, enthusiastic nature,
the endurance OF brave heart, but
ultimately, through his influence,
treasure, troops and navies came from
France to replenish an empty treas
ury, to fight side by side with the
continentals, to blockade the ports
where British armies had been be-
seiged. Without the help of Rocham'
beau on the land, without the assist
ance of the French fleet on the sea,
the successful issue of the seige Of
Yorktown, the surrender of Corn
wallis, had not been, with its crush
ing effects on the wilful British Kine
and ministry preluding ultimate
triumph, the forerunner of eventual
peace
The colonists may have 'won out
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