The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-03-29
The Ashes Of Paul Jones Not An.

don to transfer to American soil the
remains of Paul Jones has met with
some criticism. The first naval hero
OF this republic was alien born, and his
heart became somewhat estranged aft
er he had run his brilliant career under
the stars and stripes, which flag, be it
remembered, he first gave to the breeze
on the ocean. Now that the mystery
Of his burial place may happily be
cleared up after the lapse Of century
1t Is most natural to wish his ashes
transferred to the land he fought to
make free.
Had Paul Jones been entombed In
this country at the time of his death
the burial spot would now be second to
none In patriotic sacredness and In
popular interest. The fact that his
tomb Is not here has been a source Of
wonder and regret to the generations
which have been thrilled with the story
Of his exploits. There has been a rea-
son In the past why the sole relic We
have Of Paul Jones Is his memory en-
blazoned on the printed page But
there will be no reason in the future
for this unusual state Of things II It
shall transpire that his coffin is among
those soon to be unearthed in Paris
Paul Jones died suddenly during the
reign Of terror. His death was barely
noted and the place of his burial not
recorded. Thirteen years elapsed be-
tween the date Of his death and the
end Of war and confusion In France.
1t was then 1915, and this country had
just emerged from a three years war
with Great Britain, one in which the
new American navy tore to tatters
that naughty boast Britannia rules the
wave" New and dashing and renown-
ed and revered heroes made names in
that war which filled the peoples heads
with fresh naval ideals and filled their
hearts with fresh objects of worship.
A Perry, a Hull, a cambridge, Deca-
tur, lived and moved In the public eye,
and the memory of Lawrence, who
went down in American waters shout
ing, Don't give up the shipr' alone OBJ
secured for the time the fame Of the
then almost apocryphal captain Of the
Bonhomme Richard. Truly in 1915
America had little to fire the popular
heart over Paul Jones. His bones were
not here, his death perhaps a matter
of guesswork, his old ship at the bottom
Of the English channel. But now. when
we are at peace, when international
and national jealousies are buried and
memorials and shrines are the order of
the day, there seems but one course to
adopt if it shall prove true that the
ashes of Paul Jones have been discOv-
cred. They should be honOred or we
| should own up the reason why and sing
small the magical name of Paul Jones
in the future.
If any are in doubt as to the propr-
ETY. at this late hour of identifying
Paul Jones with the most sacred men,
cries of the republic it is well to bark
back a century for inspiration. Had
Paul Jones died under circumstances
favorable to the rescue Of his remains
they would most assuredly have been
brought to these shores and enthusi-
astically received in spite of opposition
in certain quarters. The personalities
Of that date can be dismissed now, and
whatever diminution Paul Jones' fame
suffered by his own temper or by the
jealousies or neglects Of the people
close to him and to his era should be
made good by a posterity which de-
lights in glory borrowed from his ca
reer. Let us cherish the memory Of
Paul Jones beside that Of Perry and of
Farragut or else cease to couple the
name Of Paul Jones with the names Of
Perry and Farragut when we think the
association adds luster to our naval
annals If the BOnhomme Richard
episode is something to crow over its
unique hero is good enough to canOnize.