Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-05-26
JUNIOR ESSAY
 BY MISS MURPHY
Read at Junior Exercises at Merrill Institute Thursday Evening.
 May 21.

for the D. X. h. pflHe at tie Juhl'i exercises which took place last Thurs day evening, and it is with Miss Cath arine's permission that We take great pleasure in doing so. The prize Of five dollars which she received was not the L. A. R. prize, but was for the six best essays written during the session. The essay follows:
 OUR ENGLISH FRIENDS DURING
 THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
 The American Revolution viewed from it's results, was one of the great est movements in human history. The expenditure of life and treasure has often been exceeded, but the effect on the political life of the world is not easy to parallel.
 When, in tracing the course of those incidents that brought on our trial for independence. from which sprung a prosperity and freedom, that ill the annals of human affairs has never be- 1 fore given so glorious an example, bringing as it did our. country from state of vassalage grievous to be borne, 10 a place of empire in the na- tions of the world, we see how our wealth and martial glory grew to- gether; how wise statesmanship has established a public credit, and has connected us by lasting ties with oth- CT powers who desire our good Will and friendship; and how a govern ment has risen not less splendid and more enduring than that of Alexander the Great, we are justly proud Of our achievements as a nation.
 Knowing all this, we naturally re- vert to the time when this struggle began and, in gratitude ever to be cherished, try to keep green in our memories those statesman high in place and influence in England who were just and great enough to de- clare themselves our friends, and with elouuent and impassioned speech plead with obstinate George the Third 70 reverse his arbitrary course toward inc Americans before it should be too late.
 Macauly says that Georges obstl- macy and imprudence lost for the British empire it's American posses sions. thus unwittingly and uninten- tionally, he gave us cause to place him first among our English friends.
 The treaty between Great Britain and France had left the French with no foothold in the new world, and those great English generals, Wolfe and Amherst, had in reality unsus- pected by themselves or their sover- i eign, been fighting for the Young Re public.
 It was by the amiable and concil- iatory conduct of Lord Botetourt the English colonial governor of Virginia, that the public discontent in that state was allayed. Although in a short time after becoming governor, he dissolv- ed the assembly for complaining of parliamentary taxation, nevertheless his lordship soon became aware of the erroneous notions with which he had entered upon office and laying aside his state and semi-royal equip- age. he investigated the public griev- Iances; became strenuous advocate for the repeal of taxes; and, authorlz- ed by his reports from the ministry, l +Io hot nl1 would speedily take place. But being unsuccessful and feeling deeply wounded by the disingenuousness of ministers which had led him into such predicament, he wrote home de- manding his discharge. Before it ar i lived, an attack of bilious fever, act 1 inG upon a delicate and sensitive frame. enfeehled by anxiety and cha 2rin laid him in his grave. He left 1 behind him name endeared. to the Nirginians by his amiable manners, i his liberal patronage of the arts, and, above all, by his jealous intercession for their rights.
 From these we turn to those great statesmen who understandingly stood cur friends, true and brave in the councils of England. Pre-eminently among those friends are the names of Walpole, Fox, Burke and Pitt There are few whose greatness has been more impartially recognized or who have ever been more foully slam dered than Sir Robert Walpole, who was known as the Peace Minister and vas at the head of affairs in England for twenty years. His policy was 10 maintain peace abroad and quiet at home. and during his administration the country was very prosperous While not friend at the time of our utmost need. for he died in 1745, Vet the first act of his financial admin istration was to take off the duties
 from more than hundred British
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