The Irish standard., 1909-12-04

was concluded, by which France ac-
knowledged the independence of the
United States and entered into reln-
tions of reciprocal friendship with tho
new nation. Long before this, how
ever, the brave Catholic knight, Gil
bert Motier, better known in America
as the Marquis de Lafayette. arrived
in Georgetown, s. c., and offered his
services to the American commander
in April, 1777. That he was commits
stoned major-general and served
with distinction throughout the war,
holding the confidence and friendship
of Washington throughout the war
and until the latter's death is we'll
known. The high place Lafayette held
in the estimation of the people Of
America is attested by the honor and
veneration bestowed upon him when
he visited America In 1924. He went
over the scenes of his earlier activi-
ties, surrounded by admiring patriots.
and he stood beside the grave II
Washington and paid silent homage
to his worth. -.
The disastrous campaign of Lieu
tenant General Burgoyne in his inva-
sion of New York from the north and
his surregdess on Got. II, TF7. was the
necessary triumph of American arms
over the British to warrant Louis XVI
Of France in making gift Of six mill
lions Of livres to the American treas
ury the receipt Of which put the
American army in position to prose-
cute the war with vigor and encour-
aged the patriots to continue the
struggle. Count d'I1staing, command
ing French feet, sailed for America
in the spring Of 1878, and arrived off
Sandy Hook on July II, but was un-
able to get at the British fleet in the
bay. Later the fleet co-operated with
the land forces and afterward did
heroic service for the American cause
in the south. D'Estaing was severely
| wounded at the battle of Savannah
and sailed for France soon afterwar1.
! In the campaign against CORVALLIS
which resulted in his surrender at
Yorktown, the timely arrival of the
Catholic Count de Grasse with twen-
ty-eight ships of the line and nearly
four thousand Catholic troops. togeth-
er with eight ships Of the line and ton
transports under Count dc Barras, at
the mouth of York river, effectually
cut off retreat for the British by sea,
and made victory for the patriots pos
sible. Catholic sailors under Catholic
commanders guarded the escape by
ocean, and Catholic soldiers under the
Catholic commanders Lafayette and
Rochambeau, led by General Wash
ington, who had been summoned hast
lily from New York by Lafayette. pros
ecuted the campaign against Corn.
wallis, whose defeat marked the be-
| SAAHIH6 VI IIC Chu VI lLuSlIOH OOIIIl
nation in America.
Whatever may be the cause of the
hatred for the Catholic Church and al
things Catholic. it certainly is moi
warranted by the facts Of history. The
news of the victory of Yorktown was
received with delight not only :r
America, but throughout the continent
of Europe, and some historians sa,
that the English people, except tn:
king and ministers, were either secret.
ly pleased or openly rejoiced. Con.
gress voted the greatest honors upof
the Catholic heroes, Lafayette ant
Rochambeau. Yorktown fell on Oct
10, 1881. On the evening Of Oct. %, p:
courier bearing the glorious news ar.
rived in Philadelphia, and great re-
joicing and Thanksgiving followed
And when Washington and his Cath
olic allies arrived in Philadelphia
they all attended Solemn High Mas
at st. Joseph's Catholic church, wher
, they truly and sincerely rejoiced AM
returned thanks to God for the mag
nificent victory they had won. Afte
/ the war was over, Washington deliv
cred an address to the Catholics VIII
, had aided him in the prosecution O
the revolution. That he recognized tn
+ importance of the work Of the Cath