The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-06

~ Mr.. Perkins says. an
interesting and not a
- simple question. Mr..
PERKINS does not attempt a categori-
eal answer to this question:: but he
presents the story of Frances part il
he American Revolution in such a
clear n that the reader is
Enabled to form his own nswer It is
practically certain, as far as anything
without the aid of France, the indie
pendence of the United States wculd
mo thave been won by George Wash
ington. And yet this statement de-
tracts nothing from the greatness of
Washington. Even he, though the
tanned his army through all the seven
years of weary waiting without money,
and it was France who furnished the
money. Nor could he nave en-
trapped CORVALLIS at Yorktown with
out the aid Of a fleet, and It was
France who furnished the fleet. On
the other hand it is as clear as the
MONDAY sun that even with the
money and fleets Of France the RevO-
luton must have failed had the cause
of the Colonists been in any other
hands than those of Washington.
But what motives could have in
duced an ancient monarchy, and one
of the most illiberal in Europe, to
aid rebellious colonies in throwing Off
a monarchial government to establish
q republic? Obviously the controlling
motive with the French government
itself. was revenge for recent injuries
and defeats at the hands Of England
and desire to reduce the dominant
power Of it's ancient iva A second
airy consideration was a desire to
share in American trade. heretofore
~monopolized by England. But neither
of the motives, though sufficiently
strong to induce the government to
wink at secret nc sent to the Ameri-
cans by French subjects. would have
been strong enough to induce France
to recognize the independence Of the
Colonies and form an alliance with
them Back Of this action was the
enthusiasm which the American cause
aroused among the people of France.
The works Of MOntesQuieu, Rousseau,
the Encyclopedias, and other writ
ers had prepared the French mind tc
welcome the political theories of the
Declaration of Independence, and
though. perhaps, few Frenchmen
would have liked to see those theories
put into PRACTICE in France. all were
enthusiastic over them when applied
In a distant country. So when the
French ministry signed the treaty
with the American Commissioners,
they gave expression to the public
sentiment of France. little dreaming
Of the influence which that action was
destined, within their own day. to
have on the fortunes Of their King
and country. For, as Mr.. Perkins we'll
says.
"The influence of the American al
lance upon France was Of a character
that no one had anticipated. The
bower Of England was not broken
France gained nc monopoly of the
trade with America and not even any
important part In it; if the irritation
caused by the disasters Of the Seven
Years War was somewhat allayed by
England's defeat, Yet the position Of
France on the Continent was not ma
terially strengthened by the American
Revolution. The important effect was
On the Frenc peopel themselves: the
success Of the American COlOnists in
establishing a free government had
a great influence upon the French
mind during the years before their
own Revolution"
Mr.. Perkins knows how to tell a
story. and in this volume he has told
a most interesting story in a most
interesting way. Interspersed at va
rious intervals are character sketches
of lafayette, Vergennes. de Grasse,
R~ochambeau and other French lead
ers who played important parts in the
winning of American independence
all done exceedingly well. The clear,
simple style in which the author tells
his story carries the reader along
~unwearied from beginning to end
The volume is a most valuable con-
tributiOn to the literature OF the
American Revolution.
r. D. w. c..
France in the American Revolution.