The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-15
PROFESSOR Van TYNE
GIVES HISTORICAL TALK
HOW EUROPE WON OUR INDIE.
PENDENcE FOR US.
School Board Postpones Meeting to
Listen TO Lecture.

The independence OF the United
States was not won by the patriotism
OF the colOnsts or the military genius
OF George Washington. but by the in
ternatlonal situation that practically
placed the whole world at war win
Great Britain said Prof. Claud Van
Tyne of the University of Michigan
! at the high school last night In the
course of his lecture in the university
extension course.
Prof. Van Tyne's talk was entitled
How Europe Won our independence
for U.s. He described how the Amer
lean colonies were widely scattered,
and that the settlers in each colony
were suspicious or jealous of those of
other colonies through religious or ma
tional differences. the English Of New
England regarding with disfavor the
Dutch of New York or the Germans
of Pennsylvania or the Swedes of New
great as a character, but was not so
great as a military leader. his expert
cnce having been confined to Indian
warfare, so that he was comparative
~ ignorant of the tactics TO be em-
ployed in war against the greatest
power of the world, on which then,
as now. the sun never sets With a
population of nearly three million peo-
pie Washington was able to muster an
army Of at the most thirty thousand
men. and with this small force 1t is
absurd to imagine the colonists un-
aided winning their independence from
Great Britain. In the Boer war the
Beers put in the field seventy thou
sand men out of a population OF less
than 100000
But England, it happened, had been
engaged in wars with European coun-
tries and had stripped several of them
of their foreign possessions, besides
humbing them in other ways. France
desired revenge for the loss of Canada
and east and west Indian possessions.
Comte dc Vergennes. Louis XVrs
prime minister, and Carol de Beau
marchais, the kings favorite adviser,
especially the latter. showed how
without actually breaking with Eng
land. secret aid could be extended the
colonists, and way was found to
supply the rebels with powder. money
end weapons. and several influential
Frenchmen offered their personal serv-
ices. Benjamin Franklin was sent to
France to endcavor to obtain the aid
Of the French feet, and Immediately
upon the surrender of Burgoync at
Saratoga, a French ambassador was
,iispatched 10 the new nation and It's
Independence Immediately recognized.
This brought about open hostilities
with England. Spain Joined France,
having some old scores to revenge
Frederick the Great used his influence
with Katherine of Russia to enforce
a new sea law by which one nation
could not search the ships of neutrais
for contraband Of war. This brought
about the Armed Neutrality. compris-
ing Norway, Sweden, Denmark RUS
STA Spain, France. the Netherlands
and some of the Italian states. Eng
land dared not have all these down on
her at once ana therefore loiNcu ~"
omen break with Holland by invading
that country after It had given shell
ter and hospitality to John Paul Jones'
shortly after the fight of the Scraps
and the Bon Homme Richard. Ihus
were Spain, France and Holland ae-
tuallv at war with Great Britain, ana
with the Armed Neutrality ready 10
lump in at any time and with It's
hands tied in Europe. England was
Obliged to drop the colonies ana rec
oanize their independence.
on account of the lecture last even
ING the regular May meeting OF the
hoard of education was postpone"
from last evening to Thursday nhgh''
when the matters to have been taken
nm last right in relation to commence
ment. appointment Of teachers, ere"
Of the board. the teachers OF the
schools. many citizens and iarse
rumber of students were present 10
hear the lecture.