New-York tribune., 1915-09-06
Lafayette's Birthday.

Labor Day falls this year on Lafayette's
birthday. 1t comes as a ready-made cele-
bration of an anniversary which fate has
rendered of poignant significance to this
beloved land of ours. Lafayette, in adding
the weight of his influence and enthusiasm
and serviceable sword to the cause of the
thirteen unprepared, poverty stricken but
bravely struggling colonies, tipped the
scales in favor of French recognition and
cooperation and therefore in favor of
their independence and future might in
world councils. If Washington was the
father Of his country, Lafayette's relation
ship must be that of foster uncle.
But it seems the strangest coincidence
in the world that this year especially his
birthday should fall on an American holl-
day and one on which he need share the
national attention with no other historic
personality. Lafayette was a Frenchman
who strove none the less resolutely for the
freedom of France than he did for that Of
America. And to-day France is fighting
for her life against an autocracy from
without the same France which con-
tributed this illustrious son Of hers and
later an army and a fleet to enable US to
shake off the tyrant. The situation in
little more than a century and quarter
seems almost exactly reversed-the proud
France of Lafayette's birth, so gracious
in her condescension to those poor, remote,
half-baled colonies, is herself tattered,
wounded, fighting gamely for freedom,
while the colonies, grown to amazing size
and wealth and power, secure in their
sovereignty, look on.
Americans who find the memory Of La
fayette obtruding on their holiday con-
sciousness may ask themselves rather
shamefacedly what Lafayette would think
of this role played by the nation which he
did so much to put on its feet. There can
be little doubt of where he would be to-day
were he an American-risking his life,
spending his money, distributing his cheer
among the "poilus" in the Argonne as he
did among the Contihentals at Valley
Forge. What would be his opinion Of the
gratitude to France displayed in our
benevolent neutrality?
Our one consoling thought can be that
everywhere, always, international senti-
ment has been purely selfish, immeasur-
ably lower than that of the individual,
even in France in Lafayette's time. La
fayette himself fought for American
freedom. as a handful of Americans are
fighting the good fight of France to-day,
but France cared only to deal deadly
blow at her ancient enemy, Great Britain.
Within few days the United States es-
lcaped by the narrowest margin entering
the present war as Frances ally, but for
reasons that concerned herself. alone.
Lafayette would have. welcomed her, but
he might have understood and forgiven
her, too, her decision to remain aloof, a
decision which by no stretch Of the imagi-
nation can be considered other than self
lish. For was it not Washington, his here
and mentor, who made that famous re-
mark about entangling alliances?
What. however, he probably never could
understand or forgive are the mouthings
Of our pcace-at-any-price patriots who as
individuals make a cult Of international
selfshness. To get a true measure of
these countrymen we need only place
beside them in our minds eye the high
spirited thoroughbred, Lafayette, who
considered fighting in a good cause his
sacred Siuty.
And yet Mr.. Bryan would probably term
Lafayette a militarist.