The sun., 1916-09-03
Gold Mede-1 presented u
to LefAyette BY 0vsnAy-
seventh REGIMENT %
New York NAtIonoI 0uArd y

Army had come from France. Our
historian Perkins In his France
in the American Revolution writing
Of Beaumarchais's contributions. says:
"Beaumarchais's ships escaped the
perils Of the sea n tho vigilance Of
British cruisers. They reached Ports
mouth and landed greatly needed sup.
plies In time to be used against Bur-
goyne. Many q soldier who marched
In that campaign June October. 1777)
wore shoes on his feet, q coat on his
back and carried a gun on his Shout
der. which came from the magazines Of
Louis XVI. and had been procured
and furnished by the author Of the
Barber OF Seville Several more
ships. loaded by Beaumarchais. were
allowed to sail from France and In due
time reached their destination. BY
September. 1877. he had shipped NUM-
livres."
But not until February OF the fol-
lowing year was the treaty signed.
The preeminent service rendered by
France during the American Revolu-
ton has never. 1t seems to me. been
adequately recognized by American
Notwithstanding not In Tho his
tories used In our schools-perhaps in
some instances because OF the natural
disinclination to concede how near tho
Americans came to utter failure. and
perhaps also because OF the equally
natural hesitation to give most OF the
credit for success to our allies. Yet,
surely. no one reading the records OF
those days as they are now at hand
can fail to realize that. without the
soldiers and funds and support
Of France. the American Revolution
would have been crushed.
The efforts Of the Alliance Franchise.
the Layette Fund for French Soldiers.
the France-America Committee. the
Lafayette Anniversary Committee and
others organizations which have re-
Gently sprung into activity have UNI
doubte6ly revived IN America the
study OF the services rendered to our
country by France and brought re-
newed and fuller appreciation and rec
ognition Of our debt to the French peo-
pic. The celebration generally OF
Lafayette's birthday must be particu-
larry stimulating. and appropriate and
eloquent tributes will undoubtedly be
paid to his services, as we'll as to the
! services OF his French companions In
arms and the generous pecuniary as
sistance of France and f'renclimen.
Brandywinc. Valley Forge. Monmouth
| Court House and Yorktown will al
ways be a deep source OF inspiration.
Growing all Is the love Of Lafayette
for Washington. whom no idolized:
Lafayette's superb loyalty to his chief.
the affection as Of father to adopted
son, with which the %grandest and
noblest Of all Americans regarded the
young and ardent and idealistic French
a~ristocrat. the gallant Black Muske-
teer Of King Louis's Household. who
served 20 bravely and unselhshly by
his side. The namo Of Lafayette will
always be associated In the hearts OF
| Americans with that OF Washington.
| All who have visited Mount Vernon
/ will recall "Lafayette's ROOM"
One Of the finest pages OF American
history Was written when President
Andrew jackson. OH hearing the news
| Of the death Of Lafayette IN 1884.
| ordered on behalf Of the whole Ameri-
can people "that the same honors be
rendered upon this occasion at tho
different military and nava stations as
wero observed upon the decease Of
Washington. the Father OF His Coun-
try, and his contemporary In arms"
1t Is a poetic and beautiful SELL
timeut which has prompted the ALI
ance Franchise to resolve to lay on
September 6, at the foot OF the statues
Union Square, in the city OF New
York, Identical wreaths Of American
flowers intertwined in the colors OF the
two flags.
Notwithstanding tho views Of some
historians many Americans are con-
WINGED Of the truth Of the following
four propositions:
1. That tho assistance rendered
America and the sacrifices made by
Lafayette and his companions In arms
during the American Revolution were
dlsinterested and prompted by the
almost universal enthusiasm OF the
French people OF all classes OF that
generation for tho American cause.
.. That Louis XVI. and Ills Minis
tcrs-Turgot. Necker. V~ergennes. &C.
did not believe that the interests OF
France would DO promoted by war
! with England. were opposed to It, and
predicted that Its cost would be ruin
IA
s. That the Treaty Of Alliance OF
l77s and Frances active participation
in the war wero forced upon the king
and his Ministers by the ~invincible
sympathy and constancy Of the French
peoplo themselves. who were ready
and willing to make all necessary sac
riaces. and that the war had nc other
object than helping us 10 secure our
independence.
4. That tho ultimate cost OF the war
to Franco was very much more tnan
most Americans havc realized n dis
astrous to tho Royal Treasury.
D The Kings advisers we'll know that
the material interests Of France were
TO keep neutral and pront by the ON
barrassment Of England. The latest