New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-06
LAFAYETTE and Marine Day.


the anniversary of the vstory OF the
Marine. Many thousands OF Americans
gratefully reaffirming an ancient ooilga-
ton TO n Frenchman who loved and served
their own country well, will nstlnctveiy let
their thoughts turn also to the still recent
memory of the Marine and to that supreme
triumph of the French race over deadly
menace to all that the French and we hold
most worth living for and dying for in
human existence.
1t is a pleasure to feel that some little OF
the debt that Lafayette laid us under has
been discharged by American boys VINO
during the long months of the war, during
the agony of Verdun, have braved the
shells and faced the danger OF the 'front.'
driving their ambuances or directing their
aircraft. responding to that same senu-
n,ent and emotion which brought the young
LAFAYETTE TO our shores and receiving, as.
did he. a new inspiration in the presence
of courage, of faith and loyalty to all that
the spirit of democracy means under the
rudest Of tests.
1t would be hard to exaggerate the hold
that France. in the last two years, has
taken upon American admiration and
American sympathy A year ago it seemed
as if the Miracle of the Marne,' the
miracle performed by brave men, would
endure as a sufficient monument to French
devotion. and now another year mas
brought us Verdun and a devotion, an en-
durance. a success even more wonderful
than that Of the first victory and only less
significant in world history.
In two years and through the sacrlhceS
of France Americans have learned little
of what the present war means. 1hey
have realized in the wrongs and injuries
suffered by France and by Belgium some
thing of what this German idea, this Ger
man purpose, meant in the world. FROM
the shambles of Louvain to the last un-
sneakable crime in Lille, where honest
women and prostitutes were herded TO-
pether and driven from their homes to-
serve Prussian masters, they have seen un-
folding day by day and week by week the
full infamy of the German purpose to de-
stroy the very foundations of our common
humanity. as it sought at Rheims to de-
strov the monuments of art and religion.
The victory of the Marine was triumph
of a spiritual over material civilization; 1t
was a victory for right and for justice ana
for the thing that has slowly formed out
of the aspirations, the sacrifices and the
labors of the centuries. The Prussian had
said in his heart "There is no law, there
is no Justice, there is no right, save only
those which my sword makes" lie had
thrust his sword through the scrap OF
naper which was the life Of Belgium, guar
anteed by the faith Of nations; he had
sent his hosts to slay, to dishonor, to abuse
the helpless and the weak; he had set his
artillery to play upon the cathedrals Of the
ages that were gone and he had trained
his soldiers to do violence to all the dictates
Of humanity.
Two years ago down all the roads that
lead from the French frontier women and
children fed before the horror that was
behind them and the smoke of their burn
ing villages rose about the dishonored
bodies of those who could not escape. or
trusted to the humanity Of Hun. These
bodies have already returned to dust, but
the ruins of those villages, the shattered
walls Of the churches, the defled affairs
and the disordered rooms in which the
Germans wrought their denominations re
main, and when the storm Of war has
passed many Americans will be able to see,
as some have already seen and know, what,
in truth, a German invasion meant in Au-
gust and September, 1914.
Numbers, machinery, training, all that
the gospel of materialism and the worship
Of power could provide, were with those
armies of Kluck and Bulow and Hansen
when they marched on TO the field Of the
Marne. They had come from victory TO
victory until even their pleasure in de-
struction had been satiated and they were
weary OF defling homes and outraging
the inmates. The murder Of civilians had
ceased even 10 amuse the German soldiers
September, at last. face 20 face with the
French race, making its last stand not far
distant from the fields in which another
generation had turned back the gentler
Huns Of Attila.
Many generations, not alone Of French
men, but Of Americans, Of the sons Of all
nations who love and serve democracy, will
rejoice that two years ago the soldiers Of
Maunoury and Foch and D'Esperey pre-
vailed. A thousand years from now men
may 20 10 the battlefield Of the Marine as
they 20 10 Marathon, 20 see the ground on
which The victory Of civilization over bar
barism guaranteed % them the benefits
and plorics which have become part Of
the heritage of I'll mankind The time has
not yet come when the mass Of American