The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-03


in all the large cities along the At
lantic seaboard. peoples memories
were beginning to grow hazy in these
days of rush and turmoil. as TO Just
what this Frenchman had done for
the United States. But. when events
like the battle of the Marine rfveted
all eyes on bleeding France, our dead
ened appreciation began to stir from
it's torpor and memory harked back
to those days Of Trenton, Valley Forge
andy orkte~n-~hen- Lafayette IA q
come so nobly to the struggling et.
forts of young America TO rid herseli
from oppression.
Our congressman began to quote
statistics to show business like Amer
lea thatrif no moral Obligation called
US to Frances aid in this her Garden
of Gethsemane, we, as self-respect-
ing people, must not forget the $50,
100000 that France sent us. which
ena bled Washington to defeat Corn
wallis. The majority of young Amer
leans had thought little this tremen.
dous sum in money which France had
furnished TO our depleted treasury
for which she has never asked return
or any interest.
Be it also rememb ered. France held
absolutely to her compact that al
booty and territory which resulted
from a successful close of our wal
with Great Britain was to accrue TO
the United States,
This was generosity persQnifled; for
England had but recently deprived
France of her HIGHEST possession--the
Dominion of Conoda-which went tc
Great Britain for the alliance which
France held with Austria In the Sever
Years war.
That the United States IN her In
fancy drove such keen bargains viii
the French ministry was the achieve
ment of Franklin's Yankee brain
that willy old diplomat, whose hands
Lafayette upheld at the cnnrt o
King Louis.
Who Was He?
Let us look at this Lafayette, &c
/ better idea Of his personality ant
study the motives which brought him
across the Atlantic to offer his swort
to the continental congress. then II
! OF the Paris mob, clamor!ng for lib
erty," but a French nobleman, witt
| an income of $40. 1000 annually, with
t chateau in France. and popular a
! the court OF Marie Antoinette. Blu
| Lafayette, though born q noble, va
at heart the most sincere demo ii
| France and eager for the uplift o
all humanity
| When he heard through the Duk
| of Gloucester. a brother of Georg
III OF England. who WAS then II
exile at Metz, of the revolt OF tn
American colonies against the despot
| ism of their Hanoverian monarch
/ Lafayette at once resolved to offe
| his services to Washington.
King Louis Opposition,
/ But no sooner did his intention
reach the ears OF the Bourbon king
I than lettres de cachet, or warrants
were issued by Louis, forbidding La
Fayette to leave France,
| Whether the French monarch
| foresight "a characteristic he ha
never been accused~et possessing) say
| in the spirit OF Lexington and Bunke
! Hill the match Which would sprea'
republican ruie through the world
| or whether cowardice lest England
| the mistress Of the seas, would exac
| satisfaction for interference with he
colony of Am ertcan can not be said
but Louis was obdurate. The Frenc
ministry though were secretly delight
ed. seeing in this expression of silen
sympathy through Lafayette as 8
| individual the means of humiliatin
the English, The marquis could 6
| as free lance: while sacred treatte
made it impossible for France to com
boldly forward as the ally of the ne'
/ republic in the West. 1t was on
dsof those hair-spiifttng phiiosophies
questions OF ethics which Frankli
and the French ministry could hes
discuss Be 1; ever remem hered, how
ever, that to LaFayette's bravery an
Lafayette personality America owe
| French interest He fathered ou
couse at the French court When OF
! - /
i person TO glamor French hero-wol
ship with the presence of a wounde
soldier. who without recorpense, ha
chosen the side of the weak. Benjs
man Franklin knew how to play {
the gallery He fiirted with the belle
and beauties In patch and powder
he battered Marie Antoinette; b,
never was finer sarcasm wasted on
lackey than when reminded by
turnkey as he sought Nto enter III
legislative halls at Paris. You has
forgotten your wig sir !" Frankii
Just laughed Tin his sleeve) as h
my head
IaFayette's Voyage.
II is a thrilling story of darinl
for lovers OF romance to read-ho
= Ia H apette escaped the surveillance
the kings men and made good h
trst departure for America The
had heard OF his purchasing a vesse
which he chrisfened La victoire
in which he planned to sail Henc
officers of the king watched the por'
of France, and the marquis. to e.
cape them. had 70 hide in a barn fl
three days. Meanwhile, they secure
the country. Then Lafayette hinlse
mounted the saddle. and pressed Z
ahead TO engage a relay of horse
while his coach followed empty.
the questions OF the guard IL the in,
keeper had seen him, a pretty wenc
gave testimony that the coach ha
passed. but no such person as thu
described was within" Thanks
this statement. Lafayette made h
escape to Spain. where he sailed fro
Cadix for America,
J Lands In South Carolina.
: The voyage lasted two months ar
-. u L T. -