Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
COUNTRY OBSERVES
DOUBLE MEMORIAL
I september 8 Marks Birthday Ami
versaiy Of Lafayette and Bat
tic Of tho Marine.
THIS NATIONS DEBT TO FRANCE
Had II Not Been for Young Noble.
man. 1t Might To-Day Be Colony
OF Brdtain-Old Memories of Ma
lions Friend Revived.
BH CASSIE MoNCURE LYME,
Author Of "The Critic, .The FiKh,
Witk Mexico" and "From tho
t,-.. mo IN Sno

Alamo to sun Jacinto.@
- BY one of those curious coinciden
OF history, the 6th OF September marks
not only the birthday anniversary OF
Lafayette, Americas first French ally,
but tB a date made doubly memorable
i by the battle OF the Marne.
That is why the country seeks to
make the occasion this year day
which will revive old memories. and
bring to the minds Of n grateful ma
ton enjoying an independence which
this brave Frenchman helped to estab-
lish: full and just appreciation of
all that France. through him. did for
US. in the days when. weak and
struggling people. Lafayette stood
shoulder TO shoulder with Washington
at Valley Forge and Yorktown.
The fact that he was French makes
him seem little nearer kin II posi-
bic, little more dear by racial afec-
tions. with the people OF the South.
than to other sections OF the United
States. To Maryland. where he figured
both in the social and military life at
Annapolis: to Richmond. which he
saved from capture by the British: to
South Carolina, where the winds OF
fate first landed him as volunteer
Tor our army. at the home OF Huger.
line. and to the land OF Dixie at large,
because OF its overwhelming Huguenot
and French population.
Not that the South seeks any mo-
nopoly on Lafayette; not that the
South does not know history sufficient
20 realize all Lafayette did for New
England. New York and Philadelphia,
in campaigns with Sullivan and Greene.
but his blood was French. and that
made him racially the pet here OF the
descendants Of the followers of Henry
OF Navarro. who had sought the West
eFn Hemisphere. as land offering to
their love of liberty. the inaliena BILE
Fights OF man and freedom Of reliS ion.
That Lafayette stood for this kind of
democracy against autocracy. was
proven by his taking ship for America
against the orders of the Bourbon
king. and Offering his sword 10 the
Continental Congress. then in session
1t Philadelphia. That Lafayette learn
cd to love as brothers. all the soldiers
who served with him throughout the
Revolution, is shown by his subse-
Quent visits to the United States.
where. as Jefferson said. He was re-
ceived with a welcome, never accorded
crowp-head." His wonderful life
Sc the adjunct Of Washington. his fine
military skill in thwarting Clinton,
his great service to Jefferson when
minister TO France, after our indie
penoence was attained: all that would
NIL reams. but space forbids dealing
with those milestones, Trenton, Nor
ristown. Brnndywinc, and Newport.
which marked the trail that led to
: Cornwallis's surrender. Lafayette
: later life in France. when that cffetc
monarchy sought TO rid itself of the
shackles OF oppression and stand forth
In the glorious light of liberty: La
fayette's imprisonment in Austria,
which lasted for years; his part in
freeing France from the military heel
OF Napoleon. which virtually relcgated
that military ccspot TO Hclena--all
that Is written in the faithful histories
Of the Republic OF the United States
and the Republic OF France. He was
truly the godfather of our indepen-
dence and the foster-father OF French
liberty.
Appreciation Of His Services.
How truly America appreciated the
services of Lafayette is shown by his
statue rising in nearly every city OF
any size along our Atlantic seaboard
His bronze figure occupies the position
of honor in the square which bears
his name. Immediately opposite the
White House. His statue stands to-day
In the city OF Paris. just opposite the
Louvre. sif, from tho public school
children Of kinsrica!' His example in
Bpired hundreds Of young Americans &c
offer their services TO France before
this country saw tn. necessity of de-
clarinE that state OF war existed
between the United States and tho i'm
pfrial German government. To-day
somewhere in France" the American
flying unit bears the distinction Of his
name, Lafayette escadrille" All this
IS his rtshtfui due. for Lafayette vas
no nero soldier of fortune or exile
from France. but nobieman with ar
income OF $4,000 a year. who left his
castle to share the cold and sieet and
rags OF Valley Forge! He was popu-
lar at the court Of Versailles. a favor
tie of Marie Antoinctte, and through his
powerful family connections and the
influence which he eNerted. Lafayette
was the power behind French sympathy
in securing for America the money
which successfully financed American
independence!
France. Our Financial FPieBd.
II is all right on the Fourth Of July
for us to talk of patriotism and Bunker
Hill and Lexington, but such feeble
efforts without a recunary basis would
amount to no more than Xapata and
Villas guerilla warfare. Not that tho
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