The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-06
Our Debt to France
(By Caroline Ticknor OF the
XiRilantesD

What is our debt to France?
Let us glance back to those dark
! days of 1878, that tried mems souls.
Some think the declaration of indie
pendence established our independ-
ence, forgetting the years which fol-
lowed, when our tottering cause
made even Washington despair.
Prior to the declaration, France
lad sent over a million dollars to aid
US, and in October, 1875. our three
commissioners were sent to France
TO plead for us. Benjamin franklin
negotiations soon brought forth fruit,
and 1t was agreed that France should
furnish us two million livres a year;
and three ships laden with military
stores were dispatched to assist US.
Then, though the government Of
France was not prepared to send us
troops, volunteers were not wanting,
who cast their lot in with the cause
Of liberty. Lafayette. though but
10 years of age, bought and fitted out
a vessel, sailing in April, 1777. From
this time on, numerous individuals in
France contributed large sums Of
money, among them the beautiful
Duchess of Orleans, who gave to
John Paul Jones at one time $4,000
to fit out the Bon Homme Richard"
donating IL she said, Ito the great
cause OF Which he was the ablest
and bravest champion Of the sea-"
The arrival of Lafayette, at a mo-
ment of grave perplexity for Wash
ington, brought cheer and inspira-
ton. Washington welcomed almost
as a son, the modest Frenchman, who
said, II am here to learn and not to
teach" and who during the next two
years rendered such brilliant mill
tary service, returning to France in
1879 to secure for us the help he saw
that we must have. He urged the
immediate sending of $4,000 troops,
and of the necessary fleet, and in
April, 1880, he returned to America,
announcing the success of his mis-
sion.
Timely Aid.
This good news came in times of
deepest gloom when even the valiant
spirit of Washington was almost
The army was freez-
ing. starving, and without money or
clothes. The soldiers, without shoes,
left bloody footprints behind them
as they marched. The finances were
in a most deplorable condition and
paper currency was truly mot worth
n continental" Indian corn sold in
Boston for $3.50 bushel; butter for
$12 a pound: a barrel of flour cost
81 ,575, and Samuel Adams paid 50, 900
for a suit of clothes; 1t took ten
paper dollars to make cent. And
Washington declared "a wagonload
of money was needed to buy a wa
load OF food" 1t was then that
the glorious tidings came, France
would send men and ships and gold.
There was indeed rejoicing when in
July, seven ships of the-line and
three frigates. arrived at Newport,
bringing 5000 men under Count Ro-
chambeau, with news of reinforce
ments to come. And so the year of
1880, which had witnessed the an
Inhalation Of two armies, the bank
ruptcy of congress, the spread Of
treason and mutiny, brought a great
hope from France. And the an
nouncement of the French alliance
placed us before all Europe as an
acknowledged Independent nation.
Could we compare the interest upon |
the money which France bestowed, |
1t would immeasurably exceed our
powers of calculation. And If we es-
innate the debt in men, we have the !
statement of the Prince de Joinville |
that France in the war of the Revo- |
luton lost $4,000 men and 25 ships |
Of the-line," a loss not all on this |
side of the water but all resulting |
from the American alliance.
The debt to France is more than |
we can ever pay because II is the !
price OF our great national existence, |
but we can do our best to pay at |
least, a fraction of the debt which |
made us free.