The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-10-10


The increasing activity OF her rail-.
way system Is similarly demonstrate
nblc In 1863. there were IN France
10,Tl3 miles of railway track: In 1912,
there were 31.548 miles.
Between 1869 and 1912, inland nnvi.
cation increased 100 per cent; while
the traffic of her mercantile marine
entering French ports In 1869 Is set
down as 100000 tons. In 1912
this had been Increased to 53,OO0,000
tons.
Leaders In American finance nscribe
this solidarity OF tho French republic
to three influences first. II thoroughly
sound banking system. centralized In
one of the greatest banking institutions
OF the world the Bank OF France: sec.
ond. the Ingrancd thrift and frngnlIry
of the French people as n whole. to-
gcthcr with II national economic vlgor
not elsewhere surpassed: third. wise
supervision. and patriotic cooperation
by the government with banking and
business interests.
The government does Its pnrt to war.
rant AMI retain the confidence Of the
holders of It's securities. One OF Its
wise policies Is to impose new taxes to
dcfray the Interest charges on new Sc
curlty issues. II began this practice
after the Franco-prussian war. and IN
today following the same rule In regard
To securities issued To finance the pres.
ent conflict. This continuity of pur-
pose. doubtless, VIII prove renssurlng
to MI holders OF French government
securities.
The Franco-PruSsian war OF 1870.
1871 taught the French people the
meaning Of thrift ana economy. SO
We'll did they learn this lesson, that
the whole sum of the Indemnity de-
manded Ivy Germany. S1O0O.OO0,ooo.
was raised within the republics con
fines lay It's own inhabitants and paid
nn more than one year before the time
stipulated by the Germans.
The lMbit thus acquired has never
been forgotten by the French, and to-
day the aggregate number OF Investors
purchasing the French war lonns has
reached the nmnZng total NJ l.JOD.UN
individual subscribers Perhaps no 9th
rr country In proportion to it's populn-
lion. can make 50 good showing.
France is particularly fortunate in
that her snail investors prefer safe"
investments rather than offerings
which promise high returns. Govern.
mcnt ronlcS In Fvnncc are rerpe,u.
al. and this characteristic seems 10 oh.
tain for these government bonds in.
'rcasnr favor In the eyes of the
French people.
The points pf Sympathy hctweci.
France aud America are too many 10
cnumerntc. hut III" spirit of liberty and
rs resultant democracy are. tohuy ~
always. the mnior Ideals Of both ma
tions. Seeking no victories but those
ot peace, no tcrrltory except their own.
no sovereignty except Sovereignty over
themselves the Independence aud
equal rights OF the weakest member Of
the family 81 naiIoGs are to the people
nf IN" United States aud of France en-.
Titled tn MS much respect rs thns, Of
the mighilcSt empire In defense ~
hrsc principles. France Is engaged In
Il death struggle with militant uutoc.
trcy AMI ruthless aggression mud II Is
not surprising To learn TINT she has
loaned To her allies aud To other friendly
states 7,pOOon,OD francs with which
To- further The cnuse OF democracy. II
Is In keeping with Americas traditions
TINT since the date on which we for
ninlly aligned ourselves with France
and her allies In the great struggle.
orr government has lent TO France
$40 100000.
II Is cmlncntly hitting that America
should now he lighting on French soil
To make the world safe for democracy.
The liberty that America hns enjoyed
for l-i0 years France helped her to
achieve. The swords of Lafayette and
li"chnmhcau. aided by the guns Of De
Ginssc upon the high seas. assisted In
cutting the foreign ties that bound the
American colonies prior TO the War for
Independence, and from the private
purse OF King Louis himself came the
first loan 20 AmerIcn-unse curcd and
micondltionnl--io finance that historic
undertaking. 1t was with entire Jus
tice that Washington wrote To Hochan.
beau, ITO the generous aid Of your M.
tIon and To the bravery OF Its sons is
t" he ascrlhcd In very great degree
that Independence FOR which We have
fought"