The sun., 1917-09-06
LAFAYErrE,s ADVICE.
Let Our People "Comblne Public En-.
ergy with Democraticsl Freedom"

To THE EDITOR OF THE SyN--sir La
fayette's birthday recalls some inter-
esting correspondence Of famous SOL
diers and statesmen. On looking over
a collection of original letters Of cele-
brated French Generals OF the Ameri-
can and French revolutions I find one
Of the noble patriot and lifelong
friend Of Washington. Geheral Oil
bert du Motier Lafayette. The letter
Is written in English. two pages
quarto. and addressed to James Madi-
son. Secretary Of State under Thomas
jefferson. and dated from Paris. Feb
ruary 8. 1909. Thomas Jefferson, au-
thor of the Declaration Of 1nde-
pendence. was President Of the United
States at this period and Madison was
Secretary Of State. Jefferson retired
on March to his estate. Monticello.
after serving the country for eight
years. having declined a third term
Madison was elected to be President
on March 4. 1909. It was less than
one month after MadisoUs election as
President that General Lafayette
replied to his (Madison's) letter of
DcCoIlucI ', loUos WIFI tIIe fOIlOWluk
interesting communication.
PATRICK r. MADIoAN.
New York, September 8.
PARIS, Feb. Sth, 1909.
My DEAR SIR: Your letter December
the 4th has safely come to hand. hear
you are by this time in New York where
my letter goes by the first packet since
their new establishment at the Havre.
We now wish to have free port at the
mouth Of the Seine, which may add
\ new convenience to the America n
trade. We arr told the disturbances
edge we have Of the temper OF TIE
people In America. their inclination to
truth. and the difference between Amer
lean instructions and European mobs,
confess these disturbances have great
ly alarmed me. hate to hear those
Institutions abused, the principles Of
which ] know to be right. I clearly see
that the consequence of America OF
which their political and material pros
perity in a measure depends. snG that
even the cause of freedom at large are
greatly injured by several transactions
that have taken place since the peace.
I know that the good sense Of the peo-
pie will prevail. hope that your Con-
vention will help to strengthen the Con-
federation, regulate trade. form a gen.
eral and Republican system Of militia.
ana combine public energy with demo-
cratical freedom. hope that Euro
peans will no more have occasion to
complain. and at the same time no en-.
couragement to be insolent. and to
keep those grounds which belong to the
United States. But. my. dear friend. II
is hard to wait
| have transmitted to Mr.. jay a new
Copy Of the old letter OF Count de
Florida Blanca to me, which. for OBJ
vious reasons. should be known. Hc
has no objection to the Navigation OF
the Mississippi. but with private dispute
so that IL he is made sensible that the
stopping OF the Navigation is more apt
TO make disputes than to prevent them
his objections must be removed. or
he Acknowledges himself not to be con-
sequent to his principles.
The Assembly Of Notables is on leave
which does honour to the King and his
Ministers. and I hope will do good "a
the Country. TIE objects before us will
be Of the utmost Importance. will
let you know the result of our dc.
liberatiors. This Assembly IS not as
they pretend to he in England and are
in measure a representation Of the
Nation duly elected. But as It Is com.
posed Of men not so Marshally divided
into two Armies as Ia the case in
England. think our session will be
more interesting and more to the pur.
pose than that Of the British Soidlsant
House OF Representatives There /,
in the Trench Assembly good collcc.
tion Of property and abilities, hut. tx.
cept the bishops ard Magistrates not a
great deal of acting in public bodies
have great hopes this will lead to As.
sembiies in the provinces that viii
prove very useful
Our frien1. Jefferson. intends a Jour.
ney to the SOUTH He Is UNIVERSAL,
beloved and respected at Court and in
Paris. and as he is equally enlisht.
ened and zeaous he cannot but render
the greater services 10 his Country
God Bless YOU. my dear Sir | ar
most affectionately,
Your sincere friend.
LAFAYETTE.
That there is also a character much
suited to us as well as a mode! Honest
anG able young man.