The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-09-12


the great Republic of the new world
For some year doctrines of liberty
equality and the rights of man had
been the absorbing topics Of discus
sion In France. Unrest pervaided all
classes. The masses were awaken
ing. The Declaration of Indepen.
dence was hailed as the noblest EN-.
bodiment of liberal ideas which the
world had ever seen. In the most
absolute and despotic monarchy in
Europe the most extreme theoretical
views concerning popular sovereign
ty were advanced. Franklin became
the idol of the hour, and his shrewd
republican features we're to be seen
painted on snuffboxes, medallions
and dinner plates of people of fash.
ion. 1t is stated that in an enter.
tainment given in his honor the
handsomest woman present crowned
his head with a wreath and imprinted
a kiss on each check,
But the struggling patriots in Am,
erica were In need of more material
aid, and 1t was largely due to the
Jealous efforts Of Lafayette during a
short leave at home that the French
expedition under Rochambeau was
sent to their assistance.
Without the union Of these fine
troops with the army of Washington,
without the timely arrival Of Admiral
de Grasse in Chesapeake Bay, the
Yorktown campaign of 1881 could not
have taken place, resulting as it did
in the surrender Of CORVALLIS and
the victorious conclusion Of the war.
Moreover, Lafayette's part in the
whole Virginia campaign in checking
Corvallis efforts to escape, in pre-.
venting the premature withdrawal Of
the French admiral and in the actual
final attack on the enemy won him
the highest commentator of Wash.
ington.
On his return to France LAFAYETTE
was hailed as hero, received with
popular rejoicing and met with the
royal favor and forgiveness. On
finding that he could be of most as
sistance to the American cause
through his influence at court he was
unwearied in aiding in every possible
way the efforts Of Franklin and JEFF.
ferson in obtaining loans and in i'm
proving the trade relations Of the
United States.
Happily for the world the i'll feel.
ing between us and the mother coun.
try has long since passed away. For
over a hundred years the friendship
and unity Of the two great branches
of the English speaking race have
been the assurance Of the continu.
ance of both nations, and the present
war is but uniting more firmly these
bonds of brotherhood and union.
1t is not because of his great dual.
tiles as soldier and a statesman
that Lafayette won the love and ad.
miration Of America, but rather be.
cause Of his enthusiastic and lifelong
devotion to the cause Of liberty, and
for his generous sacrifices for us in
the dark hour of our nations history
1t is because the people of France,
actuated by this same spirit, have
stood like stone WALL guardians Of
freedom while we were arming, that
the soul of America is so joyfully re-
spending in this great attack on the
liberties Of all nations.
Before the opening of the red
drama of the French Revolution,
while on tour through Germany,
Lafayette was entertained for some
days at Potsdam by Frederick the
Great, then an old man.
The conversation was mainly about
America, and the crafty king predict.
ed that the American Republic would
not long endure. Liberal ideals
were at that date also at a discount
In Prussia. The book of kingcraft
which Frederick compiled and left as
guide for his heir is full of perfid-
ious precepts and maxims on the con-
duct Of foreign affairs for the adj.
vancement of Prussia at the expense
of neighboring States. The plan Of
the Potsdam Conference of 1914. out.
lining the world conquest and the
vassalage of the United States to
Germany, is the fruit of this old pol.
icy. The political ethics of his rob-
Der ancestor have now for many
years been practised by the present
ruler of the Hohenzollerns, whose
cold blooded policy of pillage and de-
struction of neighboring States un.
der the hypocritical plea of bestow.