The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-07-25
we are
here In these simple
words, General Pershing

N6AT$SSN mere. In Cn0Sc Simple
VHEg@gA words, General Pershing
E0y gave eloquent expression
to the thought that America today
is but paying her debt to France.
The words of General Pershing
were spoken as he stood at the
tomb of Lafayette, French aristo-
crat by birth but democrat at heart,
who gave his own services and
fortune to the cause of American
independence and was instrumental
in bringing from France the aid
that turned the tide in favor of the
revolutionists.
Those of the present generation
who are not familiar with early
American history are apt not to
realize the magnitude of the debt
which the United States owes to
France and to the memory of the
gallant Lafayette. In the dark
hours before the dawn of freedom
for America, France poured forth
her men and money in quantities
that were in those days most i'm
pressive.
1t is not generally remembered
that France furnished more troops
than America at the battle of
Yorktown, where final victory was
won for the struggling colonists.
In that battle there were engaged
$500 militia under Gen. Thomas
Nelson, $500 continentals under
Generals Washington. Lafayette
and Alexander Hamilton and 1000
French under Rochambeau, be-
sides the French feet of nineteen
ships at anchor in the York, CON-.
manded by De Grasse. Altogether.
the to.al military, naval and trans
port service which France sent to
our aid in the American revolution
amounted to AZ, ,989 men and 80
vessels of war and transports.
France, moreover, advanced to
the depleted treasury of the revol-
utionists the equivalent of $50, ,O00,-
600, without interest, a loan or
gift which she has never claimed.
Furthermore she agreed, and adj
hered absolutely to the compact,
that she would ask no share in
such territory or booty as might
be incident to victory. This agree
ment was the more remarkable in
view of the fact that England had
but short time before taken the
richest of French possessions-the
Dominion of Canada.
And it was almost wholly due to
Lafayette that this invaluable aid
was given by France to the new
republic.
At the time of the Declaration
of Independence of the United
States, Lafayette was only in his
nineteenth year. His life had been
one of ease and luxury. His fami-
ly was among the most eminent in
France. He was nobleman with
the title of marquis. He never
had encountered those Influences
that usually lead people in the fight
for democracy. But, as if it we're
a vision calling him Lafayette saw
the new spark of liberty struck in
the West. The greatest fight of
the world was being fought for the
greatest ideal in the world.
The youth of nineteen realized
this, and in the tight he was deter
mined to take part. He made
known his intention, but he was
forbidden by royal command to
leave France. He escaped to Spain,
and from there aboard vessel he
had purchased himself sailed for
America. He landed in Charles
ton and set forth Immediately to
Congress, which was then in ses-
sion at Philadelphia.
His name and fame had preceded
him, yet such was the unsettled
state of affairs that when Lafayette
went to Philadelphia, Congress was