The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-08-02

- past gives no hint for the Fourth
IXNSI has had many ups and downs in popu-
SvS\ larity and has seen radical changes
USAS in its observance But whatever the
nanner OF Its observance In the years to come,
tne Fourth of July will presumably have much
OF france In 1t, now that the ties between the
NATIONS formed in the Revolution have been
strengthened and cemented anew And as the
personifcatton of France stands Lafayette.
Lafayette. we have GOMEZ" said Pershing at
the Great Frenchman's tomb And In a sentence
ne told the whole story of our debt to France
and gave our promise of its payment. What
was that debt to France that we have paid? The
story Of Lafayette is the answer.
Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier
Marquis de Lafayette, was born September g.
1757, In the chateau Of Chavaniac, Auvergne,
France. He married In 1774 and entered the
French army. In 1776, in Metz, he heard the
buke Of Gloucester, brother Of George III, tell
the story Of the Declaration Of Independence and
the struggle Of the Americans. Then and there
ne determined to 60 to the assistance Of the
Americans in their fight for freedom.
To Lafayette there was every entcement to
remain in his native France, He was the pos
SCISSOR Of high rank. He had wealth. No military
or civic post within the gift Of the French throne
was beyond his reasonable ambition. And all the
pleasures and the delights Of polished witty
and luxurious court were at his feet
On the other hand were the certainty Of hard
ship, the risk Of death and the prospect Of no
reward save perhaps the grateful memory Of q
people who had nothing but gratitude to bestow
In America there was nothing to beckon him
but people whose ill-fed and ill-supplied troops
had sustained defeat, whose chief cities were In
the possession of the enemy, whose treasury was
bankrupt and whose prospects were that their
leaders would ascend the scaffold and their
masses be subjected to the brutal control Of a
king who knew little Of and sympathized less
with those conceptions Of freedom and those Inn
memorial rights which the colonsts had inherited
from their English ancestors
But there was in the heart CT this young and
high-born French nobleInan a sentiment which
had ruled him from his earliest boyhood-a sim
cere, profound and inspiring love Of liberty,
deep respect for the rights of men, a compelling
admiration for people who, In spite Of the most
formidable odds, possessed the hardihood and the
valor to take up arms in defense Of their free
dom.
The voices Of ease and of luxury and Of ambi-
ton that tempted Lafayette to remain In his own
native land were drowned in his ears by the
voice Of Liberty, calling from far-of shore. So
he voluntarily left all the delights and the honors
OF the most luxurious and the most polished
capital in the civilized world to cast in his lot
with the handful Of merchants farmers, hunters
and fsher-folk who were waging war for the
rights and the liberties which had been guaran-
teed to their fOrefatherS and to them Dy the
Great Charter, and which had been denied to
them by the German king who then sat on the
throne of Great Britain.
He offered his services to America. His king
forbade his going and the American commission
ers were not able to furnish him transportation.
Evading the officers sent to arrest him. he es-
caped in disguise, and in company with De Kalb
and number of French officers embarked from
a Spanish port on vessel which he had pur-
chased and after stormy voyage landed on the
shores of South Carolina. A journey OF 800 miles
on horseback, occupying a month. brought the
Young crusader to the city Of Philadelphia where
be presented his request to the American con-
rress there assembled. At first he met with
cnol reception. In consideration, however, OF the
fmportance OF his rank and family connections.
ana because OF his modest offer to serve as
volunteer at his own charges, be was looked
mon with more favor, and by q resolution OF
congress- he was. granted the complimentary rank
az major general In the army. Washington re
ceiyed him with the greatest Kindness gave him
Mace on his stan, and from that time forth
treated him asa son. The friendship then began
vas treasured by the young Frencnman as tne
most precious memory Of his public LIE.
There were giants In those days; examples;
washington Hamilton. franklin DuI u La
fayette his frierl4 De Val said:
srhers Is, the most wonderful man OF M's o.
sny other ase " Graduated non s0nese' ~
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