Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-06-27

49, In its observance. But whatever the
.nanner OF its observance in the years to come
u.e Fourth Of July will presumably have muci,
| VI france In It, now that the ties between the
nations formed In the Revolution have been
strengthened and cemented anew. And as the
Personincaffon Of France stands Lafayette
lafayette. we have Gomez said Pershing at
.ne Great Frenchman's tomb. And In q sentence
ne toid the whole story Of our debt to France
ana gave our promise of its payment. What
was tnat debt to France that we have paid? The
story OF Lafayette Ii the answer
Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier.
Marquis de Lafayette. was born September 6,
1907. IN the chateau Of Chavaniac Auvergne
france. He married In 1774 and entered the
French army. In 1776. In Metz he heard the
duke Of Gloucester. brother OF George III. tell
the story Of the Declaration Of independence and
the struggle of the Americans. Then and there
he determined to % to the assistance Of the
Americans In their fight for freedom.
To Lafayette there was every enticement to
remain IN his native France, He was the pos
SCISSOR Of high rank, He had wealth. No military
or civic post within tie gift Of the French throne
was beyond HE rcosonabIe ambition. And all the
pleasures and TIE deIghts Of Z polished. witty
and luxurious court were at his feet.
On the other hapd syae the certainty Of hard.
snlp the rask .cf 49, <and Ne pss1pset. of. -
reward save perhaps the gratsful memory Of
~.
In America there was nothing 10, beckoo him
but people whose iIl-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 scafIoId ana their
masses be subjected TO the brutal control of
king who knew little Of and sympathised less
with those conceptions Of freedom and those I'M
memorial rights which the colonists had Inherited
from their English ancestors. . fn
But there was in the heart Of this young and
high-bOrn French nobleman sentiment which
had ruled him from his earliest boyhood-a sin.
cere, profound and inspiring love Of liberty. .
deep respect for the rights Of men. compelling
admiration for q 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
tion that tempted lafayette to remain In his own
native land were drowned in his ears BY the
voice of Liberty. calling from far-on 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 hsher-folk who were waging war for the
rights and the liberties which had been guaran-
teed to their forefathers and to them BY the
Great Charter. and which had been denied to
them Dy the German king VINO then Sot on the
throne of Great Britain 'ea
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 esL
caped in disguise and In company with De Kalh
and q number Of French officers embarked from
. Spanish port on a vessel which he had pur-
chased and after stormy voyage landed on the
shores Of South Carolina. journey Of 800 miles
On horseback. occupying a month. brought the
Young crusader to the city of Philadelphia. where
he presented his request to the American COLI
yress there assembled At first he met with a
,ool reception. In consideration, however. of the
Importance OF his rank and family connections.
md because Of his modest offer to serve an
rolurteer at HIS charges. he was looked
Ipon with more favor. and by a resolution Of
congress he was granted the complimentary rank
# major general In the army. Washington re-
'eived him with the greatest kindness. gave him
place on his stan. and from that time forth
reattd him us son. The friendship then began
vas treasured by tie young Frenchman As the
most precious memory Of his public life.
There were gian.s in those days: examples:
Wa 81, ngton Hamilton. Franklin. But Of La
ayette his friend De Val said
~There Is the most wonderful man Of this or
my other age. He graduated from college. has