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

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chief Of the American armies; and how. when
washington did arrive, Lafayette was one Of the
very first to lead storming party: how Admiral
de Grasses feet did all and more than could be
expected of II. until Lord CORVALLIS and his
army had surrendered and been disarmed. are
facts that every good American knows.
In this final struggle the whole force of tho
colonies consisted Of 1000 men Of washingtons
army. 600 under Rochambeau and 5000 Of De
Grasses French marines and sailors
/. Would 1t have been possible for Us to win with.
out the aid of Francei Washington and Frank.
lin believed pot Fifty years afterward when
the question was asked Of Charles Carroll OF
Carrollton. then the only alive who had
signed the Declaration OF Independence. that
venerable Christian and statesman replied:
ut Gods will."
1t will always be a much-vexed question how
much financial aid France rendered America. II
seems Impossible to straighten out the account.
Professor Marion Of the College of France has
expressed the opinion that the total expenditures
were fully 2O0O,OO0OO0 Iivres. Much information
will be found In his "Histolre Financiere de Ia
France depuls 1715." Fiske In his Critical
Period" puts the expenditure Of France at 1.400-
100000 francs. Trevelyan states the following
In note to his american Revolution:" 1T was
calculated that between the years IT'S and l765
the war with England cost the French treasury
f48O00O00. II was the main cause of those hnan-
cial difficulties which led immediately up to the
Revolution of 17S9" This would be equivalent
to 1.2O00Oo.OOO livres (francs). or $240O00Ooo It
a time when the purchasing power Of money was
nearly three times what It is In our day.
When victory was ours Lafayette went hsnt
TO France He came back for . short time In
1854 Then came the French revolution. LAfhy.
cite from nrSt- to last consistently advocated .
limited constitutional monarchy for Funce. HE
experience were many, Including nve yeau IN
an Austrian prison, from which - - re1eesed
By Napoleon n 1871. Isl ~ ~.
In 1874 whes Lafhystte wns saxty ,oovony - ~
invited b. President Monroe TO vinit ~ United
States He csme ~ the guest Of he nation IN
pursuance n unanimous resolution passed By
congress. The occasion was the dedication Of
Bunker Hill monument. He made triumphAI
tour Of the twenfy-four states Of the Uhios:.
Every possible honor sh0wered upon him.
Probably the most moving event In the whole tour
was his visit to the tomb Of washinston. The
climax was the ceremony ct Bunker sHilL 4
Lafayette lived ten years longer. When Pres'
ident Andrew Jackson heard the news Of bic death
in 1884 h. ordered on behalf Of the whole Amsri-
car people that the same h0n0rs Be rendered
upon this occasion at the different military and
naval stations % were observed upon the deeeaDv
of Warrington. the Father NJ His Country. and
his contemporary In armA" ~
Lafayette has been dead s. years. HIS clay n
dust. Hut bis soul still lives. II has breatheil
courage into the breasts Of war-worn French soi-
dierH II has wept over the deporfed. enslavetf
and outraged women Of HIS native land-over the
slaughter Of the fnnocents. And who may doubt
that his soul called across the ocean:
Help us. Americai Help M a. helped yeus
At first we did not hear. or II hearing, did not
answer. But at last we heard and needed ard
went The hghting men Of France. stssserins
with wounds. dizzy with fatigue. and the women
fate worse than death. saw the Star-Spangied
Banner affair and cried in thankfulness:
THE Americans are comIng!~ M
We arrived-young. husky. smiling larkine
fighting men. The French loved us for our Iooks
and our ways. But could We Aght7 Then came
June and Chafeau-Thierry. when we stopped the
flower Of the German shock troops In their tracks.
attacked in turn. put the Hun the run anil
kept him runningi No wonder all France went
delirious with Joy.
That was what we promised through Black
jack Pershng. when he saIuted ct the tomb IN
the little cemetery Of Picpus In Paris and said:
Lafayette. are here"
And we made The promise good He and his
young. husky. smiling. larking fighting men struck
the finishing blow which guaranteed that French
men may pursue their honest toll In peace and
hat French women. with babe Mt breast, may
sleep ut night without fear OF the Beast
Such was Lafayette-a great soul, q Gallant
null. the living embodiment of the noblest ideal
Tor which men can generously live and gloriousiy
Ne.
The liberty we hold secure
The soil which We tread.
That air OF freedom that we breathe.