The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-07-04

chief of the American armies; and how. when
Washington did arrive. Lafayette of the
very first to lead o storming party; how Admiral
de Grasses fleet did all and more than could be
expected of it. 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 the
colonies consisted of 1000 men of Washington 3
army 5000 under Rochambeau and 5000 of De
Grasses French marines and sailors
Would it have been possible for us to win with
out the aid of France? Washington and Frank
lin believed not 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:
st Gods Will"
1t will always be mucl-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
fully 2,000000,000 liyres Much Information
will be found in his "Histoire Financiere de Ia
France depuis 1715." Fiske in his Critical
Period" puts the expenditure of France at I4O0.-
100000 francs. Treveyan states the following
in note TO his American Revolution 1T was
calculated that between the years 177S and 1873
the with England the French treasury
f4S000,000. 1t the main cause of those finan-
caI difficulties which led Immediately up TO the
Revolution of 1889" This would be equivalent
to 200 100000 lfvres (francs), S240000000. at
time when the purchasing power of money was
nearly three times what ii is in our day.
When victory was ours Lafayette went home
France. He came back for short time in
1854 Then came the French revolution. Lafay-
cite from first to last consistently advocated
limited constitutional monarchy for France His
experiences were many, including five years in
an Austrian prison, from which he released
by Napoleon In 1877.
In 1924, when Lafayette was sIxty-seven he was
invited by President Monroe to visit the United
States. He came the guest of the nation in
pursuance of unanimous resolution passed by
congress. The occasion the dedication Of
Bunker Hill monument. He made triumphfl
tour of the twenty -four states of the UnoI..
Every possible honor showered upon him.
Probably the most moving event in the whole tour
was his visit to the tomb of Washington The
climax the ceremony at Bunker Hill
Lafayette lived ten years longer. When Pres
ident Andrew Jackson heard the news of his death
in 1884 ne ordered behalf of the whole Amer-
can people 'that the same honors be rendered
upon this occasion at the different military and
naval stations observed upon the deeeaso
of Washington the Father of His Country, and
his contemporary in arms.
Lafayette has been dead So years His clay IS
dust. But his soul still lives. 1t has breathed
courage into the breasts of war-worn French sol
diers 1t has wept over the deported, enslaved
and outraged women of his native land--over the
slaughter of the innocents. And who may doubt
that his soul called across the ocean:
Help us America Help us as helped you,''
At first we did not hear, if hearing. did not
answer But at last we heard and needed and
vent The fighting of France staggering
With wounds dizzy with fatigue, and the women
If France, white with horror impending
ate worse than death, saw the StarSpangled
Banner afar and cried in thankfulness:
.'The Americans coming
We arriyed-young. husky smiling, larking
lighting men, The French loved us for looks
nd our ways. But could we fight? Then
une and Chateau-Thierry, when we stopped the
lower of the German shock troops in their tracks.
tucked In turn, put the Hun the run and
ept him running, No wonder all France went
elirious with joy
That was what we promised through BLACK
ack'' Pershing, when he saluted at the tomb in
he little cemetery of Picpus in Paris and said
Lafayette. are here.
And made the promise good. He and his
oung husky smiling, Iarkng. fighting men struck
he finishing blow which guaranteed that French
en may pursue their honest toll in peace and
lat French women, with babe at breast may
eep at night without fear of the Beast.
Such was Lafayette great soul, gallant
,ul the living embodiment of the noblest ideal
r which generously live and gloriousIy
e.
sThe liberty we hold secure
The soil on which tread.
That air of freedom that we breathe.
The flag that floats o'erhead
That nation on whose history
The sun shall set
All that We have and hold we owe