Evening star., 1932-04-03

OF course, the plan of camp-ign w-s Wash
ingtons He and Rochambeau blilt up the
scheme to its climax, but it was De Grasse
who furthered the work and added the final
mastery touch that assured success This is
why the American people shculd delight to
honor this great French warrior and our good
friend in time of greatest need Yet 1t is a
lamentable fact that until quite recently his
name had become almost forgotten among us,
his great deeds on our behalf erased from
memory. And no monument in any way ade-
quate to properly show our gratitude has been
reared to him.
1t is true, De Grasse is supposed to be repre-
sented among the four officers placed in
group around the shaft of the statue to Lafay-
ette in Lafayette Park in Washington. How
ever no names appear to indie te to the pubic
who these men really are. De Grasse Is sup
posed to be the southern figure ON the east
side of the monument. The one to the north
of him is supposed to be Admiral d'Estaing.
while on the west side appear Du Portail ana
Rochambeau, to the north and uth, respec-
lively.
This statue gives a wholly erroneous idea Of
De Grasses importance in the drama OF the
Revolution. De Grasse played major part,
net a subordinate one, and he vas certainly
not subordinate to Lafayette There stand
proudly pedestaled in this beautiful Lafayette
Park in addition to the Lafayette statue, the
bronze efigies of other distinguished men OF
foreign blood who rendered valuable service in
the Revolution, such as Ro2hambeau, Won
Steuben and Kosciuszko. Let us hope the
above mentioned bill, just introduc ed in Con-
gress, may bear fruit, to the end that there
will soon be erected in the Capital City
splendid statue to De Grasse, adequately com
memorative of this great man; this true knight
in every meaning CT the word
Washington ardent admirer of this
valiant Frenchman. He a man after his
own heart. A man that did things and got
results. Through his close association with the
admiral a sincere affection grew up between
them. This was manifested frequently in their
correspondence during and after the siege Of
Yorktown. In letter written by Washington
on May is. 17sS he said, among other things.
1.-The friendship which I had the happi-
ness to contract with you, my dear general.
at our operations in Virginia, has never
been abated in my mind, and will remain
a pleasing and constant companion of my
future life.
Whether I shall have it in my power to
renew my affection for your excellency by
embracing you in Europe, cannot at present
declare-but should ever have the happi-
ness of meeting you again, either in Europe
or America, you may be assured I should
place the event among the most fortunate
circumstances of my life"
1t may be stated that after this great man
was laid in his grave, in 1888, and the horrors
Of the French revolutAn had engulfed his
native land, his daughters, then living, and a
son fed to this country where they were ten
dered every care through the ministrations of
Washington. The daughters remained and
married here. Their blood flows in the veins
of some of New York's foremost families, such
as the Foxes, the livingstons, the Kirkpatricks,
Schuylers and Redmonds.