TRIBUTES TO
LAFAYETTE.
It is certainly not strange that when
America entered the
World War thoughts of Lafayette should
be in the minds of
the khaki-clad boys as they marched to
the camps and battle
fields. Our literature bears eloquent
testimony to the fact that
the American people at no time have
forgotten Lafayette and
his services in the Revolution. From the
triumph of the Amer-
ican cause at Yorktown down to the
famous declaration of
General Pershing at the tomb of
Lafayette, there have been
manifestations of America's never
failing gratitude.
Daniel Webster at the laying of the
corner stone of Bunker
Hill Monument in 1825 on which
occasion Lafayette was pres-
ent; President John Quincy Adams in his
farewell address;
Edward Everett and Charles Sumner in
famous lectures;
Chauncey M. Depew at the unveiling of
Bartholdi's statue of
Liberty enlightening the world;
Ambassador Porter, Archbishop
Ireland and others in Paris on July 4,
1900, at the unveiling of
an equestrian statue of Lafayette
presented chiefly by the school
children of America. all paid eloquent
tribute to the "friend of
freedom in Europe and America." The
celebration of "Lafayette
Day" in 1898 by the school children
and the contribution of their
pennies for the erection of this statue
doubtless prepared the
youth of America to enter the World War
in the spirit of
Lafayette.
We here present a few extracts from the
large field of
tribute:
Fortunate man! With what measure of
devotion will you
not thank God for the circumstances of
your extraordinary life!
You are connected with both hemispheres
and with two gener-
ations. Heaven saw fit to ordain that
the electric spark of
liberty should be conducted through you,
from the New World
to the Old; and we, who are now here to
perform this duty of
patriotism, have all of us long ago
received it in charge from
our fathers to cherish your name and
your virtues.-Danie'
Webster at the laying of the corner
stone of Bunker Hill
Monument.
(267)