PART FOUR 

 THE FRENCH IN VARIOUS RELATIONS 



CHAPTER I 



AMERICA'S DEBT TO FRANCE DURING THE 

 REVOLUTION 



W 



HILE iu one sense not strictly germane to our 

 subject, it is certainly fitting to recognize here a Most 

 the immeasurable debt of gratitude which 

 America owes to France for the aid given to the young 

 Republic in its War for Independence. This aid it was 

 that undoubtedly enabled us to gain the victoiy that put 

 a new nation on the world's map ; a nation that was to 

 be the first to set the example of true democracy, and to 

 start that great idea of political equality which during 

 the nineteenth century brought the people of nearly every 

 nation in Europe to a consciousness of their power, and 

 largely to their rightful place iu government. It is the 

 judgment of most historians that France turned the scale 

 in favour of the colonies in their unequal struggle. It 

 was when the American cause was seemingly hopeless, 

 when there was no national credit, that France gave 

 recognition and espousal to our cause. It matters not 

 what were the controlling motives which led the French 

 government to take the American side. The result was 

 in the interest of humanity and of right. 



Not only did the French government give recognition Lafayette the 

 and financial aid at a time when these were invaluable, Liberty 

 but some of the best blood of France came over to render 



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