AS Statesman and Diplomatist 93 



Peace Treaty, which recognized forever the indepen- 

 dence of his country and secured for the time being the 

 peace of the three great nations concerned and of the 

 world at large. The Treaty of Alliance was all his own, 

 but in the Treaty of Peace he had the great advantage 

 of the cooperation of John Adams and John Jay, and 

 America will never cease to be grateful for the combined 

 labors and wisdom of these great patriots, who thus 

 brought about the consummation of our liberties, and to 

 France, without whose triumphant assistance that con- 

 summation might have been postponed for half a cen- 

 tury. 



It would take many volumes to describe the activity, 

 the brilliancy and success of Franklin's career in France. 

 Here he displayed on the highest plane they have ever 

 reached the best qualities of American statesmanship and 

 diplomacy. His great brain, always at work on themes 

 that concerned the welfare of his country and his fellow 

 men; his capacious heart, which made him so human 

 and so interesting to all mankind; his untiring industry 

 and never-failing tact; his genial wit and the sunshine of 

 his spirit; his absolute truthfulness which led him to say 

 always what he meant and to mean what he said; his 

 hope that never failed; his contempt of the mere forms 

 and husks of diplomatic intercourse, going always straight 

 to the point and sticking to it; his self-taught literary 

 faculty and charming style; and his universal knowledge 



