eserve brotherly love and reciprocal friendship
among the citizens of the states. I shall be happy to receive the
command of this Republic at every period of my existence and in whatever
part of the world I may be; my zeal for its prosperity is only equalled
by my gratitude and respect." A statement from his reply to a special
committee appointed by Congress to wait upon him shows the same feeling:
"May this immense temple of freedom ever stand a lesson to oppressors,
an example to the oppressed, and a sanctuary for the rights of mankind."

The confederation in 1776 of the thirteen separate colonies of the
western world was a union of all the then existing democracies of a
hemisphere, to insure mutual protection and peace. Since then, democracy
has been born in the Old World. In its common cause it knows no
nationality. Lafayette is the symbol of its internationalism. In the
time of our greatest stress he crossed the ocean to us, saying: "Now is
precisely the moment to serve your cause." To-day democracy in France is
bleeding to death. Throughout Europe, assailed in front by the giant of
Prussian militarism and stabbed in the back by assassins conducting an
insidious and treacherous peace propaganda, it is staggering under the
combined attack. The spirit of Lafayette, the democrat, calls to us
across that same ocean. The bugles of the heavens ring out. The days of
'76 are born again. Once more is heard the battle-cry of the Republic.
Where his spirit calls, our armies go. And when the great work is
accomplished, we shall cement the union which he began.

X

But is democracy worth preserving? How fares that intangible something
which was the inspiration of this man's living? Democracy, the right of
people to govern themselves, as opposed to their control by a
self-appointed few--is it a failure or a success? Has it proved itself
worth the dedication of this soldier spirit?

The French, for themselves, have answered the question at the Battle of
the Marne and at Verdun. But how about America? Has the great American
democracy proved a success, as compared with government by
autocracy--for example, as compared with the government of Germany by
the Prussian military autocracy, headed by the House of Hohenzollern?

More than a century has passed since the surrender of Cornwallis. Since
then in physical growth and material success the democracy of the United
States has more than fulfilled the highest hopes. At that