Today, September 6, is the birthday of Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de La Fayette, a French aristocrat who was a republican, an American patriot who was French.

The Marquis risked much for American liberty -- his reputation, his fortune, his life -- and forsook much -- obedience to his king, the comforts and privileges of his class, his native soil. He soldiered bravely, counseled wisely, served faithfully. He takes his place among the luminaries of the American Revolution. An honorary citizen in many American states, Congress made him an honorary citizen of the United States, August 6, 2002, putting right a longstanding negligence.

DO THEY MAKE FRENCH LIKE THIS ANYMORE?
Genuinely French, You'd Just Never Guess

To this very day France continues to trade off the immense reserves of American goodwill and esteem generated by the Marquis. He is the foremost reason why Americans will never wholly abandon France. The Marquis was a son of France and somewhere in France his spirit stirs. But where — sadly, we cannot say.

* From a letter to his wife, the Marchioness, June 7, 1777:

"The happiness of America is intimately connected with the happiness of all mankind; she is destined to become the safe and venerable asylum of virtue, of honesty, of tolerance, and equality and of peaceful liberty."

PFFT (What is this?): Forever grateful 5 | Rayonnement français 5

The poor Marquis is probably turning around in his grave these days, so is De Tocqueville. But thanks for the thought.