Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 3, Number 6, DeMotte, Jasper County, 22 June 1933 — TRUTH OF SALUTE TO FRENCH HERO [ARTICLE]

TRUTH OF SALUTE TO FRENCH HERO

“Lafayette, We Are Here!" Said by Col. Stanton.

The late Col. Charles E. Stanton, who said “Lafayette, we are here!” had the strange experience of coining a probably immortal phrase and of hearing it credited almost as often as it was quoted to another man. Even President Wilson and Marshal Foch in formal addresses attributed to General Pershing the famous saying at the tomb of Lafayette in Picpus cemetery on July 4, 1917. It was a natural error, for General Pershing did speak extemporaneously on that occasion and it was easy for those not present to confuse his remarks with the preceding speech of Colonel Stanton that ended in the supremely appropriate salute to the French hero. The fact of Colonel Stanton’s authorship was never in doubt; it was early asserted in this newspaper and elsewhere in direct rebuttal of the Pershing fiction. But when a legend gains momentum it rolls on and on. It seemed doubtful that a disclaimer by General Pershing himself could rigfit the popular mistake. Colonel Stanton, for his part, sealed his lips and with the most soldierly conception of duty permitted the world-re-nowned saying to be given constantly to his friend and commander. If General Pershing for 13 years made no emphatic effort publicly to dispel the myth he demolished it handsomely when he came to publish his memoirs in 1931 in these words: “It was on this occasion that utterance was given to an expression that could be born only of inspiration, one that will live long in history; ‘Lafayette. we are here!’ Many have attributed this striking utterance to me and I have often wished it could have been mine. But I have no recollection of saying anything so splendid. I am sure those words were spoken by Colonel Stanton and to him must go the credit for so happy and felicitous a phrase.” It was only after this declaration that Colonel Stanton said he had “remained quiescent during all these years, having a firm belief that torical accuracy would eventually prevail.” The gallant and modest colonel had the final assurance that his contribution to the golden treasury of quotations would bear his name.--New York Herald-Tribune.