Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07
address of Mr. Huslier.

GENTLEMEN: The Government of the Swiss Republic
having learned that the citizens of the United States
erecting monument to the memory of the Father of
this Country the llustrous Washington have thought
that better opportunity could be found to show the
high respect and admiration they hero as
distinguished by his genius general and statesman
as by the integrity Of his life and the purity Of his
character.
The Government of Switzerland beg you gentlemen to
receive this block OF granite to be placed in the
ment being erected to the memory of Washington
the Of all whose lives recorded in the annals
Of history the most deserving homage and respect
the only general and statesman who accused
by friends enemies Of selfish ambition or of pro-
noting his personal interest Others have been sincerely
devoted to the of their country and may in lower
sphere have exhibited great virtues but having
in their hands much power have neglected forgotten
to use it to promote their personal interest The life of
Washington may model well to the
in whose hands deposited the honor and welfare
Of nation, and upon whom conferred the highest
worldly dignites, as to the citizen living in humble
sphere May the private and public citizens Of this i'm
mense republic follow forever his footsteps Their
try stands already in many respects footing
with the greatest of the European nations and in many
is superior; may it become the greatest and the most
hourishing and give all the nations of the earth the
example of All the virtues Of love for human and divine
law did the to whose memory they now erect
ing monument!
Reply Of Mr.. Lemon.
SIR In behalf of the Washington Monument Society
permit to respond to the interesting address with
which you have accompanied the delivery OF this noble
gift 1t has been the pleasing duty Of Society to
ceive from the sovereign States of this Union from
ncipal bodies and other associations of country
memorials of similar character and they form
cherished portions Of yon ascending pile In the presen
taton Of these tokens and in the erection of
the monument itself by the American people, recog
Mise expression OF public pride, the performance Of
sacred duty the acknowledgment Of nations gratitude
to the chief founder Of those institutions which have
secured to it the blessings Of liberty civil and religious
This motive of action belongs to noble sentiments and is
worthy of magnaniinous people; but that sir which
prompts the offering Of to-day is dsinterested
in its character and therefore the more honorable to the
memory Of Washington. We know that it is the
fuhment of the obligations Of national gratitude that il
is the offspring Of public vanity servty that il does
not spring from admiration Of the achievements OF ge
MUS reckless Of the evils which tncts but we feel that
it is just acknowledgment by disinteresed tribunal Of
the value Of those great services which have endeared 10
the Of Washington the q Father of our Coun-
ry" that it is tribute TO excellence OF moral
which almost realizes highest conceptions of human
greatness feel that it is akin to the willing homage
paid TO great conception OF the human mind which,
overlapping the limits of language and place. becomes the
inheritance, the honor and the blessing of all mankind
But there other sympahies and associations which
deeply enhance the interest of this occasion We cannot
repress the anmatng thought that this testimonial is
the gift Of sister Republic whose struggles in freedom
have been sgnazed by such heroic deeds that the
truth of history almost blended with the romance
| of fiction. u#ts
We cannot forget that ere the footprints Of civilization
mark the shores Of land and the exed sons
Of liberty had reared its affairs here Switzerland the
ground and the sanctuary Of freedom and that its
free Confederaoy, sprngng into life in congenal spirit
with its mountain sotudes and secluded valleys, has,
amidst the corruptons and devastatons of modern times
ever struggled maintain ITSELF with spirit defiant
and immovable the mountains from which this test-
monia has been taken; and, above ALL that enlarged
in its limits by voluntary association induced by mutual
interests and sympathes, it presents the purest
model Of republican government in the Old World
feel sir that in the presence Of such considerations
and sympathies do not exaggerate the interest Of this
occasion in declaring that it Is Of patriotic pride to
the people of both countries and Of moral grandeur before
the world
We shall place this side by side with those from
our countrymen, and each citizen Of the Republic
from the rock Of Plymouth to the shores Of the Pacific
shall visit this monument Of national gratitude he viii
first ask with exuting pride and grateful heart to look
upon this consecraed token Of the involuntary homage Of
people far distant but Of kindred sympahies and let
you that from the heart Of the entire American
people viii rise up the aspiration that this pure offering
and simple ceremony may become covenant Of mutual
respect good faith and friendly feeling, stronger and
more lasting than the artificial bonds which the exgen
ces and interests Of the hour may create To you sir
for the deep interest you have evnced and to our friends
who have honored themselves and their native land by
their presence this OCCASION the Society offers its most
grateful Acknowledgements.