The New York herald., 1875-11-22
AMERICAN BANQUET IN PARIS.
Festive AssembIage Of the Members Of
the FrancO-American Union.
A GRAND CRECT PATRIOTICALLY ADVOCATED.
The Colossal Statue Which Is To Be
Erected in New York.
LIBERTY, FRATERNITY AND UNITY.

Paris Nov y correspondence Of London Times
Last night a banquet which nearly 200 persons
present, organized by the committee OF the
Franco-American Union held at the Hotel du
Louvre The Franco American Union proposes 20
cree, the most colossal statue known perpetu-
ste The part taken by France the War of Indepen-
depce and to mark the friendship which unites the
two peoples. The arst committee appointed to make
arrangements for the Philadelphia Exhibition had fn-
tshed its work when under the auspices of NJ La
soulayo Who with De Tocqueyille is reckoned one or
the great French authorities on American questions
and IA. Bartholdi, Alsatian sculptor Of great
merit who carved the lion Of Belfort, the public
Informed OF the proposition TO erect this Franco
American statue, it on the frontier Of the
New and Old Worlds, confronting the three great
cities Of New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City,
overlooking the ocean and at night spreading from Us
luminous head and gigantic long rays q light az
beacons TO the vessels the Atlantic After this first
notice was published international Committee was
organized, among whose members are ~ Laboulaye,
President Mr. washburne, United States Minister at
Paris honorary member Mn dc Lafayette, de Toe
queye, de Remusat, Cornelis de Wtte Bartholdi and
others. This committee managed yesterday 8 banquet
Among the guests Deputies Of various political
shades-MM. Flotard, savary, Jules Simon, Martel
WARMER Admiral Fourchon, Leon Say De Meaux
De Rochambeau, ietz.Monnn, Martin, with Gen
ing the Marshal; also NM Edmond About, Emile
de Girardin Alexandra Dumas, Arsene Houssaye Dr.
Rcord Leon Renault, oGenbach, Perrin director or
the Theatre Francais and Halanzier director Of the
Operal Among the American guests General
schenck General sickles, General Emerson and Colonel
Forney
BANQUET
commenced at past SIX, Mr.. Washburne being op
posite NJ Iabouaye at the high table on which
nlalr tl.o A. tba dnFt 1arg
and splendid dining room Of the hotel a
parency representing the or the proposed statue
issuing from the waves Of the sea The arms
over played great lgurative part, for they also
60 be found on the invitation cards and on the
TaE DINNER
was quickly disposed OF and the Of arrived
relatively speaking with rapdity, for o'clock NJ
Henri Martin drank to the health OF the President OF
the United States, and at the time kilograms
sent General Grant and Marshal MacMahon, con-
veyng the Presidents the expression Of the feel
ings which animated the gathering. Mr. Washburne
whose speech send you, answered in English in the
midst OF applause, for which those who understood
him gave the signal TO those who did not thereby
making an audience unanimous in its warm appreciation
OF the sympathetic Minister Of the United states N.
Laboulaye replied Mr. Washburne President Of
the Franco American Committee and Chairman OF the
banquet For the greater portion OF the public
NJ LABoULAYE's SPEECH
III.
M one OF the best speakers IN the Assembly. II -
quite otherwise than as statesman that NJ Laooulaye
speaks when ne cries.
We wish 20 erect a statue the most colossal ever
raised which will rise above that immense plain which
covers New York, with its million OF Inhabitants,
Brooklyn, which has 400, 000 and Jersey City, which
reckons nearly many There it will be really it's
place have the colossal statue OF Bavaria thrust
into corner outside the gates ofher capital and often
asked myself what the statue doing there If
call mind that Bavaria is but the shadow of herself
(aughter) The Colossus of Rhodes little vessels
the Colossus Of Rhodes is but a clock ornament.
daughter The statue which we would cast is not
made Of taken the field OF battle. Each of
ats limbs has not cost thousand mems lives. and has
mot caused countless widows and orphans 10 shed tears
IL Will be cast n virgin metal daughter and ap-
plause.l
IN proposing 1.-THE Health of the President Of tho
United States, euoglzed General Grant with his n
durance both Of good and Ill fortune, excellent
example Of the solid qualities Of the American Repub
hc and proof Of the possibility in modern times Of
founding great society the principles Of justice and
liberty. He referred to the alliance with America
the last Of the glores OF the old French monarchy
spoke OF the projected monument symbol of the
fraternity and friendship of past generation which
would turn toward the Old World 10 give back to Eu-
rope the hight Ameiyca had received from it. He urged
has countymen TO persevere in the attempt to estsb
llsh under less easy conditions a society assigning
everybody his rights and claiming from everybody hls
duties
Mr. wAsHBuREE IN REPLY
regret that u s not IN my power 10 respond In your
own eautifu1anguage TO the toast which has been
proposed 70 the Chief Magistrate OF the American Re-
pubic by your distinguished compatriot NJ. Henri
Martin. You will, therefore permit to thank you
and this assembage for the kindness with which they
have received thai that distinguished patriot
and soldier General Grant, President OF the Republic
OF the United States applause when / spoke TO a
friend about your banquet told him that II should
have the happiness 70 be present trusted that /
should not be called upon to make speech, because
ar somewhat out Of that line--indeed, never was
much IN t-and also tor another reason. believe Il IS
the policy q our government-and might appeal to
our friends General Schenck and General Sickes who
honor us with their presence-to discourage speech
makisg by. its representatives. abroad and az
lar as 4 am concerned | think IL is a very good
idea Even, however, n our Foreign ONCE were A
little more strict IN that regard than really s some
thing would certainly bc pardoned an occasion like
this must confess there something here To- night
IN this atmosphere Of International kindly feeling
which would render i very difficult for me to remain
silent and TO refrain from giving utterance of
the emotions which crowd upon ior there some
thing touching and inspiring in that magnificent conce
ton or your countrymen 70 erect monument shaped
bv the cunning and marvellous hand your aistin.
gushed artist Barthod to be erected shores As
Commemorative Of the hundredth anniversary Of The
independence Of my country appauseD, lasting
ument Of that ancient friendship between France and
the American colonies which was sealed in the best
blood Of both countries. (Appause) The work inau-
guraed here in France, which Oils ali us Americans
with pride and gratitude will be responded
10 by our co,utrymen on the other side Of
the Atlantic. History has recorded its brightest
and most enduring pages the incidents Of our Revolu
tonary struggle, but Il is well for at the end OF
century 70 recall Of the recollectons or that
period and OF the results which have far outsrippod
everything which the widest Imagination could con-
ceive. You, Mr.. President so profoundly versed IN
the history ofyonr own country-and let me say here,
profoundly versed as are too In the history or my
country, though believe you have yet your
feet upon our tree and generous SOIL bus have post
poned t now I'LL next year-you seem 70 know
about country than most OF who native and
10 the manner born You 60 back, all do,
tury ago when that great statesman Of France the
Comte dc Yergennes the great Foreign Minister held
the reina II then that the feeble and struggling
colonies sent 70 Europe Arthur Lee and
silas Dean as Commissioners TO SEQ If they
could not obtain assistance and supplies
from some European government 70 help us
in our struggle Al your Foreign ONCE two days since
saw the original Instructions which given by the
Continental Congress to those gentlemen. They
couched IN that somewhat quaint and old fashioned
honest English language which we do not hear often
nowadays The instructions said, "France Will be the
nation which we shall pitch upon that was the term
used from opinion that il We should, there is
great appearance that we shall soon come to final
separation from Great Britain, she the Power whose
friendship is most itng for us to obtain and cut-