The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-20


OF having been called 10 The hnno, = s ,,s,s'
~ svsch,ng france on tlsis auspInlous dav.
~, ~, u'c monument which Il here 10
~ erected viii not only recall .
k'Vtlous victory, II viii pcrpetuase
w, recoiieetlons OF an ever faithful al
issnee--iaithful through the trials and
,sNi,shuues OF an eyentful century,
AND as the President OF The French Re-
peOhc mas so truly said, Il win consccrate
sus union sprung from generous and libe-
iM SEPARATIONS, and which the institutions
We can now boast OF in common must
necessarily strengthen and develop the
worm and good OF both countries. In
coming 10 the Yorktown Centennial we
come 10 celebrate the day which ended
that long ana bitter struggle against q
great nation, now our mutual ally and
friend, who here, as under all skies where
her Tag has lloated, has left inefaceable
marks OF her grand and ciyilizing spirit.
We came 10 celebrate the glorious date
when The heroes OF independence were able
70 SCI their mai seal TO the solemn procla-
nation OF the 9TH Of July, 177G.
we come also to salute the dawn OF that
era OF prosperity where, led by her great
men, America permitted the intelligence Of
her people TO soar and their energy to man.
Hest itself, and thus the power Of the
United States has strengthened, and every
year has added to the prestige which sur
rounds her Star-Spangled Banner. When
France brought from beyond the seas the
cooperation OF her army and OF her navy to
TINS valiant people engaged in war for its
Independence when Lafayette, Rocham-
beau, DE Grasse, and so many others, drew
IN their footsteps the young and brave
Scions OF our most illustrious families, they
yielded TO generous impulse and came
with diSinterested courage to sustain the
cause OF liberty, q blessing went with their
endeavors 10 give success TO their arms;
for when one hundred years ago, as to-day,
the French and the Americans grasped
each others hands at Yorktown, they re-
allied that they had helped TO lay the cor
ner-stone Of a great editice. But surely the
most iaT-sighted among those men would
have been startled had he been able to look
down the long vista OF century and see at
this end this republic, then young and
struggling with all the difficulties which
surrounded her, now calm, radiant, and
beaming with the halo Of prosperity.
The great Washington himself, whose
genius fOresaw the destiny Of this country,
could not have predicted this. Truly the
United States have made, especially in
these latter years, gigantic strides along
the route TO still greater progress.
BY showing to the world what can be
accomplished by an energetic and inteIi-
gent nation, always rs respectful OF its du-
ties as jealous OF its rights, America has
given a great example and been a cause Of
rejoicing TO all true lovers OF liberty.
France is proud OF having contributed to
found this great republic, and her wishes
for her prosperity are deep and sincere.
The mutual friendship is founded on many
affnitieS Of taste and aspirations which
time cannot destroy and future genera
tiOns, trust, arrest. Again, in this same
place, is presented the spectacle unprece-
dented in history OF two great nations re-
newing from century TO century a compact
OF fratcInal and imperishable affection.
/ win not close without thanking the
Federal Government, the different states
OF the Union Of which the delegations have
been the guests, also the people OF America,
for the sympathy and welcome extended TO
the representatives OF France. Each OF us
will treasure the recollection Of American
hospitality, and OF the friendly sentiments
which have been manifested 20 us in every
place and in every sphere.
Minister Outrey was followed by Marquis
Rochamboau and Baron Won Steuben in
brief Acknowledgements in their respective
languages on behalf of their delegations.
The Centennial ode was now sung by
the chorus.
MIR. wintbrOp's Grafton.
Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, OF Massachu-
sets, then delivered his Grafton.
After n happy eXordium, modcstly ex-
pressed, the orator made this graceful allu-
sion to Virginia.;
| cannot forget that stand on the soil OF
Virginia. State which, OF all others in
our Union, has never needed to borrow an
orator for any occasion, however important
or exacting. Her George Mason and
Thomas Jefferson, her James Madison and
John Marshall, were destined, it is true, to
render themselves immortal by their pens
rather than by their tongues. The pens
which drafted the Virginia Bill OF Rights,
the Declaration OF American Independ-
ence, and so much Of the text, the history,
decentralization, and the true construction Of
the American Constitution, need fear COM
harrison with none which have ever been the
imDlements OF human thought and lan-
0Ilarc. But from her peerless Patrick
Henry through the long succession OF
statcsmeA and patriots who have Illustrated
her annals down 10 the recent day OF her
Riyes. her Mcdowell, and her GrigSby-alI
OF whom | have been privileged to count
among my personal friends Nirglnla mas
had orators enough for every emergency at
the Capitol or mt home. She has them
stiu. And vet | hazard nothing in saying
that the foremost OF them all would have
agreed with me ut this hour that the theme
and the theatre are above the reach OF the
highest art, and would be heard exclaim-
inc with me, i'm the words OF o great Ro-
man poet, 3" URde iisgeRtdm par ma
tcri0g ?D-Whence, whence, shall como
faculty equal 10 the subject! For myseif,
| turn humbly and reycrently to the oniy
Source from which such inspiration can DC
invoked.
He said his purpose was to breathe ont
the congratulations which belong 10 INC
hour; to recall briefly some OF The momen-
tons incidents; TO sketch rapidly some OF
the great scenes which gave imperishaDle
glory to Bay and River; to name Few OF
the iilustriouS men and to voice the gratl-
tude OF every American TO France Tor help-
ing Us 80 signally and decisively, AZ the
most critical point in our struggle 10 Vlndl-
cate Our rights and liberties ana achieVe
our Independence.
lie made m allusion felicitous and we'll
received to his Office to bear the greeting:
Of Plymouth Rock 10 Jamestown; OF
bunker Hill TO Yorktown; OF Boston, re-
covered from the British forces IN 'i6, 10
Mount Vernon, the home in life and death
Of her ilhlstrlous Delivercr; and there Is
no office, within the gift OF Congresses,
presidents, or People, which | could dl',
charge more cordially and feryently., Ana
W" -. ~. nnn M. ln Il nrOul 10 lcpl