Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-11-26

France, struck the first rivet In the statue
of Liberty to be erectt in the bay of New
York in 1888 The meeting took place IN
the ateliers of Gaget, Gauthier & Co., Rue
De Chazel!es No. 5, under the direction OF
the President, Mr.. Laboulaye, Senator.
Several parts only of Mr.. Bartholdls
colossal statue "Liberte Eclairant la
Monde have been completed, and these
are soon to be shipped and to be placed on
the site destined to receive them. Mr..
Laboulaye, who is very easy and agree
able orator, if not an elegant one, made
touching speech, and even though his state
ments were not strictly exact, he was warmly
applauded. He said, addressing MIR. Nor
ton Excellency, hundred years ago
our fathers combated together to assure the
independence of America. 1t was then
was contracted that friendship which since
century has not been altered. In the
trials which you have undergone the
wishes of France have always been for the
maintenance of the Union and the pros
perity of the great Republic. tits in order
to give q visible face to that venerable
friendship that MIR. Bartholdi and his
friends have proposed to the Americans to
erect in the bay of New York at common
expense that magnificent statue OF
Liberty Illuminating the world. May the
next centennial awakens the same echoes
in the hearts of our last descendants
may the compatriots of Washington and
the compatriots of Lafayette celebrate as
we do to. day that fraternal union which
time cannot but strengthen. To the per-
petual friendship of France and America.
Mr.. Morton answered in a very neat and
appropriate speech, in which he paid just
compliments to MIR. Laboulaye and to the
sculptor. Mr.. Bartholdi Mr. Laboulaye,
as Mr.. Morton expressed it, is the learned
interpreter in France of our political insti-
| buttons and of our national Constitution.
He is thoroughly identified in the minds of
| the French with America, for many years
| ago, during the Empire, he wrote very
witty and interesting book entitled Paris
| in America" which was an indirect attack
at the Government and its institutions.
The work is exceedingly fatteriDg to
Americans and their customs, which, &C.
cording to his opinion expressed, could not
be improved on. From that date he was
considered as belonging to the Liberal and
Opposition party, but of late years he has
drifted back into the old grooves occupied
| by the reactionists, and has lost all infu-
ence over Republicans. He has made
| THE CONSTITUTION
| OF the United States Government pro-
found study, and on all occasions, whenever
he brought up America in his arguments,
| he was listened to with much attention and
respect but when he opposed the liberal
measure OF moving the seat of government
| from Versailles to Paris by stating that the
seat of government of the United States
was not at New York city, but at Wash
ington, as an evidence of the necessity of
the decentralization of power in republic,
the Republicans then exclaimed that they
had had enough of Mr. Laboulaye and his
America, and wished he would let them
alone with his United States Government.
| In fact, the venerable Senator has not since
ventured any advice, and has taken no
active part in politics. He has been the
| friend of all the distinguished Americans
who have ever resided in France, and gra-
ciously receives ali those whose position III
| their own country entities them to his
attention. He very kindly received Miss
Kate Kennedy, of the North Cosmopolitan
School, San Francisco, two years ago,
during her visit to Europe and enjoyed her
accounts of California and its educationa
condition. He is President of the Union
Franco. Americana, and has done much to.
wards exciting the interest of the French
people in the mammoth statue to socn
| find its way to America. The money for
this statue has been years collecting, for
remember, when some five years ago, dur,
ing visit to friends in one of the prov
inces of the eastern part of France, a num-
Der of persons informed me, with much
pride, that they had contributed a
certain amount to it aud had done
so from a patriotic feeling and out
of sympathy for the American people.
The subscriptions went on quietly in spite
of the GOODNESS the movement metwithfrom
the Government which had Marshal Mac
Mahon fer its President. Every true and
firm Republican throughout France made
it patriotic duty to contribute something
towards the erection of this monument,
which is to prove another strong link in
the chain binding the two countries. Since
that time the Republicans have in
creased in number, but those who have
from the first been interested in the move.
ment are the descendents and pupils of the
great men of the French revolution, who
bequeathed to them profound love for
liberty. They have all learned to treasure
THE GREAT MEN
OF our own country, rendered still more
illustrious through the genius of their
orators and writers. The memory of
franklin will in France remain imperish-
able so long as the French language lives,
for one of the most eloquent speeches
by the most eloquent of orators was made
in his name.
There has just been published letter
addressed to General Fare, the Minister
of War, by General Boulanger, who is one
of the delegates sent by the French Gov
eminent to participate in the celebration
which has taken place at Yorktown. He
writes all the Incidents of their journey
after the landing, and expressed himself
highly pleased with their cordial recep-
ton. Their visit to West Point proved
very interesting, and he warmly praised
everything connected with the institution,
and particularly the precision with which
the cadets executed the maneuvers. They
were also much pleased with their visit to
Niagara, and the charming breakfast offered
them on the cars by Mr.. Vanderbilt The
description of the journey ended at Balti-
more where they had just arrived. VAL.