New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-17
| John T. Terry, William II. Lee, Anson W. Hard,
| Henry Hilton, Henry +. Spauding.

John F. Decener Julius Ehrmann, Charles Mali. Fred
erick A. Schroeder, Felix Campbell William p. Thomp
Kelway.
PRESIDENT SMITHS OPENING ADDRESS.
When the hour of 0 o'clock arrived President
Smith brought his gavel sharply down upon the
table in front Of him, and conversation instantly
ceased Then he said
Gentlemen AS / look into the faces OF the men
who surround this table, IL to that 1t must be
a matter OF great qualification to you and source OF
pardonabe pride to guest to find here so many OF
his personal friends, whose respect, admiration
and affection he has so worthly won. While the
charms of social ties always have special attraction,
and contribute much to tighten and sweeten the bur
dens Of life, still it is not the possession OF these ad-
mrable qualities alone the part OF our guest which
has brought together this distinguished company OF
representative citizens in honor Of the United states
Minister TO our sister Republic Of France.
During the century and quarter OF the existence
OF the Chamber of Commerce, its hon )Tary membership
has been conferred but twenty four tines 1t Is the
American merchants patent Of nobility tapplruse-
The Iron Cross" of American commerce. This
marked expression Of the obligation OF the Chamber TO
Mr.. Reid conferred upon him because he has con.
Quoted his high Office with conspicuous ability ana
fidelity to the interests OF American commerce, and
with view to the promotion OF Amcrica0 Ideas and
traditions. CApplause.)
Mr.. Reid has enlarged and strengthened tine historic
! friendship OF France for this country. Appnusep
lie has cerened the relations which eousecrated
in memories BY the illustrious names OF Washington
and lafaye ette Of Mlrabeau and Franklin. -
It IS within the bon1ls Of truth to say that & at mo no
s IN esteem o Of e eas %o e sOSe so @
mate and reciprocal at this moment. lAppause.)
deue Which Mr. Reid ned io emcoanter and Which,
by patient industry and diplomatic tact he surmounted
and Bsr ThGS tsd S "a s py yg c Of Of % C
can pig under the shadow Of the Arc de Tromrhe into
us hope that the products OF Chicago and Cincinnati
gtnfC Df flp and Il
true commercial reciprocity. Laughter and applaus.l
our guest as still young, and to him fame came
early with her laurel wreath OF power. Perhaps one
Of the secrets OF that power was in his early experi-
encc and training under that great master of Journal
@ the line 0't Of the profession q M Reid to give and
ceyo public criticism nnd t at % S,e to eAsamss t nsS
form this duty with such courtesy as t9 com co%mnnd
G respect and se g now SI all gsOtmen sOH
please fill your glasses and drink 10 The INST regular
toast.
Then President Smith announced as the first
toast, The President of the United Sta'es,' and
all while the orchestra played lle otaf
Spanged Banner
FOR THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE.
The next toast was, The President Of the Re.
nublic Of France The Marselase hymn
WAS PLAYED. while the asscmblage re-
mained standing Then President Smith said
There is no man in the United States. IN the
absence of the French Minister, better fitted to ne
spond TO this sentiment than our distinguished
fellow-ctizen, Frederic r. Coudert. Although by
birth an American. he inherits the grace ara VIII
50 characteristic of the country TO which he owes
! his name.'
Mr. Coudert was most cordially welcomed. and
his speech was pronounced one of unusual interest,"
and beauty of expression He said
Il was once said, with little exaggeraton 'SA'
when France had a cold her head, the rest of rnZ
.oee,eA An cpigrrnma,ic tribute. take u, 10 ne'
genius her power and perhaps her restiesshess' ..
rather to that overfowng activity OF lie t""' "oui
not be restrained by narrow geogfaphcii or poiu'"'
limitations but must look abroad for moral ana son
fines physical conquests TO satisfy the cravings OK
exubernnt health No disease conld touch her thAs
did not move the world 10 ready and sympathetic un
rest How could it be else Was she not the mother
of civilization the queen of the arts tie chaihPio "I
every great and generous cause! TIE tramp oi ner
victorious armies had been heard with Amos, WHIT
some monotony on every battlefield OF Europe iron'
Charlemagne saint Louis from saint Louis TO Lous
XIV. from Louis XIV to Napoleon What record OF
neroIsm: what a catalogue OF heroes. tAppauSeJ
And as she pursued her career of moral ana phss'S'
triumphs she eaaced the traces OF war with the same
hand that smote for she sowed the seed OF glorious
democracy while her philosophers, scientists anu
literary men prepared the for the broherhooo OK
| Nations Who can gainsay her title to the gratitude
Of mankind! | need not releaIsc her claims nor pro-
duce her witnesses before an American tribunal Her
blood her treasure her sympathy she spent all that
she had to make American liberty her debtor Your
honored guest will tell you that the tenderness mat
she once lavished on America she has never taken
hock Applauseo Whether or not that love has
been fully or constantly rcquited. whether in the dark
hours OF desoation. when she wept In sacXcioth ana
ashes and refused to be cOmorted because her children
were not. whether in the hour OF humiliation her
brethren of America heard her voice and wiped her
tears, why should we ask She never did Her trust
and affection were always of old Whatever else she
might question she could not doubt that those VINO
honored Washington would mourn with the bereavef
countryme OF Lafayette. She comforted her bruised
heart in defeat. by remembering the trials ana
suferings that eliminated in the common
glory Of Yorktown. 20 long fortune
could not oblerate the records OF the past the Jewel
OF American love and sympathy must be hers forever.
then while still weak from loss OF blood and solleA
with the dust Of defeat she raised the torch OF Liberty
and waving IL that the world might be gaddened by
its rays she called America to witness that there was
Il new bond between the two NATIONS LAppause.)
Thus did she cOnsecratc the old allegiance bv gift
embodying the glocs and triunphs OF the past. the
union OF the present and the aspirations OF the future
4 GREAT TITLE AND GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
The President Of the French RcDubfc What
title, what an opportunity what burden! To direct
| the destnies OF the nation that knew Richelieu ana
Henry " Louis NV and Napoleon. to be the fore
most man I'm a nation OF thirtv-siX million gallant
people TO represent before the world her rights TO be
responsible for tn performance o! her duties 10 see that
no detriment shall lefa the Young Republic that has
fnlen heir to such priceless treasures! This is no
light task lie remain faithful to sacred men,
oics and march 10 the music of brilliant future.
Ic must be the pioneer of the people I'm the emancpa
ton Of thought and the development Of freedom. lie
will II faithful to his trust and equal TO its per
formauce Justify great expectations ana fulfil great
prophecies. heavy task this. 70 fall on one mans
shoulders The Republican President who lives in
J th who In Wgs
ington with i00O00.O0o people behind them are
the real representatives OF the civilization To
them is committed the standard Of all that Is best In
modern progress
The President OF the French Republic bears a nams
well fitted to commend him to his peoples affections.
In tho hattie for Freedom that began century ago.