The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-15

Leaning upon IL the young republic cheers
herself with thankful review of the provi-
Dental way over which she has come Girding
her loins with the conscious strength of vigor-
Gus youth, grown wise through bitter lessons
OF needful experience, intently watchful of
present dangers, regardful of the wisest coun-
sci OF her patriot sages, cautious, resolute,
hopeful, she rightly looks hopefully forward
to years-nay, rather centuries, let us believe
-of ever-growlng glory under constantly in
creasing liberty.
Ladies and gentlemen of France and Amer
lea, brothers and sisters in the one great world
vide family of freedom, your speaker is more
than proud to stand with you here to-day.
Your most cordial reception seems we'll nigh
an adoption. 1t makes him one with you, one OF
you-almost as French as you yourselves. 1t re-
minds him that the American State OF his
birth took its name (Maine) from one OF the
fairest departments of your own fair native
land.
And you are more American than he is
French. Though thoroughly French by physi-
cal birth or inherited blood, you have g new
birth, higher birth. You are not only politi-
cally natuTalized but spiritually re-crcated by
that second and far higher birth-that of your
own personal choice OF freedom and your own
Individual, enthusiastic, soulful adoption of
liberty.
Whence we may have come matters little.
What we are, what we love, whom we serve
that means much; that signifies all. Whether
born east or west OF the broad Atlantic among
the sunny vineyards of fair France or upon the
broad Pacific Slope OF vast America we are all
one here to-day. We are all blended, welded,
:
lily OF freedom by that fierce spiritual flame
which liberty only can kindle and that only
upon the aliars of the noblest hearts and the
Hottest souls.
Any American, then, may-nay, he should
most heartily rejoice, as this one does, in the
honor conferred by your committee in thus
making him one of yourselves. He is more
than glad TO express the delight which Ameri-
can patriotism feels in the valiant loyalty of
France. Our patriotism most heartily strikes
hands with yours In the establishment and the
firm maintenance of the world wide liberty that
International and interracial fraternity and
that universal human equality ever as dear TO
American hearts as To French.
This swiftly fleeing occasion affords oppor-
tunity all too brief for the entertainment and
the expression OF those stirring recollections,
those animating considerations and those
most inspiring suggestions which crowd in
upon U.s. Could any single voice worthily
convey one 1.-THE OF the loyal thoughts and the
patriotic feelings which i'll our minds and
swell our hearts in an hour like this that voice
must pour forth a tide OF most impassioned
eloquence which would overflow the most
capacious channels of b uman speech and far
surpass the utmost power OF earthly express
sion.
We have met to think and speak of France:
France the fair the sunny, the beautiful, the
romantic, the heroic, land of boundless ro-
nance, of unparalleled vicis STUDIES of SIM
pendous misfortune, OF glorious achievement
OF irrepressible enthusiasm, of marvellous
elasticity, OF wonderful recuperation, the
prodigy OF the centuries, the delight OF the
nations.
More than 1000 years OF her authentic his
tory have crowded themselves so full OF grand
deeds and OF sublime events that ten times
the scanty moments OF this flying hour could
hardly suffice TO catalogue even the 1.-THE of
their surprising number. Her Gel ebrated men
and wonderland the great deeds when made
them so-have illustrated and exemplifed