The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-27
TALKED FRENCH.
Gen. Porter Presents His Gre
dentials to NJ. Faure
And is Forced to Speak in the
Language of the Country.
IMPOSING CEREMONY
Escorted by a Company Of CUT
rassierss
Band Played Washington Post
March.

Paris, May 27.-President Faure form
ally received the United States minis
ter, Gen. Horace Porter yesterday.
Shortly before 5 o'clock a squadron or
Cuirassiers, with three carriages, one OF
them containing NJ. Crozier, the direc-
tor of the protocol, and NJ. MOlard, the
introducer of ambassadors, drove up to
the house on the Rue de Madrid, where
Gen. Porter is residing as the guest of
Gen. WinSloW, to escort the United
States minister to the Elysee palace.
On arriving the municipal band played
the ttMarsellaise'' and the guard on du-
ty presented arms. Gen. Porter alight-
ed at the entrance and was Immediately
introduced to President Faure and pre-
scented his credentials. The document
was worded rs follows:
William Mckinley, President Of the
United States of America to His Elk
cellency, Felix Faure, president Of the
French republic:
Great and good friend:
81 have made choice of Horace Porter,
one of our distinguished citizens, to re-
side near the government of your ex-
ceIlency in the quality of ambassador
extra ordinary and minister plenipoten-
tfary of the United States of America
He is well informed relative to the in
tereStS of the two countries and of our
sincere desire to cultivate to the fullest
extent the friendship which has 90 long
existed between US. My knowledge of
his high character and ability gives me
entire confidence that he will constant
~ andeavor to advance the interests
and prosperity of both governments and
render his mission acceptable to your
excellency. I therefore request your
excellency to receive him favorabIy and
give full credence to what he shall say
in our behalf and to the assurances I
have charged him to convey to you of
the best wishes of this government for
the prosperity of France.
May God have your excellency In his
wise keeping.
Washington, March 81, 1897.
Your good friend
''WM MKINLEY."
Mr.. Porter in presenting his creden-
tials said, in French:
Monsieur le President:
Il have the honor to present you with
letter crediting me as ambassador ex-
traordinary and minister pIenIpoten-
tiary of the United States of America
It is a source of extreme qualification to
me to be permitted to represent my
country in the chief republic of the
old world. I have been charged with
the very agreeab Bile duty of conveying to
you the cordial good wishes Of the emf
nent citizen recently fnaugurated chief
magistrate of the United States of
America and to assure you of the pro
found regard he entertains for you per
sonally and of the high esteem in which
he holds the people of France.
THE similarity Of the forms of gov
eminent of our respective countries, the
belief entertained by both in liberal po-
litical institutions and the deep interest
felt by each in the freedom, rights and
welfare of its citizens, have created be
tween our people enduring bonds of
y.
by both countries when the American
republic was in its infancy, the blood
shed in common in the cause of human
liberty and the traditional friendship
continued through so long a period, have
established relations OF amity which
time should never be permitted to eff
face.
Il take pleasure in assuring you thai
I should not represent faithfully the
sentiments of my government or of the
American people if failed to employ
every endeaVor upon my part to foster
and strengthen the intercourse which
now happily exists between our two
sister republics.
Trusting that our governments will
continue to act in entire harmony
beg you to accept personally the assur-
ance of my deepest respect"
President Faure replied in somewhat
similar terms, expressed satisfaction
with The sentiments that Gen. Porter
had uttered and assured him he would
find them in France well disposed to
second him in his efforts.
Gen Porter then presented Mr.. Henry
Vignaud, secretary and other officers of
the American embassy.
The ceremony lasted a quarter Of an
hour. When Gen. Porter withdrew the
municipal band played the''W ashin gtOn
Post March, The ambassador return
ed to the Rue de Madrid, with the same
ceremonial and escorted by the squad
ron of Cuirassiers.
Gen. Porter later, called upon NJ
Hanotaux, the minister for foreign af-
fairs.
An unprecedented incident occurred
upon the occasion of the presentation OF
Gen. Porter's credentials. The ambss-
sador wanted to deliver his speech at
the Elysee palace in English, as the re-
firing United States ambassador, Mr.
James B. Eustfs had done, but the di-
rector of the protocol insisted that he
must speak in French, and Gen. Porter
was obliged to submit. Although on
some previous occasions United States
ministers have spoken in French, this is
q fire fr7a TcAT int has rails
ed and formally maintained by the pres
idency.
One way to build up Topeka is to
stand up for Kansas and insure in the
Kansas Mutual Life Insurance COM
pany. F. d. Courtney, General Agent