The San Francisco call., 1897-07-15
n Napoleon III made a cowardly surrender

reign Napoleon III made cowardly surrender
at Sedan.
The republic called all Frenchmen to her
defense, and then appeared ambetta, Chanzy
and Faidherbe, who saved the honor OF the
country. During the last twenty-seven years
the nation has entered frankly into the path
OF progress; and developing continually the
republican principles. sne has given to the
people the inheritance she received from the
great re volution.
Strongly organized within herself France Is
able to d. fend her frontiers but this word re-
mains to us-ihat two OF our most cherished
provinces are still suffering under foreign
ruler.
Let us hope that the hour for deliverance
for Alsace-Lorraine is approaching. Long
live Alsace-Lorraine; long live liberty; long
live the republic; long live Francel
Next followed Mime. Lucle FIGHTER
who, attired as the Goddess of Liberty,
sang "Tbe Marseillaise. During the song
the entire audience remained standing.
Sydney M. Smith was the last speaker
on the programme. Mr.. Smith said:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I beg
to thank you for the compliment conferred
upon the society have the honor to repre-
sent by being invited to be present upon this
noteworthy occasion. and Iappear before YOU
the Sons OF the American Revolution, a
society. composed, as its name indicates, of the
Hneal descendants OF those who participated
in that great strife, and whose purpose 1s to
teach respect to the American flag, to preserve
historic landmarks, to rear monuments to de-
serving heroes, to stimulate q close acquaint-
ance with our National history and to keep
alive an observance of anniversary days Of
events in the early life of our Nation, in the
same way that you here to-day In this spot, so
far removed from sunny France, meet TO
rescue from oblivion the evens OF that 14th
day of July, of over century ago, that you
may keep fresh in your own minds The causes
of the episodes of that day that means so
much to you all, and to teach YOUR children
the source of that stream of liberty upon
whose surface they so peacefully float a'ong.
An anniversary is in its purpose monu-
ment whereon men carve as on las Ting bronze
some great name or some historic event. but
the same law hich' bids time 10 crumble the
marbl 10 dust and to wear away the inscrip-
ton on memorial brass holds sway even when
an annually recurring day is deeply craven
with some record dear TO us, unless we make
character that you will recall of Sir Walter
Scotrs "Old Mortality quaint old man W no
used 10 pass his time silently visiting the
lonely aud neglected graveyards among the
Scottish hills. ana devoted his life to deepen
Ing the tas t-fading epitaphs of the prosecuted
Covenanters, SO must we, year by year, meet
on occasions like this and deepen IN our minds
the impressions of the events in which our
ancestors aged important parts
One cannot run over the pages OF the history
of The American Revolution and read of its
stirring episodes without being strongly i'm
pressed by the important part and the active
interest taken in it by the French people. and
how much their moral support, their person al
participation in the conflict, and .ater their
litical alliance contributed to the enfran-
chisement of the new world; and illustrious
French names figure side by side with our
own most honored heroes, for thesame current
OF ideas we're marked at the time in each