The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
speech by Secretary Thompson, of the
Monument Commission, Who Pre-
scented the American Token.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY
THAT GAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN
EXCHANGE OF COMPLIMENTS.
The French President Touched by the
Kindness of Americans-Inciden
of the Paris Carnival.

PARIS. March 3-Robert ]. Thompson,
secretary OF the Lafayette monument COM
mission, as special commissioner OF the
United States representing President Nc
kinley, and in his name, presented to
President Loubet this morning the FIRST Of
the Lafayette dollars, which was inclosed
In casket costing $1,000 The presenta-
ton took place at the Elysee Palace.
Mr.. Thompson, accompanied by the
United States ambassador. General Horace
Porter, drove from the embassy to the
palace In the ambassadors carriage On
arriving at the Eiysee at Has a. m. they
were received by NJ. Mellard, subdirector
of the protocol, and Captain Haguet of the
French navy, who was the officer on duty.
The Americans were conducted to the Pres
dents cabinet STUDY. where NJ. Loubet
was awaiting them. By his side were NJ.
Delcasse, the minister of foreign affairs,
and General Baillaud, the chief Of the
Presidents military Cabinet. several MEM
bers or the Presidents military household
also being present.
General Porter introduced Mr.. Thompson
TO President Loubet. and the presentation
of the dollar was then made by Mr.
Thompson In a few appropriate remarks
lie said:
MIR. President-In the name, and in be-
half of his Excellency. the President of the
United States. have the distinguished
horor of extending to you, the high rep
resentative of the people or France, salu-
tations and greetings of friendship.
ION the 18th of October. 1898, the ami
versary of the victory of Yorktown of the
French and American arms In the cause
of liberty. the American school youths
were invited by the President and Cover
nors OF the several States of the United
States to contribute their pennies toward
the erection of the monument in Paris to a
son of France. our great and venerable
ally. General Lafayette. The response of
the children was universal the movement
a splendid success. In further aid, and I'm
honor OF the work, an issue OF $1,000 souve-
air silver dollars was appropriated and or
dered struck by Congress.
"Of these $4,000 Lafayette dollars. the
first to issue from the mint especially
preserved for your Excellency by the Pres
ident of the United States. and have now
the distinguished honor, Mr.. President, of
presenting TO you this coin. simple and
sympathetic token in his name and for the
people of the United States
Il voice the sentiments OF my country
men when / express the hope that this
memorial dollar. stamped with the likeness
of Washington and Lafayette, may remain
always. as 1t Is to-day. an emblem OF the
amity and unity of purposes of the two
great republics of the world"
NJ LOUBET'S REPLY.
In reply the President said he deep
~ touched by the kind thought of Ameri-
cas- President and people. and particularly
by the gracious manner in which the coin
had been presented to him by Mr.. Thomp-
son. He begged the latter to be the inter-
prefer to the President OF his warmest
thanks and sentiments towards President
Mckinley and the American Nation which
animated the President and government Of
the French republic. NJ. Loubet added that
he congratulated himself on receiving this
souvenir, which was a fresh pledge Of the
reciprocal ties of esteem and friendship
which had so long united France and the
United States. and which he hoped 20 see
draw closer and stronger more and more.
President Loubet concluded by saying that
II was especially agreeable to him that the
mission was intrusted 10 Mr.. Thompson, in
view of the fnitiatory part which he. took
In the subscriptions OF the school children
of the United States to erect a monument
to General Lafayette in Paris.
The French President then invited Gen.
Porter and Mr.. Thompson TO stay for
luncheon. at which Madame Loubet and NJ.
Delcasse were present.
During the luncheon NJ Loubet engaged
IN an animated conversation with Gen.
Porter and Mr.. Thompson, in which he ac-
centuated and amplified what he had pre-
vfously said In his formal responses on the
subject Of the historical and sentimental
ties between the two republics and his sin
cere desire for a good understanding. He
alluded TO the Franco-American reciprocity
treaty now before the two parliaments
and dwelt on the mutual advantages he
hoped would accrue therefrom. expressing
the opinion that not merely those articles
directly affected by the treaty would bene-
fit. but that the whole trade between the
two countries would undergo sympathetic
expansion and that the channels of COM
merclal intercourse would widen inevitably
in the course OF time I'VE both have rea-
son TO desire development OF our mutual
trade" NJ. Loubet remarked. you want
our luxuries and need your articles of
necessity" The President then spoke of
the great wheat production OF the United
States and its enormous agricultural pos
sibilities.
Mr.. Thompson told the President there
was a scheme or foot I'm Chicago to fouad
branch or the Sons Of the American Rev
olution among the descendants of French
soldiers who had fought side by side with
the American colonists in the war of indie
psndence. President Loubet showed keen
interest of the idea and Mr.. Thompson left
with confident feeling that the French
authorities here will give the fullest assist
ance to the establishment OF a French
branch and in searching the military rec
ords for the names OF those who partici
pated In the
General Porter and Mr. Thompson were
delighted with the exceptional cordiality of
their reception The function differed from
the usual ceremonies of this kind by the
putting the visitors at complete ease by the
affabil.ty of his greeting.
The President placed the presidential box
at the Theater Francois Monday and at the
opera Wednesday at Mr.. thompson
disposal The latter viii send Nine Loubet
q Lafayette dollar she having to-day ex-
pressed desire TO have one as souvenir.
France. beyond doubt. is sincerely anx-
ious for the hand-grip Of friendship OF the
United States. and not only Is this true of
the government. but OF all responsible
French politicians as well. The presenta-
ton OF the Lafayette dollar 10 President
I.oubet to-day furnished another unmis-
taxable proof OF the existence of this feel
ing References TO the event In the French
Journals OF all political shades have been
Invariably OF the most sympathetic char
acter, and the ceremony itself Is treated
as IL destined 10 prove another link in the
historic friendship OF the two nations.
President Loubet. the correspondent of the
Associated Press has been informed by
one entitled to seeak. was charmed with
the whole affair and the manner In which
II was carried out. Prior 10 the ceremony
he privately expressed these sentiments
and also his sense that the way the scheme
had been taken up Is an indication OF the
attitude Of the great body OF American
opinion towards France.
The exquisite Workmanship OF the caslxet
IN which the Lafayette dollar was pre-
sented formed an object OF especial admi-
ration for all the French officials who ex-
amined 81
Some OF the newspapers find I'm the La
incident N 70 q