The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-04
LAFAYETTE SOUVENIR DOLLAR
PRESENTATION TO THE PRESIDENT
OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
Robert j. Thompson Represented
President McI<inley--Lack of For
maIity at the Ceremonies.

ParlS, Maroh 3.--Robert j. Thompson.
secretary of the Lafayette monument COM
mission, as special commissioner of the
United States and representing President
Mckinley, in his name presented President
fayette dollars. which was enclosed In
casket costing $1,000. The presentation
took place in the Elysee palace.
Mr.. Thompson was accompanied to the
Elysee palace by General Porter and they
were received very cordially. In making
the presentation Mr.. Thompson told of the
proposition to erect monument to La
fayette in Paris with contributions invited
from the school children OF the United
States.
He said: THE response of the children
was universal. the movement a splendid
success In further cid and in honor of
the work an issue Of 10000 silver dollars
was approved and ordered struck by con-
gress. OF these $4,000 Lafayette dollars,
the first TO Issue from the mint was es-
pecially preserved for your excelency by
the president of the United States, and
now have the distinguished honor, Mr..
President. of presenting you this coin as
a simple token of the honor in which we
hold his name.
{ II voice the sentiments OF my country
men when ] express the hope that this
memorial dollar, stamped with the Illness
of Washington and Lafayette, may remain
always as it is today, an emblem Of amty
and the unity OF purpose Of the twg great
republics of the world.
In reply the president said he was deep
ly touched by the Kind thought of Ameri-
cas- president and the people. particularly
by the gracious manner In which the coin
had been presented TO him by MIR. Thomp-
son. He tegged the latter 10 be the inter
prefer to the president Of his warmest
thanks and sentiments toward President
Mckinley and thu American people which
animated the president aud the govern
ment of the FRENCH rspaklie NJ Lounet
said he congratulated Himself on receiving
the souvenir, which was a fresh pledge of
reciprocal ties OF esteem and friendship
which had SO long united France and the
United States and Witch he hoped to see
draw closer and stronger more and more.
President Louhet concluded with saying
that II was especially agreeable to him
that the mission was entrusted to Mr..
THOMPSON in view OF the initietory part
whi,h he took in the subscriptions OF the
school children of the United States to
erect monument to General Lafayette in
Paris. - T@f -
The French president then invited Cen
eral Porter and Mr.. Thompson to stay TO
luncheon, at which Madame Loubet ana
NJ. Delcasse were present.
During the luncheon M. Loubet engaged
in an animated conversation with General
Porter and Mr. Thompson in which he ac-
centuated and ampllfied what he had said
previously in his formal response on the
subject OF the historical and sentimental
ties between the two republics and his
CT md ar q
He alluded to the Franco American re-
ciprocity treaty now before the two parlia-
ments and dwelt on the mutual advantages
he hoped would accrue therefrom He
/ hoped that the channels OF commercial in
! tercourse would widen inevitably IN the
course of time
1--WE both have reason to desire a de-
yelopment of our mutual trade" M. Lou
bet remarked. "You want our luxures
and we need your articles of necessity
The president then spoke OF the great
wheat production of the United States and
its enormous agricultural possibilities.
| Mr.. Thompson told the president there
was q scheme on foot in Chicago to found
branch OF the Sons OF American Reyo-
luton among the descendants of French
soldiers who had fought side by side with
ire American colonists in the war OF in
dependence.
President Loubet showed keen interest
In TIRE idea and Mr. Thompson left with a
confident feeling that the French authorl-
ties here VIII give the fullest assistance q
the establishment OF a French branch and
in searching the military records for the
names OF those who participated In the
war.
| General Porter and Mr.. Thompson were
delighted with the exceptional cordially
of their reception. The function differed
from the usual ceremonies OF this kind by
| the absence OF chilling formallties, M
Loubet putting his visitors at complete
ease by the aIfsbility Of his greeting. Tn,
president placed the presidential box a
the Theater Francois Monday and at tn,
opera Wednesday at Mr. Thompson's dis
posal The latter will send Nine. Loube
Lafayette dollar, she having expressed
desire TO have one as souvenir
---------