The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-05-27

ful conclusion the legislation by which
the statue was made possible
The ceremony OF unveilinS was fixed
for IL O'Clock this morning. but long be-
fore that hour the streets Were filed
crowd eager 10 witness the exercises
and review. 4 battalion OF French sea-
men arrived by special train from An
napolis early in the day. ana, headed by
the crack band from the French battle
ship, swung through Pennsylvania ave-
nue. TO LeFayette square, where the
shrouded figure OF the French field mar
shall awaited the signal for unveiling.
The American soldiers, sailors and ma
rines already had assembled, and gave
their French brothers in arms a hearty
welcome. The American troops were
under Major General z. B. NJ. Young,
and embraced a battalion OF engineers,
battalion of sailors and marines. with
the marine band, a battalion of cavalry
and field artillery, and d brigade of ma
tional guardsmen OF the District of Co
lumbia, representing in all the various
branches Of the United States military
and naval service.
At the conclusion OF DR.. Staffords $
prayer, President Roosevelt stepped to
the front of the platform and extended
a generous welcome to the French
guests. He said in part:
Il am sure that I give utterance to
the sentiments of every citizen of the
United States, Of every American to
whom the honor and the glory Of our
republic in the past, as in the present,
are dear, when I say that we prize this
fresh proof of the friendship of the
French people not only because it is
necessarily pleasing to us to have
the friendship OF a nation SO mighty in
war and so mighty in peace IS France
has ever shown herself to be, but be-
cause it is peculiarly pleasant to feel
that after a century and a quarter of
Independent existence as a nation, the
French republic should feel that in that
century and a quarter we have justified
| the sacrifices France made on our be-
half.
Il am sure, my fellow citizens, that
you welcome the change which brings
| it about that this embassy of the
| French people should come to our
shores at the very time when we in our
| turn, have done our part in starting on
| the path of independence a zister re-
| public-the republic of Cuba
Ambassador Cambon, the next speak
| er, delivered his address in French. AT
| ter referring to Rachambeau services
| to American colonies, Mr.. Cambon ex-
| pressed his thanks for the generosity OF
| the American people to the Martinique
sufferers and concluded as follows:
THE world, gradually gaining in self
| consciousness, begins to frown more and
| more severely on those who seek to dis
| turb its peace; and when We measure
| the work accomplished and the advance
made since Washington and Rocham-
beau fought together for the good OF
| humanity we may conclude that they
have not combated in vain. This monu-
nlent shall bear witness to this fact,
and shall endure as a symbol thereof
| in the eyes of the generations to come.
The orator of the day was Senator
Lodge, Of Massachusetts. AS Mr..
| Lodge closed the French band played
the Star Spangled Banner
The closing remarks of the day were
| by General Brugere. of the French
army.
Bishop Satterlee brought the cere-
monies to a close with the benediction
and the French and American forces
passed in review before the president.