The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-05-29
FRENCH STATUTE UNVEILED
MARSHAL DE RoCHAMBEAU
" as a oal.atriot of Our General
hin.son-rr~~idcns ROosex~lt
Ackn0w lodged Our frfend~hip
for the fr~nch-Fhe Travelling.


republic in unveiling the statue of Mar
saal de Rochambeau. the eompatriot Of
Washington and the commander In chief
OF the French forces in America during
the revolutionary war. 1t was an event
combining many demonstrations of inter
national eced will. and with oratery ami
music expressive of Franco American
friendship.
The ceremony was fixei for Il O'Clock
Saturday morning but long before that
hour the streets were filled with marcn-
ing msn and great crowd eager TO wit
hess the exercises and review. A battalion
of French seamen arrived by special train
from Annapolis early IN the day. and,
headed by the crack band from the
French battleship. swung through Penn
sylvania avenue to Lafayette square.
where the shrouded figure of the French
field marshal awaited the signal for un-
yelling.
! President Roosevelt and the members OF
his cabinet arrived at the review grounds
shortly before ii o'clock and took posi-
tlons facing the draped figure. Alongside
/ the presidential party sat the French am
bassador, NJ. Cambon: General Brugere,
Vice Admiral Fournier and other dis,in-
guished representatives of the French
government. and also the Count and
Countess de Rnchambeau and Count DE-
Lafayette, descendants Of the gallant
soldier who fought with Washington. Rev.
DIR. Stafford opened the exercises with An
impressive invocation. At its conclusion
President Roosevelt stepped to the front
of the platform and extended a generous
welcome to the French guests
Address Of the Pre.ident.
The president said:
''Mr. Ambassador, and you, the repre-
sentatives of the mighty republic of
France: extend to you on behalf Of the
people of the United states tine warmest
and most cordial greeting. We appreciate
to the full all that is implied in this en-
bassy. composed Of such men as those
who have been sent over here by Presi-
dent Loubet to commemorate the unveil-
ing of the statue of the great marshal,
who, with the soldiers and sailors 81
France, struck the decisive blow in the
war which started this country on the
path of independence among the nations
Of the earth. tApplause.)
Il am sure that give utterance to the
sentiments 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 l say that we
prize this fresh proof of friendship of the
rv1x hoo :
necessarily pleasing to US to have the
friendship OF a nation SO mighty in war
and 30 mighty in peace as France has
ever shown herself to be, but because it is
peculiarly pleasant to feel that, after
century and quarter Of independent
existence ~ = nation, the French Tepub-
lie should feel that In that century and
quarter we have justified the sacrifices
France made on our behalf. tApplause.l
Il am sure, my fellow citizens, that you
welcome the chance which brings it about
that this embassy of the French people
should >come to our shores al the very
time when we. in our turn. have done our
part in starting on the pa.h Of indepen-
dence sister repubiie-the republic OF
Cuba. tApplause) Mr.. Ambassador. the
American people, peculiarly because they
are the American people, and because the
history of the United States has been 20
interviewer with what france has done
for us; also, because they are part OF
the whole world. which acknowledges and
must ever acknowledge in peculiar de-
gree the friendship of France along %
many lines in the matter Of progress ami
civiiization--the American people through
me extend their thanks to you. and in
their name beg to express my acknowl-
edgments to the embassy that has come
here and to President Loubet and all Of
the French nation, both for the deed and
for the magnanimous spirit and friend
ship behind the deco, and l thank YOU i
loud applause.)
UAveiling the statue.
As the president closed his remarks the
Countess de Rochambeau drew aside the
wells enveloping the figure, bringing into
view the massive bronze proportions of
the famous French commander, standing
proudly erect with arm outstretched. d.
recting the fortunes Of war on the field #
Yorktown. A great cheer went up from
frenchmen and Americans alike, and at |
the same instant the marine band broke
into the inspiring strains OF the Marsel-
laise. As the French national hymn died
away Ambassador Cambon escorted to the
front Of the platform the youthful sculp-
tor, NJ. Hannr, who executed the statue.
Then the ambassador, speaking in
French, delivered brief address. Fol-
lowing the French AMBASSADOR, General
Horace Porter. the United States amhss-
sador to France, and Senator Lodge u
Massachusetts, delivered addresses. !,