New-York tribune., 1902-02-23
WASHINGTON THE HERO.
BARON D'ESTOURNELLES DE CON
STANTS TRIBUTE BEFORE CHI
CAGO UNION LEAGUE CLUB.


CAGo UNION LEAGUE CLUB.
Chicago Feb 22-Chcago paid fitting tribute to-
day to the memory of George washington All 'he
hanks the Stock Exchange and the Board OF lrau"
were closed and many of the large business houses
observed the holiday Flags foated from the gov
ernment buildings clubs, schoOlhouses ana many
business blocks and patriotic exercises were heio
in many quarters of the city
This evening banquet given by the union
League Club at which Baron d'Estourneles de
Constant member of the French Chamber OF Dep
uties and former French Minister to London. was
the principal speaker. In his address he said;
Mr. President and Gentlemen: know that may
count on your kind indulgence for two reasohS-the
first because 1 not speaking my own language
the second because l have not the excuse Which
after dinner speakers make generally in France,
and I suppose. here too, of being taken oy sur
prise | cannot call my speech mere iniproVisa-
tion cannot tell you that 1 going to say a
few unprepared words for had plenty OF uhe u
prepare them in my long journey from FariS u
Chicago. -,
And vet knowing that may count on your indul-
gence, I find words to express what Ieei-hy
gratitude for your hearty reception thought
knew what was reception at Chicago. but see
knew nothing at all. and all that can say Is tnat
I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and that
l will never forget it,
Now l want to tell you that it has been great
Measure and a great honor for me to make at
Washington the acquaintance Of such an eminent
man as your President. Mr. Roosevelt Is alto-
gether the first and the most popular or the citi-
zens Of your great republic. He appears 10 us
Europeans as the real personifcation OF America,
combining in himself with the most loyal charac-
ter qualities which not only precious Out
generally contradictory. from the high, refined cult
the intelligence or the genius Oh aii"ii' ~
to chivalrous heroism.
had great pleasure in meeting, at "asiiihe - -
too an old friend of mine Mr Jules Canioo', -
ambassador has faithfully interpreted 'He l~oe ~
of the whole French nation when In your last "oi'
he acted not against one or the other OF the wv
bauiperents but in favor of them both In SIN
cere spirit Of conciliation and sympathy. III Sp
of the old selfish proverb Which ADVISES 4i
attending other peoples business. his lhiua'i'e
oarrod him the gratitude of all. France Is PROUD
of her ambassador at Washington, as you may DC
as you are proud Of your representative III , al9
my friend. General Porter General Porter a,Iu
Mr. Cambon are both animated by one anu INC
Same ambition-to render more and more close ana
friendly tho relations between their two countries
in the interests OF civilization and peace Such mas
been always. and ouch will be more ana iho'e' 'i'
noble role of an ambassador
IMPORTANCE OF DIPLOMACY.
eo,orco has transformed the world. and, in spite
NJ a widespread popular deusion, the most recent
inventions as railroad or wireless telegra?hy WIN
not diminish the Importance Of diplomacy TOT 'he
more the means of communication are deFeoIeo
N. moro the poInts OF contact increase in number
between the nations. the more frequent AT the
same time will be the occasions OF interha"ohai
conflicts Progress brings nations close 10 one an
other hut II Is diplomacy that has 10 unite them
such IS the benehcent mission rendered to diplo-
macy by these times
Between France and America immense material
advances have been attained. 1t seemed once that
a deep bottomless ditch. an abyss was separating
forever the two continents Now thousands OF
bonds unite to the other; the obstacles which
separated them disappear. The ocean. daily trav-
ersed by big floating hotels. as thick
trurn nyynl converted
a great roadway, and is destined to become soon
crowded Distance has been annihilated
one thing still remains between our countries
Ignorance That Ia the veritable abyss, the ocean
that has 10 be efraced. We do not know America.
you do know France. We see you through the
mlsts OF our prejudces. You believe we are very
old. We believe YOU are very young. We are both
wrong
For centuries past, from long before the Hundred
War. France has passed from crisis to crisis
each terrible that IL threatened to be the
last During the religious wars. after the death Of
Louis XIV. after the death OF Louis Nv, before
and after the First Empire. before and after the
Second Empire. prophets Of evil have invariably
despaired of her, and yet they all proved wrong.
Every time she emerged young. elastic. living eager
to be useful To be useful. that is her admirable
though ungrateful. mission. France is the country
OF peculiar fruits her soil. her climate her unique
geographical situation. the originality of her
tIonal character and her combination OF enthusiasm
and reflection make her land of prediction;
ure has blessed her. But in exchange for her ad-
vantages she has great duties TO accomplish; she
has to contribute large share TO the development
of universal progress in every shape. That Is the
mission which seems. to superficial persons keep
her IN a state of perpetual agitation. In fact.
is aglow with vitality; what seem TO be convul-
slons but her labor pains. and in the agony OF
her conflicts. between caution and enthusiasm the
generous ideas which torment her triumph with
much the more expansion France Is open to
ideas; she loves them. she discusses them she
fights for them: she experiments with them she
hawl,
the noble thoughts that inspired the Great Rev
olutlon. whether they be the practical inventions
of science and industry
EMINENT MEN OF FRANCE
Without going further back than the last few
years is a country old whose "savans" are Pas
and Berthelot? The poets Lamartine Victor
Hugo Suly- -Prudhomme? The historian Michelet?
The philosophers Taine, Renan? The sculptor
Rodn? The painters Corot. Millet, Claude Monet?
The musicians Gounod Bzet? The novelist Maui
passant? The critics Brunetiere. Paul Bourget
Jules Lemattre, Anatole France? The orators De
Nun. Jaures, Waldeck- Rousseau? Is a country old
which delights in all enterprises that are new?
That explores, as two or three centuries ago II
explored America. all the unknown parts of the
world? That pioneers industries as those OF
bicycles and automobiles? Upon whose tracks
thunder the most rapid express in the world?
Which. never contented with the good It has is
always seeking the better the unknown the inac-
cessible whether IL be in the regions OF the upper
air or down in the depths of the sea- whether II he
aerial or submarine navigation? No France is not
old; all that she needs is self-conidence Come to
visit her you will render her the most important
service by revealing to herself the resources she
has not yet developed Come all of you-not to
Paris only, but 10 the OF our provinces from
the ocean beaches to the shore of the Naditerra