The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-24
UNVEILED.
Statue of Marshal De ROcham-
bean Uncovered
In the Presence of Representa-
tives of Two Republics.
GREAT CHEER WENT UP
AS the Countess De Rochambeau
Pulled the Cord
Which Revealed to View the
Warrior in Bronze.
GREAT CHEER WENT UP

Washington, May 24-The president of
the. United States Joined with the official
representatives of the French republic
in unwilling the statue of Marshal de
Rochambeau. the eompatriot of Wash
ington and commander-in-chief of the
French forces in America during the
revolutionary war. It was an event
combining many demonstra tions of in
ternationaI good will with France, sail
ors from the battleship Gaulois ming
ling their cheers with American blue
jackets, French flags entwining their
colors with the stars and stripes and
with oratory and music expressive Of
Franco-Ameriean friendship.
The ceremony of unveiling was fixed
for Il o'clock this morning but long be-
fore that hour the streets We're filed
with marching men and with a great
crowd eager to witness 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 Pennsylvania avenue to
Lafayette square where the shrouded
figure of the French field marshal
awaited the signal for unveiling. The
kAtllCilGdL SOiOACASs 0cl-4DAS anu MAJ ms
already had assembled and gave their
French brothers-in-arms a hearty well
come.
The American troops were under COM
rnand of Major General S. M B. Young
and embraced a battalion OF engineers,
a battalion of sailors and marines with
the Marine band a battalion of cavalry
and of field artillery, and brigade Of
national guardsmen of the District oI
branches of the United States military
and naval service.
President Roosevelt and the members
of the ca binet arrived at the reviewing
stand shortly before II o'clock and took
position facing the draped figure. Along
side the presidential party sat the
French ambassador, NJ Cambon, Gen.
Blugere, Vice Admiral Fournier and
other distinguished representatives OF
the French government and also the
Count and Countess de Roehambeau
and Count de Lafayette, descendants of
the gallant soldiers who fought with
Washington
Cardinal Gibbons was to have opened
the exercises with an invocation. but in
his unavoidable absence the Rev. DR..
Stafford delivered an impressive open
ing prayer. At its conclusion President
Roosevelt stepped to the front of the
platform and extended a generous well
come to the French guests.
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
The president spoke as follows:
Mr.. Ambassador. and You, the Rep
resentatiVes Of the Mighty Republic Of
Franco extend to you on behalf OF
the people of the United States the
warmest and most cordial greeting. We
appreciate to the full all that is i'm
piled in this embassy, composed Of
such men as those who have been
sent over here by President Loubet to
commemorate the unVeiling of the
statue of the great marshal who, with
struck the decisive blow in the war
which started this country on the path
of independence among the nations Of
the earth. (Applause) I am sure that
I give utterance to the sentiments OF
the United States, of every American
to whom the honor and glory of our
republic in the past, as in the present,
are dear, when I say that we prize this
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, as France has
ever shown herself to be, but because
it is peculiarly pleasant to feel that
after a century and a quarter of in
dependent existence as a nation the
French republic should feel that in that
century and a quarter we have justi-
fed the sacrifices France made in our
behalf. (Applause)
4 am sure, my fellow citizens that
you welcome the chance which brings
it about, that this embassy of the
BCOJ4G SA4OulQ COiu6 10 our SHORES
at the very time when we, in our turn,
have done our part in starting on the
path OF independence a sister republic
the republic Of Cuba. (Applause)
Mr. Ambassador, the American peo-
pie. peculiarly because they are the
American people, and because the his
tory of the United States has been so
interviewer with what France has done
for US; also because they are proud
of the whole world which Acknowledges
and must ever acknowledge in a pc
cuflar degree the headship of France
along so many lines in the march of
progress and civilization-the American
people, through me. extend their thanks
TO you and in their name I beg to
express my Acknowledgements 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 behind the doing of
the deed, and I thank you" loud
Applause.)
VEIL DRAWN ASIDE.
As the president closed his remarks.
the Countess de Rochambeau drew aside
the veil enveloping the figure bringing
into view the massive bronze proper
tions of the famous French commander.
standing proudly erect with arm out
stretched, directing the fortunes of war
on the field of Yorktown. A great cheer
went up from F'renchmen and Ameri-
cans, alike, and at the same instant the
Marine band broke into the inspiring
strains of the Marseillaise. As the
French national hymn died away Am
bassador Cambon escorted to the front
of the platform the youthful sculptor.
NJ Hamar, who executed the statue.
Then the ambassador, speaking in
French, delivered a brief address. He
said:
CAMBON'S ADDRESS.
You have shown by this act that
something new had taken place be
tween the nations, that they might be
united by q bond of disin terested SYM
pathy and OF mutual good will, and