The Irish standard., 1902-05-03
A TRIBUTE TO FRANCE.
BY Judge Willis at a Reception to
n, LIE R0uX.


reception was rendered to Hughes L,
Roux, the French savant, at the Com
mercial Club in st. Paul. Archbishop
Ireland presided at the function ant
displayed his familiarity with TIL,
French language in his address of vel
come to the distinguished visitor
Among the other speakers was Judg,
John w. Willis, who paid grant
tribute to France. and said:
Since the day when Lafayette frs
landed upon our shores. every French
man has been entitled to a hearty wei
come in America.
Not until every generous sentiment
shall have departed from American
hearts, not until the luminous flame of
national gratitude shall have been OK.
tinguished. not until the tics of amity
yea, of fraternity. which should bind
together all republics. shall have been
sundered, will the citizens who follow
and revere the Stars and Stripes fail
to entertain the most cordial good will
for that splendid people who by their
assistance made successful the Revo-
luton of Americans against British
tyranny, that people who have sup
planted the lilies of the Bourbon mon
archy with the tri-color of Liberty and
amid manifold vicissitudcs have main-
tained n leadership in all that dignifics
and embellishes human life. trust
that the day may never come when
America will not greet the distinguish
ed sons Of France as cordially as
France greeted Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson.
Nations never can in more express
sive mode proclaim their ideals than
in the treatment which they accord to
visitors from q foreign land TO wei
come Il philosopher. a savant. literary
genius. or an artist with enthusiastic
ardor betokcns an innate devotion to
the good, the true and the beautiful.
1t manifests a zeal for that clevating
and broadening culture without which
life is barren and inconscuuential.
Such culture. in all its forms and in its
grantlest amplification, France can best
bcstow. What nation. unless it he
France, wieds the influence of a
t'wor1d- power" in the domain of letters
and of arts? In which of the nations
of the world are found the models of
social department and of polite accom-
plishments? The answer must be, "In
France"
In Europe. the compatriots of our
distinguished guest dominate with un-
disputed sway the whole field of cul-
ture. Their language and literature
conquer vast regions into which no
invading army dare intrudc. In all
the capitals and chief cities f the East
ern continent polite society speaks the
language of Bossuct. Voltairc. Fcnelon.
Mira beau and Lc RouX. The French
printing presses are busy day and
night in producing books which con-
vey to all quarters of the globe the
glowing. virilc and Instructive thought
of French writer's.
In scientific research. and in tlcvcl-
oping and utilizing all scientific dis
coveries, the French people have no
supcrors. Tho city of Paris seems
destined by Divine Providence to he
the chosen theatcr wherein shall he
displayed to the best advantage the
genius of a Franklin. Pasteur, Il De
Lesseps Or a Santos Dumont. In every
department of intellectual adventure
and conquest. the French people lead
the world.
We should rejoice. therefore. that !
here, in the capital of Western COM
far from the banks OF the
Seine, we are privileged to listen to
the impressive teachings Of Il man who
has achieved distinction in the most
cultivated of nations. AS I bchcll.
this evening. the exchange of &luta-
tions between the Governor of Mime
sofa and NJ. lie I0uX. I was reminded
of the explanatory phrase which, rs
John Adams tells us in his record of
the revolutionary embassy to France
echoed throughout that land after the
great philosopher of Fcrney had met
and embraced Franklin at a session of
the French Academy: "Qu'il ctait
charmant de voir cmbrasscr Solon and
SophOcle." Solon and Sophoclcs meet
again, tonight; and, as in the year
177S, the law-givcr is an American and
the master of literature Il Frcnchman!
May the future witness many more
such meetings!
To M. lie RouX we say. as we OK
tend our farcwcll "You have con-
quered Il province which no king can
ever rule and no prince inherit. the
intellect and the heart of the people
dwelling in the Northern metropolis Of
the vast region which Napoleon cedcl
to the United States Of America
Duluth Invites "Oom Paul."