The Indianapolis journal., 1902-05-26
Eloquent Sermon by Cardinal Gibbons
Americas Debt to France
Heard I'm the Morning.
RIDING WITH THE PRESIDENT
HORSEBACK JAUNT OCCUPIES PART
OF THE AFTERNOON.
The Party Is Thoroughly Drenched,
as Was Prince Henry on Like
OccasiOn-Other Incidents.

WASHINGTON. May 25.-The members
of the French mission which came to
Washington to attend the ceremonies in
cident to the unveiling of the Rochambeau
statue finished their visit here to-day, and
tonight left the city for Niagara Falls
on their weeks tour of the East before sail
ing for home. There were no formal func-
tions the programme for the day, but
the visitors found every minute of their
time occupied in attending divine service,
returning numerous calls, official and 9TH
erwise, and in drives about the city and
suburbs.
Ambassador Cambon accompanied the
members of the mission to st. Patrick s
Church at 10 o'clock in the morning where
low mass was said by the Rev. Dr. Man
glen, of Baltimore, the Rt. Rev. Mgr
Rocker, of the apostolic delegation, and
other priests assisting. The visitors wore
the full uniforms of their rank Cardinal
Gibbons preached a short sermon. He
spoke briefly of the French missionaries
who had crossed the seas to America and
preached the gospel TO the aboriginal in
habitants, carrying the torch of faith in
one hand and the torch of civilization in
the other. 1t was meet and proper that
the sons Of France should assemble in the
temple of God and give thanks to the AL
mighty for the great things which had
been accomplished by their countrymen in
this hemisphere in the cause of religion and
civilization. OF Rochambeau Cardinal Glib
bons said, in part:
Without detracting from the merits of
his brother in arms. can affirm that Ro-
chambeau was the flower of the French
allied army Mature in years, experienced
in military campaigns. a veteran of the
seven-year war, calm, deliberate, self
poised, he was a man according TO Wash
ington's own heart-the general on whose
counsel and prudence he could rely more
than on that of any other commander.
when the American troops under Wash
ington and the French forces under Ro-
chambeau were on the march to Yorktown
Washington gallantly proposed 10 give the
post of distinction TO the French army.
Rochambeau gracefully declined the honor,
and in doing so he followed the impulse OF
his own heart as well as the general in
structions he received from his govern
ment, that he should always subordinate
himself TO the American communicating
chief.
The army of CORVALLIS was surrounded
on land by the French and American
troops and was prevented from escaping
by sea by the fleet of Admiral De Grasse,
which guarded the Chesapeake bay and
thus the defeat of the English commander
was inevitable and he surrendered his
sword 10 Washington. The capitulation OF
Cornwallis was the most decisive event
of the American revolution.
May the friendship subsisting between
France and America-a friendship coeval
with our history a nation-a friend
ship 10 which We owe our very existence
as an independent, sovereign power-may
this historic friendship be perpetuated
MAY il be strengthened and consolidated by
the golden links OF brotherly love. May the
two great republics of the world go hand
in hand in the march OF liberty, of prog
ress and OF civilization. And may the
monument erected TO Rochambeau in the
capital of the Nation ever remind the
American citizen who shall contemplate Il
OF the everlasting debt OF gratitude which
the United States owes 10 France"
The weather was very warm during the
afternoon and some of the visitors pre-
ferred to--rest. while others made calls
or took rides about the city and suburbs
Several OF the party. including the Count
and the Countess de Rochambeau and the
Count de Lafayette, visited the beautiful
Arlington Cemetery and Fort Mysr near
by. They were escorted through the
grounds by Captain Lewis. OF the Second
Cavalry.
A quite unexpected feature OF the after
noon and one which pleased the visitor:
very much was an invitation from Presi
cent Roosevelt 10 accompany him and sew
marty assembled in front OF the White
House about 4 o'clock. the visitors in theil
uniforms making very pretty picture II
the bright afternoon sunlight. photo
sraph WAS taken OF the group while there
The President guided the party through
the northern part OF the city until they
reached the Geological Park. While In IN,
park a storm began TO gather and tn.
partv came home AZ lively canter. Th'
CONTINUED On PAGE ., COL %