Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-24
STATUE IS UNVEILED
French and Americans Join in
Defeating Statue OF RoCh.
ambeau at Washington.
Event Is Significant OF the
Friendly Relations OF
Two Countries.
Speeches Made by President
Roosevelt, Senator Lodge
and Others.

Washington, May 24.-The president
of the United States today Joined with
the official representatives of the
French republic in unveiling the statue
OF Marshall De Rochambeau, COM
| patriot of Washington, and comman-
America during the revolutionary war.
1t was an event combining many dem
constructions of international good will
The president and members OF the cab
met arrived at the reviewing stand
shortly before II. Alongside the presi
| Dental party sat the French ambassa-
dor, Cambon, General Brugere, Vice
Admiral Fournier, other distinguished
representatives of the French govern
ment, Count and Countess De Rocham-
beau and Count De Lafayette, de
scendents of the gallant soldiers who
fought with Washington. Rev. DIR
ening prayer. AT the conclusion
President Roosevelt stepped to the
front of the platform and extended
generous welcome to the French
guests.
The president spoke as follows:
Mr.. ambassador and representatives
Of the mighty republic Of France: l eX
tend to you on behalf of the people of
he United States the warmest and
most cordial greeting. We appreciate
to the full all that is implied in this en-
bassy, composed of such men as these
who are sent over here by President
I.oubet to commemorate the unveiling
If the statue of the great marshal, who,
with the soldiers and sailors of France,
truck decisive blow in the war which
started this country on the path Of in
dependence among the nations Of the
earth. I am sure 1 give utterance 10 the
sentiments of every citizen of the Unit
ed States and every American to whom
the honor and glory of our republic in !
the past, as in the present. are dear, |
when / say we prize this fresh proof of |
friendship of the French people not on
- because 1t is necessarily pleasing to
Us to have the friendship u a natlon so
mighty in war and so mighty in peace
as France has ever shown herself to
be, but because it is peculiarly pleasant I
to feel that, after a century and quar-
ter of independent existence Il ma
zion, the French republic should feel
that in that century and further we
have justified the sacrifice France made
on our behalf. / am sure my fellow
you welcome the chance which
brings 1T about that this embassy of
French people should come to our
shores at the very time when we, in
our turn, have done our part in starting
on the path of independence sister re-
public, Cuba.
Mr.. Ambassador, the American peo-
pie, peculiarly because the history of
the United States has been so intarwo-
ven with what France has done for us;
also because they are proud that the
whole world, which acknowledges and
must ever acknowledge in a peculiar
legree the headship of France along so
many lines in the march of progress
md civilization, the American people, l.
.hru me, extend their thanks to you and {
n their name l beg to express my ac-
to the embassy, that
las come here and to President Loubet
md all the French nation, both for the
Iced and for the magnanimous motive
hat laid behind the doing of the deed l
nd l thank you"
AS the president closed his re-
marks Countess Rochambeau drew :,
side the wells enveloping the figure !,
ringing into view the massive bronze 4
Proportions of the famous French com
1ander Addresses were then deliv- =
red by M. Cambon, General Horace
Porter, Senator Lodge and General =
'rugere of the French army. BishoI
brought the ceremonies tc
close with a benediction and the
rench and American forces passed in
eview before the president. This af-
ernoon the French guests visited tho -
apitol and congressional library. =, =