The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-05
DAY CELEBRATED IN THE OIDFASHONFD WAY
GREATEST FOURTH
IN DISTRICT ANNALS

the men VINO came were AhShA eOhNSs 'hC
men who left were free men.
"A famous French thinker said. over
two centuries ago: BY liberty the Ro-
mans as well as the Greeks understood
state where people were subject 20
nothing except TO law, and where law
was more powerful than men, That
America would be such a state. your
ancestors decided in 1776. and what they
decided has been and shall ever be.
France Made Response.
Congress assumed at once the powers.
duties, and responsibilities resulting
from their decision. They Issued letters
of marque. In the name Of the new State,
and. taxing their place among free ma
lions, prepared to sign treaties with
their peers One OF the first decisions
OF the first free Congress of the United
States of America was that an appeal
would be made to foreign nations for an
alliance, and a committee of Ave was
appointed to prepare the same. This was
a very necessary move; for the task OF
Washington and his heroic soldiers was
a nearly suporhuman one and gloomy
days were in store. This was another
momentous hour in the history of this
country
Amid the silence OF the nations one
voice was heard to say: 'Adsum'-the
voice of France. Here I am, willing
and ready to risk with you, for better.
for worse. all have: life and treasure
twhat remains OF my colonies, and even
Z hat ht,fI - n.
of so many efforts, a navy just recon
strueted at last, after eighty years OF
indifference and decay
Great nations have great duties. Both
the American and the French republics
will perform their tasks. not for their
benefit alone. but also. let US hope, for
the benefit of mankind and for the
progress OF civilization"
Scarcely had the ambassador taken his
seat when the strains OF the ~Marseil-
laise" we're heard; at first softly. then
band. The crowd. in one accord. rose.
and. almost unconsciously. hummed the
national air of France.
Mr.. Moody Talks.
1.-The Anvil Chorus" was then sung by
the adult chorus gathered just to the
north of the speakers. Secretary Moody
was the last speaker of the day.
He extended a hearty welcome
to the French ambassador, and referred
in glowing terms to the great work done
by French soldiers and sailors during
the War OF the Revolution. In his speech
he made a yelled reference to the recent
scandals in the Postofice Department
He said:
THE impartial enforcement of the law
is the essence OF a pure democracy.
However else they may differ. whether
in intelligence, in wealth, or race or
color, or ability, all men are equal be-
fore the law, and the laws which are en-
forced equally for and against all
should be respected by all; the remedy
for any wrong should be sought under
the law and In the courts which repre-
sent the majesty of the peoples will
ANY departure from this sound principle
in any part of the land is a contempt
not only OF the courts themselves but OF
the people who have created the courts
Mob violence puts every mans rights
to the doubtful determination of men N
4 famed by passionate resentment and
maddened by the thirst for revenge.
renders our voice feeble when raised
against oppression elsewhere, and dis
/ plays a barbarity which shames the ma
| ton in the face OF the world. Let this
/ people whose government has been
called a government Of laws and not OF
/ az
above the law and wiser than the law
the seal Of their condemnation.
Public Honesty.
In nothing has the growth Of our
nation been shown more clearly than in
the kind and volume of the public bust
ness which it transacts. The truth OF
this appears upon every side. An ever
increasing army Of men and women
holding positions high and low, rom
the President of the Republic 10 the
humblest Waterman OF our public prop
erty, IS In the service OF the people.
Let them once as a body, or even IN
great numbers. become corrupt and tho
nation Will surely decay.
There Is one quality upon which and
above and beyond all others-a thou
sand times above and beyond all others
we must for our life insist, and that
is the quality OF public honesty. There
Is no disease Of the body polite so sub
tie. SO powerful. so dangerous, SO fatal
as the corrupt betrayal Of a public
trust whether the trust be great or
| small
Must Be Honest.
81 cannot but believe in the main
those who do other peoples work are
honest and true. If ii were otherwise
l would despair OF our future. But al
intervals the malignant ulcer Of cor
ruption appears in the cities. in the
| States. and IN the nation. When IT be-
/ trays itself II Is no time for surface
treatment. The knife must reach under
every poisonous root that each may be
cut out and Cast away"
Cheers for the Secretary
Secretary Moody had been interrupted
several times during his address By the
| applause of the crowd, but as he took
his seat 1t seemed as though the trees
I trembled such WAS the volume OF the
| prolonged cheers. For five minutes the