The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-05
AT wAsHINaToN.
Secretary of the Navy Moody Prin-
 cipal Speaker.

Secretary Of the Navy 1oouy Rfin-
 cipal Speaker.
 Washington. July 1.-The government today Joined with the citizens of the Dis trict of Columbia in general commemo- ration of Independence Day.
 The features of the celebration were a military procession in which all arms of the regular service, the army, navy and Marine Corps were represented. together with the National Guard of the district and the high school cadets and public meeting in which Admiral Dewey. Secre- tary of the Navy Moody and M. lesser and the French Ambassador participated
 The parade was witnessed by large crowds and was reviewed by General B. M Young, the Grand Marshal It started shortly after 9 o'clock this morning from the capitol and was dis banded after passing the White House. The public meeting immediately followed under the shade of the great trees on the northeast lawn of the White House. Admiral Dewey opened the exercises by introducing Barry Bnikley. of this city. who read the declaration of independence.
 Secretary Moody then made an address In behalf of the National Government. He accorded a cordial welcome to the French Ambassador and reminded his hearers that without the cooperation of the French fleet under DeGrasse. the victory over Cornwallis at Yorktown. which virtually determined the independ- ance of the colonies would never have been won.
 Briefly the secretary dweit upon the circumstances of our history which app peal to our pride as people but in this connection he said 1t was sometimes wise to preach as we'll as to give praise.
 If we would keep what we have won; if weN would maintain and strengthen our position among the nations. he said. we should purify the sources of National life and guard we'll the qualities upon which our continued strength as a nation de- pend.
 Secretary Moody spoke of the equality of all men before the law and held that the laws which are enforced equally for and against all should be respected by ail The remedy for any wrong should be sought under the law and in the courts which represent the majesty of the peo- ple's will Any departure from tilis sound principle in any part of the land is contempt not only oS the courts them selves, but of the people who have created the courts. He added:
 .'Afob violence puts every mans rights to the doubtful determination of men in- famed by passionate resentment and maddened by the thrist for revenge. renders our voice feble when raised against oppression elsewhere and displays d barbarity which shames the nation in the face of the world. Let thls people whose government has been called a gov ernment of laws and not of men fix upon those who hold themselves above the law and wiser than the law the seal of their condemnation"
 In conclusion Mir. Moody touched upon the necessity of honesty in the public ser vice
 There is," he declared. mo disease ol the body polite so subtle. so powerful, SO dangerous. 50 fatal as the corrupt be- trayal of the public trust, whether the trust be great or small" He could not but believe. he said. that in the main those of the peoples work are honest and true, but when the malignant ulcer of corruption appears 1t Is no time foI surface treatment.
 He asked that we not easily believe charges which are made lightly.
 Let them," the secretary added, 'be investigated with the calm of a court oi law, but if the offense be proved. let the displeasure of the people come like 8 thunderboit from on high. Let not the hands of justice be stayed Or its edicts be tempered with a misguided mercy"
 Ambassador Jusserand paid an eloquent tribute to the Americans of the early day Briefly he referred to the meeting of 12I years ago in Independence Hall Tn Phil adelphia. He continued:
 What took place? What words were exchanged? We should like to show them to the minutest particulars. But one thing we know, and that is enough. The men who came were insurgents; the men who left were free men,"
 M Jusserand then referred to the help which France so willingly rendered the newborn republic in It's struggle for free dom.
 Congress had decided that an appeal should be made to the foreign nations for an alliance. Amid the silence of the na- tions one voice." M. Jusserand said, was heard to say, 'Adsum-the voice of France.
 Here I am willing and ready to risk with you, for better or worse. all have. life, treasure, what remain of my colonies, and even that new-built navy of mine, the result of so many efforts, a navy just reconstructed at last. after eighty years or indifference and decay"
 He concluded as follows:
 "The nation whose life began 12T years ago has been an immense one. and eyes are more and more fixed upon her. Today we commemorate Gin a ceremony to which I am beyond words proud to be associated) gifts your ancestors bestowed upon you. and framed for you duties, the ones and the others equally splendid.
 They bestowed upon you that peerless gift, liberty, which will become more and more binding as you become more and more powerful. These duties we have in common with you.
 Endowed with institutions similar to yours, pursuing similar. aims, we intend to vie with you, no longer on the battle field in view of Q liberty which has been won~forever, but in constant attempts to improve the condition of the many to spread the spirit of brotherhood between men and between nations; remains, in a word true to the principles proclaimed in your revolution and in ours.
 "The fight for better things is an end less one; we shall fight it. you and we, with eyes fixed on the same ideal. the very same marked cut by our ancestors long ago, and our flags will move on all toward the light. and while we follow them we shall be pleased to remember that if their designs are different yet they display over our heads the same colors."
 The remainder of the program included music by the United States Marine band and singing by adult chorus, a chorus of school children and by the audience.
 This was the first time a ceremony of this character has been held on the White