Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-23
SISTER REPUBLIC
MAKES US GIFT
FRENCH BRONZE UNVEILED AT
WASHINGTON
French Ambassador Delivers Eloquent
Grafton, Dwelling on His coun-
try's Veneratlon for Our
First President
BY Associated Press.

| BY Associated Press.
! WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-Ambassa-
| dor Jusserand presented to congress
the bronze replica of the original mar
| ble bust of George Washington, which
was destroyed by fire in the library
| OF congress in 1851. The ceremonies
| took place I'm the rotunda at the cap
! ital where the bust was unveiled and
speeches made by the ambassador on
behalf of the French donors, and by
| Senator Wetmore of Rhode Island,
and Representative McCleary Of Min
nesota on behalf of the two branches
! of congress.
The French ambassador placed in a
receptacle Of the pedestal documents
containing a history of the bust, and
announced that the acceptance by the
United States of the gift from France
sealed eternal friendship between the
nations.
Senator Wetmore read a resolution
adopted by congress accepting the
gift. and the ambassador delivered a
speech of presentation.
NJ, JuSSerand'S opeeCH
Among other things he said I'VE
have in France the same feeling that
you have for the great and good cit
liens of the past; and in this worship
is included more than one American.
George Washington being foremost
among them. French admiration be-
gan at once and never ceased; 1t led
France to do two things for him and
for America, two things which she
was the only country in the world
could do
"With her natural sympathy for those
who suffer, for those who are threat
ened in their just rights, France chose
one of the gloomiest moments In the
war of independence in which to offer
her alliance. The alliance was not
concluded after one Of those brilliant
exploits which denote an easy ana
glorious termination; it was concluded
when Washington and his army were
at Valley Forge.
How France Mourned His Death
"And we did another thing which,
believe, we were alone in doing, and
which shows, as well at least as any
thing else, the true sentiment of France
for Washington and America. When
the great citizen died France went into
mourning for ten days as if the noblest
of her own national heroes had died;
for ten, days the flags of the republic
were yelled with. Grape throughout the
country. A ceremony was held at the
Invalides and the most eloquent of our
speakers, Fontaines, delivered the fun
eral grafton on the warrior who had
made his country.
1--WE meet again today, his birthday,
to honor his memeory, and 1t Is my
great privilege, acting on the orders of
my government, to present to congress
the bust of the founder of this country.
"When the Rochambeau mission came
three years ago, receiving from the
United States a never-to-be- forgotten
welcome. the warmest friends of Amer
lea in France, and especially the MEM
bers of the mission, desired to send
to this country a token of their graft
tude
"They thought they could do no better
than to replace the work of art sent
seventy-five years before to America
and offered to congress by public sub
scription, to show how was preserved
the old friendly feeling for the United
States The bust was the work OF
David Dangers, the famous sculptor
and patriot"