Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-18
SIGNAL HONCRS
(Continued from Page One.)

century ana 10 Win i ~
be early in the field to honor with her
superb exhibit our st. louis Exposition
which celebrated the most important
negotiation that ever took place be-
tween these two countries.
with the conforming Of trade to
changes in tariff legislatiOns; the
preparation of reciprocity and other
treaties; the procuring of assents to
the several American notes which
aimed to secure the integrity of neutral
countries and guarantee the open-door
to the trade of the world; the in
auguratiOn here of the heroic statues
of Washington and Lafayette present.
ed by Americans to France. not to
commemorate war but to typify peace
between two great sister republics and
the additional duties arising from the
increasing number of our people that
visit this capital. it will be seen that
the position with all its attractions
has been by no means sinecure.
Whatever measure of success that has
been attained is largely attributable to
the able direction and effective policy
of our home administration, and the
full support and confidence it has in
1t is some SatisfactiO to feel that all
the affairs entrusted to the embassy
have been completed and that there
remains no unfinished business.
Here l have watched the continued
growth of beauty in this marvellous
city which is at once the sepulchre of
buried ages and the birthplace of mod
ern ideas. here l have studied the
masterpieces of artistic genius which
makes it the art centre of the world.
These noble works appeal to our high
er senses and awaken our deeper
emotions. they induce the power of re-
Election, thrill us with the grandeur of
the creative faculty and inspire us
with the majesty of achievement.
"T have had continually before my
eyes the standard of France, bearing
that trinity of colOrs which compose
the respective flags of the two great
republics. I am glad to see them to-
night draped side by side. They
have a right to be in close touch; for a
century and a quarter ago the old
flags they represent We're interaced in
battle. waved together i'm victory and
have ever since been intertwined in
ftdtCc. Ahdy lilC istiii VI Uiso-
cord never rend them asunder.
81 should be the basest of ingrates if
l failed to place on record my heart
felt gratitude and my prOfOundcst
sense of obligation to you. my friends.
Americans and Frenchmen, for the
marked manner in which you have
contributed to my pleasure and to the
accomplishment of my official duties.
You have removed many thOrnS from
my pathway; you have planted much
heartsense in my garden. The CRATE
full always feel the poverty of words;
and 7 am not sufficiently rich in lam
guaSe to express the debt of gratitude
owe to my friends in France. You
have manifested that genuine friend
ship which divides our sorrows and
doubles our joys and only strengthens
with time. Though an ocean may
divide us. I shall never cease to keep
you in memory in that joyous twilight
of the soul to count the brilliant beads
of recollection. and as I recall your
touching marks of kindness, to repeat
the words 4 cannot but remember such
things were and were most precious
to me-"
henerdl 1OTteT lTeT1 turned 10 ttle
distinguished French officials present.
and speaking in French with the same
facility as in English, said:
"In addressing more particularly my
friends of France, and my colleagues
of the Diplomatic Corps, if I speak in
French it is simply to prove to you
that 1 am not so bigOted in regard to
my native language as the old preach
er in London who once said in SER
mon, 4 have no respect for your Latin,
your Greek or your Hebrew. l use no
tongue but the good old solid English,
the language that was spoken by Saint
Peter and Saint Paul
But in such friendly company as
this one may speak, | am sure. any
tongue. for the language of friendship
makes itself understood in all tongues.
During eight years we have trav-
eled the same road together hand in
hand. Now we have arrived ut the
crossroads. when our routes separate.
One of my nlcasantest duties during
my sojcurn in Paris has been to con-
vey the expression of good will and
friendship which the citizens of Amer
ica always take pleasure in sending to
the citizens of France. 1t is a great
satisfaction to be able to say that the
relations between the two countries are
today Of the most cordial kind and
there remains not a single irritating
question.
This traditional friendship is en-
tirely natural. for our ancestors
fought in the same ranks and shed
their blood in the same cause and
common heritage of former glory can
never be divided. America will never
cease to recall that when Washington,
ROchembeau and Lafayette met be-
fore the trenches at YOrktown; the
contact of these great minds struck
the electrical spark that illuminated
the faith of freedom and consecrated
the new work forever to justice, liberty
and the rights of man.
Il experience peculiar satisfaction
in seeing among the eminent pubic
men of France who have hOnOred TINS
occasion. the distinguished statesman
the accomplished diplOmatist. SO per-
fectly versed in all International qucs