The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-23
WASHINGTON BUST PRESENTED
FRANCE DUPLICATES THE ONE
DESTROYED IN 1851.
Ambassador JusSerand says Nice Things
About the Father OF the Country-Thc
French worship Him Above All Ameri-
cans-SenatOr wetmore Makes Reply.

French worship Him Above All Ameri-
cans-SenatOr WetmOre Makes Reply.
WARRINGTON, Feb. PA bronze bust
Of George Washington. presented to the
American people by the people Of France.
was unveiled in the rotunda Of the Capitol
to-day by Nine. Jusserand wife Of the
| French Ambassador. Afterward the com
pany OF guests went to the President
room In the Senate, in which a speech Of
formal presentation by Ambassador Jusse-
rand and one Of acceptance by Senator
Wetmore. chairman OF the Joint Congress
sional Committee on the Library, were
delivered.
The bust was purchased by popular
subscription and Is replica OF that eI-
eouted in 1880 by Dangers and presented
by the French people. but destroyed the
following year by a fire in the Congress
slonal Library. then occupying a portion
OF the Capitol building. In presenting
the gift, Ambassador Jusserand said in
part:
"A great nation never forgets the great
deeds and great examples Of its ancestors.
and no man indeed in any country better
deserves grateful remembrance than
George Washington. He WAS in truth a
provdential man; no other OF your many
well what he did and he, appearing at any
other period Of your history. would not have
proved such useful citizen. lie would not
perhaps have fulfilled Lincoln's task 30
well, but he fulfilled Washington's, the
noblest that could be imagined. The
noblest. for the question was one then Of
life or death; the question was TO know
whether the attempted revolution would
prove the cradle or the grave Of American
liberty.
For his mighty task he had all the needed
and rarely united qualities patience,
which was not inacton; readiness and
fortitude, which were not temerity; calm
ness, which was not indifference. kindness,
which was not weakness. Far above all
the rest his soundness OF heart, Of mind,
Of sense. And this soundness of judgment
taught him that there are occasions when
one man can never be patient enough and
others when one can never be bold enough.
Some Of his moves are among the boldest
ON record, as when ut such an early date as
the LIST Of August l774 he declared himself
ready to raise 20, 600 men, to equip them
and to lead them TO the rescue OF Boston.
a move which decided his fate and in a
measure the fate Of his country.
We have In France the same feeling that
you have for the great and good citizens
OF the past, and in this worship IL included
more than one American. George Washing
ton being foremost among them.
1t is my great privilege acting upon
the orders OF my Government. TO present
to Congress the bust OF the founder Of this
Republic
Senator Wetmore, in his speech Of 40
ceptance referred to the correspondence
with regard to the original bust, the cir
cumstances Of it's destruction by fire before
it could be formally presented, aud In con-
clusion said.
In receiving from you this day, Mr.. Am
bassador. the anniversary OF the birth
of Washington, this beautiful and i'm
pressiye work OF art given as
token OF good will ON the part OF
invoke the blessings OF God on France
and on the United States and under His
guidance express the hope that these two
great nations, these sister republics. may
be exemplars and leaders before the world
OF moderation. Of justice and OF peace.