The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-23
FRENCH MAKE GIFT
TO UNITED STATES
Washington Bust Presented,
With Addresses by Nj. JUS
serand and Mr.. McCieary

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. Gam
bassador Jusserand presented to con-
gress today the bronze replica of the
original marble bust of George Wash
ington, which was destroyed by a fire
in the library of congress in 1851. The
ceremonies took place in the rotunda
at the capitol, where the bust was un-
veiled, and iD the presidents room in
the senate wing, where speeches were
made by the ambas sador on behalf of
the French donors and by Senator
Wetmore, of Rhode Island, and Rep
resentative McCleary, of Minnesota,
on behalf of the two branches of con-
gress. President Pro Tenn. Frye, of.
the serate, presided.
Nine. Jusserand drew aside the vail.
which exposed the replica On its gar
landed pedestal. This act provoked the
only applause of the ceremony. The
French ambassador placed in q re-
ceptacle of the pedestal documents con-
taining a history of the bust and an
nounced that the acceptance by the
United States of the gift from France
sealed eternal friendship between the
nations. Senator Wetmore read res
olution adopted by congress accepting
the gift, and the ambassador delivered
q speech of presentation. He said:
Analyzes Washington
A great nation never forgets the great
deeds and great examples OF its ancestors,
and no man indeed in any country bet
ter deserves grateful remembrance tnan
George Washington. He was in truth
providential man; no other of your many
great men would have been able to do so
well what he did; and he, appearing at
any other period of your history, would
not have proved such a useful citizen. lie
would not perhaps have fulfilled Lincoln's
task so well, but he fulfilled Washingtons 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 Ameri-
can liberty. For his mighty task he had
all the needed and rarely united qualities.
Patience which was not inaction, readi-
ness and fortitude which We're not temer-
ity, caImness which was not Indifference,
kindness which was not weakness. Far
above all the rest, his soundness of heart,
of mind, of sense.
We have in France the same feeling
that you have for the great and good
citizens of the past; and in this worship
is included more than one American,
George Washington being foremost among
them. French admiration began at once
aud never ceased; and it led France to do
two things for him and for America, two
things which she was the only country in
the world to do.
Chose Gloomy Moment
who suffer. for those who are threatened
in their just rights, to offer her alliance,
France chose one of the gloomiest mo-
ments (when Washington was at Valley
Forge) in the war of independence. And
We did another thing which, believe, we
were alone in doing, and which shows, as
well at least as anything 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
Nafn 1Ga1 n in1 hll6
at the Invalides and the most eloquent
of our speakers. Fontanes, delivered the
funeral Grafton on the warrior who had
made his country free.
We meet again today, his birthday, to
honor his memory, and it is my great
privilege, acting on the orders of my gov
ernment, to present to congress the bust
OF the founder of this republic.
The ambassador recalled the fact that
this gift was an outcome of the Rocham-
beau mission which came here three years
ago, and gave the history of the bust and
the work of David DANGERS, the sculp-
tor. NJ. Jusserand concluded:
Forever, now, l hope. the august face
of the great citizen will be harbored in
your capitol. His mild and stern eye will
renewed food of more and more remote
and powerful posterity. May this pos
terity. whatever be the distance in time,
remain near to the great ancestor, by
their principles, their faith in liberty,
their robleness of purpose, and if l may
add a personal wish, by their friendly
feeling for friendly France
Speak for Congress
In receiving the gift Senator Wetmore
said:
May We not invoke the blessings of God
on France and on the United States and
under His guidance express the hope that
these two nations, these sister republics,
may be eXempars and leaders before the
world of moderation, of justice and Of
peace.
In responding for the house, Repre-
sentative McCleary spoke of Washing
tons human side and told stories showing
the humCr that coursed through his veins
in the face of the difficulties he encoun-
tered. Recounting the efforts of Wash
ington in having the different states adopt
the constitution of the United States. he
said the turning point in Washington's
career was the day he was chosen pres
ident of the convention to construct the
constitution. He spoke feelingly of the
friendship between the United States and
France.
President Pro TEN. Frye adjourned the
gathering without ceremony, but the
French ambassador was congratulated
warmly for his remarks