Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-22

morning in the committee room of the Sem
ate committee the library. There they
were joined by NJ. Jusserand, the ambassa-
dor of France. who later formally presented
the bust to the United States government,
Senator Wetmore and Representative Nc
Cleary, chairmen of the committees on the
library of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, respectively, accepting it in ap-
propriate speeches.
After the party had assembled they pro-
ceeded to the rotunda, and there the un-
yelling of the bust took place. There were
no remarks or other ceremonies in connec-
ton with the simple act of uncovering the
bronze. The bust stands amid notable stat
ues and mural illustrations representing the
history of the United States.
1t is as near as can be ascertained to the
spot on which stood the original bust of
Washington which was destroyed in the
fire at the Capitol in 1851. 1t was pre-
sented by French citizens to the govern
ment of the United States. At the hour
fixed for the unveling the rotunda of the
Capitol was we'll filled. In the group were
senators and representatives and large
number of citizens, including many women
and children. Nine. Jusserand drew the
cord which threw back the flag yelling
the bust. The effigy was admired by all
present, and then the party was led to
the Presidents room, adjoining the marble
room of the Senate, where the formal
speeches of acceptance were made
Senator Wetmore read a resolution
adopted by Congress accepting the gift and
the ambassador delivered a speech of pre-
sentation.
Presentation by Ambassador Jusserand
NJ. Jusserand spoke briefly in turning the
bust over to the United States government,
his words signifying the warm feeling Of
friendship that exists on the part of the
French people toward the United States
"A great nation" said NJ. Jusserand
never forgets The great deeds and great
examples of its ancestors, and no man, in
deed, in any country better deserves CRATE
full remembrance than 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 use
| full citizen. He would not, perhaps, have
| fulfilled Lincoln's task so WELL but he full
| filled 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 revo-
| luton would prove the cradle or the grave
| of American liberty.
| For his mighty task he had all the need
| ed and rarely united qualities-pa tence
| which was not inaction, readiness and for
! titude which were not temerity, camness
| 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 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. at such an early date as the 1st OF
| August. 1774, he declared himself ready To
| raise 70o00 men, to equip them and lead
| them to the rescue of Boston; a move
| which decided his fate and in a measure
| the fate of his country.
French Admiration of Washington.
I'VE have in France the same feeling that
you have for the great and good citizens OF
| the past" continued the ambassador land
| in this worship is included more than one
| American, George Washington being fore
| most among them.S French admiration be
| gan at once and never ceased; and 1t led
| France to do two things for him and for
| America, two things which she was the
| only country in the world to do
| with her natural sympathy for those
who suffer for those who threatened
| in their just rights, to offer her alliance
| France chose one of the gloomiest moments
| in the war of independence. The alliance
| was not concluded after one of those bril-
| liant exploits which denote an easy and
glorious termination; it was concluded when
| Washington and his army were at Valley
| Forge.
| And we did another thing which I be-
! leve. were alone in doing, and which
| shows, well at least as anything else
| the true sentiment of France for Washing
ton and America. When tire great citizen
died France went into mourning for ten
days, 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. ceremony was
held at the lnvalides and the most eloQuen,
Of our speakers, Fontanea. delivered the