Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29


ture of the evening, perhaps. was the ad
dress Of Gen. Bell. who. turning aside
from the glories Of the nation in the past.
directed attention to its serious needs at
present. and brought a cheering audience
to its feet in an o,hburst of patriotic en-
thusiasm to sing The Star Spangled
Banner
Owing to the indisposition of Gov. John
Lee Carroll, who was reelected president
Of the society yesterday morning, Ed
mund Wetmore, president of the New
York society and first vice president gen.
eral OF the general society. presided and
acted as POSTMASTER. In his Introductory
remarks Mr.. Wetmore briefly referred to
the great war of liberty, whose heroes
were the ancestors of the distinguished
gathering present, and concluded by pro-
posing a toast to the ambassador of
France, Americas great revolution ally.
the guest of honor of the evening. With
characteristic tact and delicacy. M. Jusse-
rand deftly substituted a toast to the Fa-
Their of His Country. George Washington.
which was drunk in silence. standing.
Presentation of Silver Service.
After the toast a table bearing a large
silver service was placed in front OF the
guest table. When the cloth covering the
service was withdrawn it was seen that
the family coat-of-arms of James Mort-
mer Montgomery of New York. general
secretary of the society. was engraved on
each of the twelve different pieces. Mr..
Montgomery, who was seated at a nearby
table. made speech of acceptance say
ing words could not express his apprecia
ton Of the gift. For He's Jolly Good
Fellow was then sung.
Ambassador Jusserand, being again
called on, paid an eloquent tribute to the
memory of Washington and to those who
left their homes in foreign countries to
aid the thirteen colonies in their great
Lafayette. Rochambeau. de kalb, Steu
ben. Pulaski and Kosciusko.
"Never did more gallant knights or
| Drawer heroes engage in battle than those
who fought for this nation in the war
that brought freedom" he said. Truly
| ideal knights were they. Men who saw
| light when all was darkness: men who
had courage when despair stared them in
the face.
+ Lafayette left a young wife and child
| to come to this country and aid the pa
triots in their struggle He was the most
brilliant among many, showing the feel
ing Of the French people toward the
young future republic"
Consequences of War.
"a more eloquent voice than mina
would be needed to tell o. the conse-
quences of that war in which fore
fathers united. so important for Ameri-
ca and the whole world, when the seed of
liberty, brought back from this country
was sOwn i'm France first, and by France
in many other places. If Washington,
Rochambeau and Cornwall S. representing
three great nations at Yorktown. were to
come to life again. they would rejoice at
the thought that each of the three ma
TONS is now on terms of sincere amity
with the others.
LAS for u.s." the ambassador concluded
more than recompensed by the success
of our efforts, we consider 1t one of our
national glories to have been the earliest
well-wishers of these United States. and
| what we have been. l assure you, we still
are"
lowed by the singing of the 'Marseillaise. -
Attorney General Speaks.
Attorney General Bonaparte was intro
duced as the man who fights for his coun-
! try by fighting FOR the Constitution in the
| highest court of the land.
THE purpose of this banquet" Mr. Bona
parte said. lis to recall to Americans Of
today what the Americans of yesterday
did for America. We were small people
| In the days of the revolution. and when
we first became an Independent people.
| Today one Of the trusts which it is my
duty to try to burst could buy and sell
tnOSe thirteen original states without feel.
| ing a difference in its bank account We
had In those days Americans able to make
| a small nation great 1t is the problem OF
today whether or not the men of today
| possess the ability to make a great nation
| greater. Will our deeds be commence
| rated we commemorate the deeds of
| our forefathers?
I'VE see in the newspapers that chill
| dren in public schools should be taught
| that 1t is unworthy to serve ones coun-
| try in arms. If our ancestors had been
| taught such ideas we never would have
| been an Independent nation. All that we
| now ask is that the people of today
endeavor to uphold the principles Of our
ancestors" We are not threatened at
| this moment by the dangers that flared
| into the faces of our forefathers when
| they were called upon to meet the Eng
| lish.''
| Views Of Chief Of Staff.
The POSTMASTER then introduced Mai.
Gen. Bell, chief of staff OF the United
| States Army. with appropriate remarks
| He alluded to him as Kentuckian
| Gen. Bell began his address by telling
of the first wars recorded in history,