The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-13
FRANCE HONORED
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN Ambassador JuSSerand Delivers
 Splendid EuIogy MOURNING AT HIS DEATH M, Jusserand speaks of the Great Emotion Which Thrilled France When the News of the Assas-
 sination Was Received.
MOURNING AT HIS DEATH

Washington, February 12.-Following
 is the speech of Ambassador Jusserand I before leaving the Lincoln club at
 Grand Rapids. Mich. tonight:
 l Treating his subject largely from a historical aspect, Ambassador Jusser-
 and touched upon the election of Pref l dent Lincoln, his assumption of the
 presidential office, interest manifested
 abroad in his utterances, that famous 1 struggle between equally brave oppo- l nents with it's various fortunes"
 Lincoln's humble birth and the charae- ter and the feeling in France at the 1 news of his death.
 The first words Lincoln would pro- nounce after his election, the ambassa- | dor said, were awaited with the great est anxiety in Europe as much at least, as would cause the unknown man to be known and his mettle to be tested. The ambassador quoted from the illustrious French author, Provost Paradol, who wrote of the uneasiness with which was awaited the first words of that President then unknown, upon who heavy task had fallen, and from whose advent to power might be dated the
  Paradol, the ambassador said. had been | voicing the sentiments of that large body of Frenchmen who were imbued with liberal principles and who had l relinquished the hope of seeing them triumph again one day in France an1 of another republic being established on the other shore of the Atlantic, as 1t l has.
 When the war came the ambassador hi a throughout France and, he added, "without saying a word of disparage- ! ment about those whose sympathies were with the south. the brilliant, val iant south which after all was part of America, 1t can be observed that from beginning to last, the highest minded men in the country were ar dently in favor of the maintenance or the union and they did not remain idle friends they showed their sym pathy by their writings and tn cir deeds. They belonged to various parties AS among their number figured those princes who served in McClelland's army, one of whom has left remark able account of his experiences; but there was between them all one com mon tie-their attachment to liberal principles"
 When Wash ington died. the ambassa- dor continued, FTAnce WenI iulo iiouih ing as if she had lost the best or her own citizens; at the death of LaFay- cite. President Jackson had in touching words prescribed similer mourning here showing that the ties between the two countries were indeed of a unique char acter When the news of the tragic death of Lincoln reached France the emotion was intense; party lines disan- peared and the country was unanimous in the expression of her sorrow. After referring to the condolences of the Elm peror and Empress, and the action of the French senate, MT. Jusserand de- clared the most worthy circumstance was the feeling of unofficial France, where addresses of condolence came from 31 French towns and other evi- dences of sincere sympathy were mani Tested in many ways. while in the press the most famous writers vied with each other in the expression of their re- grets over the death of Lincoln and the admiration for his qualities. In closing, the ambassador told his hearers that when they visited Paris they would be struck not only by the beauty of that famous city, but by the fre- ouency with which America will be re- called to their minds. the name of the land and of great men being engraved on It's very walls.