Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-16
CHARACTERISTIC TRAIT
 OF FRENCH RACE
Is Loyalty and That Should Be Basis of Citizenship, said Governor Pothier of Rhode Island at Franco-American Convention.

The French residents of this vicinity as well as others will be interested in the address of Governor aAram J. Po- thier of Rhode Island, made at the Franco American convention here last week, a translation of which follows
 Mir. President, Your Honor and Gen tlemen of the Nineteenth Convention of Americans Having a French Cana dian Origin: In.spite of pressing du- ties, l am happy to come here today to review your 1abors and also enjoy with you an instance of this broad and cordial hpspiinlity that always dis tinguishes the groupings of Americans of our origin.
 And my heart is full of hope in com ing here before you today to en- courage your efforts to obtain for our element the position that it has right to occupy here in Connecticut. The successes obtained in Rhode Island ought to be for you, my friends, an example of encouragement If the progress obtained in, your sister state has been constant for us. it is because it has had for its base an enlightened pa- triotism and this progress was, ob- tained without denying any of the past, remaining always attached to. our altars and to our language. Com ing from such a state,-y haven't I a good reason to present myself. before you with pride and to tell you that your future will be glorious here in Connecticut if you enter resOlutely and Loyalty into American life, and if you are true to the institutions of your adopted country? Proud of its citi- zenship, also proud of our traditions. my friends, they are very worthy of our worship; they are wrapped with glory, sacrifices pain and hope; they form with our history an immortal rec ord; a resplendent poem that our fore fathers have written with the very purest of their blood. For the last three centuries these traditions have been respected by us and it is because they have been respected that we have been able to preserve our language. be- cause we have been unswerving in our religious faith, that our loyalty has never been contestable or contested. Our fathers swore allegiance to the flag of Great Britain and never since has that pledge been broken or violated by them-ndr their descendants
 Loyalty is the characteristic of our race and from that basis ought to rise our citizenship in this country of our adoption The American republic which receives us with open arms asks no more of us. Absolute fidelity to its admirable institutions and loyalty to her flag, that glorious emblem of progress and liberty. She receives all the disinherited and only asks of them in return a complete allegiance and obedience to her laws. Those immi- grants of the French race, always con- servative and peaceable, will never forget their duty towards this repub- lie and we can give this assurance with pride. We wish to contribute liberally to her greatnes and glory and we want to consider together the means so that our contribution will be worthy of the talent and character of our race. And what are those means. First, an intimate alliance of all our efforts and all our energies. AS your proclama- ton so well expresses it, that alliance will be the lever that will place us in position in the social as we'll as the political movement of United States Once in position strong of that alliance we will be in an admirable state to serve well the interest of our country But in order to make that alliance strong and fruitful it must repose on a basis of sense and justice. Justice in practice in our social dealings is an element of incalculable force and in- fiuence especially in country formed as ours is from divers groupings which the general interests of the country must necessarily unify. Even in the struggle of revindication of in- contestable rights, it behooves us to be prudent and considerate always. If We have not got numerical strength, let us be persistent in our reclamations and let those reclamations be made by authoritative men of real merit We must not forget that our influence will not be felt only inasmuch as our groups are represented by men who are truly serious. capable and patri- otic. The secret of our future progress reposes in our representations. These suggestions that make to you briefly do merit, I hope, your consideration and shall feel happy if they are al lowed a place in the debates of this splendid convention.
 Prolonged applause marked the end of this eloquent speech that turned in to veritable ovation.