Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-06-05
ADMIRES SPIRIT
OF THE AMERICANS
Rebuilding of City Destroyed BY
Earthquake and Fire Calls
Forth Admiration of
the World. he
Says.

San Francisco. June 5-Another
manifestation of the historic good
feeling between France and the Uni-
ted States was expressed today when
Ambassador Jusserand on behalf of
the French government. presented TO
the city of san Francisco a hand
some gold medal, commemorative of
the restoration Of the city from the
destruction wrought by the earth
quake and fire of 1906. The exercises
took place in the Orpheum building,
beginning at half past 10 o'clock this
morning The medal was accepted
by the mayor of the city, who re-
sponded fittingly to the tribute of
the French nation.
Impressive as was the medal itself,
the manner and words in which the
French ambassador presented it in
creased many fold the lesson of the
day. That the feeling of the repre-
sentative of the republic of Europe.
for her sister republic in the west
was reciprocated by the citizens Of
san Francisco was evidenced by the
applause that greeted the am0assad-
| or's closing remarks.
Accept this gift. Mr. Mayor" he
said, "and receive Il you all, Ameri-
can citizens, In token that what once
was, still Is; that we, French con-
tinue, as of all, TO feel with you in
your moments of happiness or Of
anguish, and If | may be permitted
to appropriate the words of Mr.. Eli
hu Root let me say in my turn. that
we have in France "A feeling for Am
erica; and sentiment enduring
among people. is a great and sub
stantial fact to be reckoned with
Long live your city, and may contin-
uous prosperity be the lot OF the
American nation
In explaining the origin Of the idea
to present the medal to the city, the
ambassador reviewed the continued
intimacy of the two nations. Since
the early days of American inde-
pendence, no great event has happen
ed in this country without awaken
Ing friendly ecuo in distant
France" Ae said He told of the
many expressions of regard given by
both France and By America to the
other finally coming down to the
time three years ago when the United
states presented to France a medal
commemorative of the way i'm which
the European nation received Frank
lin when he came to tell the woes of
the struggling thirteen states. on the
day of the presentation of the medal
detailed news of the disaster that had
btfallen san Francisco was lacking
Jusserand said that as he rose to ac-
Cept the medal, the thought flashed
through his mind that the next token
Of friendship between the two ma
tions might commemorate, the res-
direction of the city.
When l had thus spoken, on the
goth of April 1906, we knew but
very imperfectly in the east, what
was happening in the west, but
knew too well the American temper
to have any doubt as to what fight
against adversely your shores were
then seeing, and as To what resurrec-
ton they would see later The past
life of city, where pluck, energy
tearlessness are more common than
even gold in her banks, supplied the
decision. Ali behaved as men and
women on heart and home. The page
written Oy the inhabitants of san
Francisco On the moving ashes Of
their dead city is not one that any
wind Will ever sweep away"
Mr.. Jusserand explained that the
sentiments he expressed upon the
presentation of the Franklin medal
We're so well in accord with the
French republic and San Francisco
had been so quickly resurrected that
a medal had been struck by his gov
ernment and he had been ordered to !
cross the continent to present il.
This work of which one single
copy in gold has been made" contin-
ued the ambassador lis destined col
the American people and the town of
San Francisco One side emblematic-
ally shows your city rising from herI
tomb, and, powerful and handsome
as ever, throwing off her shroud; IN
the other side the figure OF France Is
seen presenting branch of laurel
10 America"