The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-08
ACHIEVEMENTS OF
EARLY PIONEERS
Ambassador Bryce Speaks At
ChampIain Celebration
GREAT DEEDS RECALLED
Mr.. Bryce Tells of the History Made
BY French DISCOVERIES and the
Influence of the Nation Upon
Western Continent.
GREAT DEEDS RECALLED


centenary banquet to President Taft at
the Hotel Champlain tonight, Ambassa-
dor Bryce observed that he need not
say very much about either, for they
were pretty well known. The British
drums had been heard in many places,
the British flag was a familiar object
on many seas. Britain had acquired by
discovery or by arms many possessions,
some valuable, like Australia, some
chiefly useful for purposes of inquir-
les into terrestrial magnetism. like the
Antarctic continent.
All, he need hardly say, had been ac-
CURED either because Britain could not
help 1t. or else In the interests of
peace, order and civilization. For that,
however, he took no credit because he
had observed that all nations were
alike convinced that they had been
animated in their conquests by dis
interested and philanthropic motives.
But on this occasion he would prefer,
did time permit. to speak rather of the
achievements of those friends and gen.
erous rivals who were also celebrat-
Ing this anniversary.
He would dwell on what France had
done, not only by these bold pioneers
VIII ON Champlain and La Sale are the
most striking but by her great think
ers, by the brilliance of her literature,
by her insight and her wit, by her
wonderful gift for diffusing ideas, by
the power she had shown of quicken
ing Intellectual activity and refining
artistic taste in other nations.
So might he also dwell on the
triumphs of the people of the United
States-how they had spread civiliza-
ton by Incompatible energy and with
unequalled speed over the vast spaces
of this continent, and so developed its
resources as to make 1t the richest of
modern countries; what a. marvellous
series of inventions they had given to
the world for which the world would
be ever grateful; how they had worked
free institutions on scale of unpre-
cedented grandeur and given the finest
example of the power of free institu-
tons to extinguish animosities that had
bazed out in civil war, and to fuse
elements once hostile into great and
united nation, all sections of which
alike revered the immortal names of
Washington and Lincoln.
Recalling History.
THE commemoration of historic
events on the spots they made famous
is good thing for a nation he said
1T h clips to renew in each generation
its interest in the past 1t revives The
and state with the great deeds of old
er REPRESENTATION by which men are
carried out of the range of their daily
thoughts and employments and made to
feel how much there Is In the world
besides business and amusement that
their emotions. Moreover the sense of
the great past behind and the immense
ly long future stretching out before
may remind us, IL we are unduly elated
over our own material progress, how
small is the part of each generation
in the march of Ages. What we do will
indeed make difference in the re-
suit for better or for worse. But as
for each of us, we are no more than
notes In the sunbeam. buildings that
break as they pass on the surface of
q stream"
Valiant Champion.
Among the persons and events COM
=
he could dwell with most enjoyment was
the figure of Samuel Champlain himself,
a valiant. prudent and resourceful man.
one who could use both sword and pen to
good purpose, clear-headed and right
thinking, upright and God-fearing-a man
Of whom France might we'll be proud. AS
for the battles and the sieges Of the later
days they must all recognize the gal
lantry and the skill displayed.
But the recollection of all this fight
Ing" continued the ambassador, gives
me little pleasure; and there would in
deed be no pleasure If l thought such
tended to breed a love
Of war May we not rather regret that
all this fighting had been thought need
full? Courage has been shown. but who
ever doubted that either F'renchmen or
whether of colonial or of
British stock. were good fighters? Per-.
haps the Indians showed the greatest
and endurance of all. They had
to face not only death but the prospect
Of horrible fortunes at the hands of In
dian enemies. Most Of all this fighting
might have been avoided by a larger
and more Christian craftsmanship, and
the moral l would like to see drawn from
these commentators Of wars would be
the avoidance of such methods in the
future. No renewal of strife need be
feared between the three nations that are
now Joined in this celebration. France,
Britain and the United States are all
linked by what believe will be an en-
Turing friendship" s~a
Old Conflicts.
If they remembered these old conflicts
hey remembered only to forget. But 1t
was for this generation to strive that
neither should there be fighting elsewhere
+ they could avert it
Concluding. the speaker said:
LET us appeal to the great ones of the
earth, one of the greatest and most re.
,pected of whom we have here In the per-
ION of President Taft, to use all their in
iuence for the promotion, of peace and
rood will among the nations. Let our
provide no more battlefelds to
20 commemorated. Let it rather be re-
nembered as the generation which did
way with this method of settling diff
erences. A century hence there will
be celebration here In honor
# Samuel Champlain. Crowds twice as
arge will assemble from these beautiful
hores, covered then with twice as many
hriving cities and picturesque villages.
let us hope that those who meet and
peak on that 40oth anniversary in zoos
will be able to say with Joy and pride that
he clouds OF threatened war which still
ometfmes rose TO darLen the skv of 1914