The sun., 1916-09-07
HOMAGE ACCORDED
LAFAYETTE'S NAME
Debt for Aid in Revolution
Expressed Throughout
the Nation.
FRANCE GIVES THANKS
Ambassador Jusscrand Says
Country Is Grateful for
Assistance Now.
FRANCE GIVES THANKS

New York observed the 159th ami.
,ersary OF the birth Of the Marquis de
LAFAYETTE yesterday in n spirit heightened
nv the sympathics which many Ameri-
rams hold for France In the struggle in
which she Is now engaged.
Other citles-notabiy New Orleans
s,pressed in formal ceremonies the debt
this nation owes the French hero for the
Invaluable aid he gave In establishing
Tho independence Of America. but In no
Mace probably was the bono OF scnt.-
rent between the two nations so UNI
snectediy displayed as In New York.
Jules J. Jusserand, French Ambassa-
DOR to the United States. whose recent
book attcstcd his sympathetic under
standing of the American people. was
Tho honored guest in the afternoon at the
Lafayette Day exercises in the Alder
manic Chamber, city Hall. and at night
a, a dinner given by the France-America
Society at the WalJorf-Astoria
: distinguished speakers at the after
noon exercises. including Alton b.
Parker, Robert Bacon. former Ambassa-
dor to France: Ambassador William
Graves sharp. home from France on
leave Of absence. and pr. John II. Fin
ley. Commissioner OF Education. told Of
the gratitude In American hearts for the
disinterested sacrifices OF Lafayette and
the French nation. SO the French Am
bassador. in words no less heartfelt. de-
scribed the deep appreciation of the
French republic for the work Of brave
Young Americans now in the aviation
and ambulance corps and in the Foreign
Legion.
Lafayette spirit Again.
Y is doubtful IL any French oficial
has paid more impressive tribute to the
Americans fighting side by side with the
French than did Ambassador Jusserand
IN his address at the Waldorf. No one
seemed to feel there existed any prir-
cple OF neutrality which should keep
Americans individually from Joining
with France and her allies. Several
broadly intiirated the spirit which al
ready had prompted the enlistment OF
hundreds of Americans should be broad
cast.
nr. Finley said when. one reads. as
have been reading. or the Offering or
our young men. especially college men.
IN France. in trench and In ambulance
corps. one cannot doubt that the spirit
Of Lafayette is among our youth. Hut
our supreme task is to make that spirit
universal. as it is in France to day. to
.:!- eur ycuth 20 see thai here we have
the glorious thing for which Lafayette
offered and risked his all. and to make
every youth ready and willing TO give
his ail for this glorious thing"
Former Judge Parker. who presided
a. the exercises in the Aledrmanic
Chamber. said:
The great ~confic. beyond the seas
saddens all hearts in America. but II
Goes not prevent US letting our affections
60 where they will.
This country is neutral. but this fact
does not encourage us to forge;-we
Couldn't II we would-that France hrst
recognized our Government. We couldn'
forget IL we would that two treaties. one
o. the most vital importance. were
sicned with the French Government. W.
couldn', forget the flee; she sent TO oul
Mrbors in those critical times
France saving Civilization.
Mr.. Bacon said France now. as In thu
American Revolution. was taking part IL
war OF independence.
she is saving, as she already haI
saved, civilization from the imposition
81 The theory Of government OF an auto
cratic sovereign" he declared.
our hearts go out TO the French !,
their struggle for mankind and 70
ideals-our American ideals
\ storm OF applause greeted the senti
mems Of the former Ambassador. Jus
seraud. a. Bacon concluded. leaped from
his chair and clasped Baoon's right ham
r. both his own.
The French Ambassador, as II in re
sponsc 20 the words spoken at the after
room ceremonies. at the banquet voice.
: 'he appreciation OF the French natiol
fov all that America has done for Franc
In the present war.
Tho American aviators he referred I
"the I.afayettes of the air."
> Never in my country" he said, Evil
The American volunteers Of the grea
war be forgotten. Some. according I
their power. offer their pen. or thei
money. or their help to our wounded-o
their life. There il not one form OF SUI
ferlng among the innumerable kinds 9
oalamitics caused by a merc.less enem
that some American work has not trie
70 assuage.
american Name Blesscd.
"In the hospitals. in the schools 10
the manned ard blind in the ruins G
formerly prosperous villages. on the bat
'efelds, In the trenches-nay. in the a'
with your p.ucky aviators. the America
name is blessed.
"You are indeed n nation that RI
members. Serving in the ambulance
serving in the legion. serving In the al
serving liberty. obeying the same in
pulses as those which brought L.afayett
10 these shores. many young American
leaving family and home have offered
France their lives. Those lives man
have lost, and never. even In ancieI
times, was there shown such abnegatio
and generosity. such firmness OF chara'
ter as that OF men like Victor Chapman
who died to rescue his American an
French Goa viators."
The Ambassador declared no toker
Of friendship, OF good will and Of syn
pa'hy had touched France more deep
than those coming from the America
republic.
The French ~tricolor and the Americs
Stars and Stripes hun side by side
10th the afternoon and evening celebr
tons.
The day was n continuous ovation {:
the French Ambassador He was greet'
by an enthusiastic throng at City Ha
The crowds cheered as Acting May
Frank l.. bowling escorted the diplom
into the building. The band OF Il
Lafayette Guards struck up the NJ
seillaise" when he entered the Chamb
with Nine. Jusserand.