Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-02
FRANCE AND BRITAIN HONOR
Washington at Historic Tomb at
Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon, Va, April 29.-The
flags Of Great Britain, France and the
United States fioated proudly togeth-
er to-day over the tomb Of George
Washington. Beneath them spOkes-
men of the three great democracies
paid homage to Americas soldier
and statesman, and pledged them
selves each to the other in the name
Of the dead, to prosecute the present
mighty struggle against autocracy on
the lines he himself had followed in
bringing America into being.
Nature was in her most hounteous
garb. The evergreens, eternal senti-
nels before the tomb, stood out bold
ly in the new life just blossoming.
The only sign Of human change since
Washington was laid to rest SO long
ago was the flags of three allies over
the arched entrance to the tomb it.
self.
In groups Of twos and threes an
eminent gathering, including the
members Of the French and British
war commissions, the Presidents s
cabinet and members OF Congress
strOlled up through the sloping
grounds of the river bank until per-
haps half a hundred people stood
with barred heads in semi-circle be-
fore the tomb
Address by Viviani.
Without formality, Secretary Dan
iels motioned to NJ. Viviani, minister
of justice and former premier of
France, who advanced slowly into
the center. Before the tomb Of
Washington, whose efforts towards
liberty his own ancestors had glori-
Ously aided, NJ. Viviani delivered an
address in which the whole force Of
his emotional power, deepened by
the significance and sombreness of
the occasion, fought for expression.
The spectators, though most Of
them could not understand French,
caught the suppressed feeling and
fire Of the orator, and followed his
words spell-bound as they quickened
under the thrill of his Imagination.
And as he finished, the silence be-
came supreme with the general reali-
Zation that no applause could eX-
press the emotions aroused. NJ vi
Want said:
Text of Viviani's Speech.
1--WE could not remain longer in
Washington without accomplishing
this pious pilgrimage. In this spot
lies all that is mortal OF a great hero.
Close by this spot is the modest abode
where Washington rested after the
tremendous labor Of achieving for a
nation it's emancipation. In this
spot meet the admiration of the
whole world and the veneration of
the American people. In this spot
rise before us the glorious memories
left by the soldiers of France led by
Rochambeau and La Fayette. A
descendant Of the latter, my friend,
NJ. de Chambrun, accompanies us.
And I esteem IL a supreme honor as
we'll as a satisfaction for. my con-
science to be entitled to render this
homage to our ancestors In the pres
ence of my colleague and friend, Mr..
Balfour, who SO nobly represents his
great nation. BY thus coming to lay
here the respectful tribute Of every
English mind he shows, in this his
toric moment Of communion which
France has willed, what nations that
live for liberty can do.
Wilson, Worthy Heir.
when we contemplate in the dist
ant past the luminous presence Of
Washington, in nearer times the ma
iestic figure OF Abraham Lincoln,
when we respectfully salute Presi-
dent Wilson, the worthy heir Of these
great memories, we at one glance see
the vast career OF the American peo-
pie. It is because the American people
proclaimed and won for the nation
the right to govern itself, 1t is be-
cause 1t proclaimed and won the
equality of all men, that the free
American people at the hour marked
by Fate has been enabled with COM