South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-30
PAY HIGH TRIBUTE
TO WASHINGTON
French and British War Chiefs
Place WreathS on
Tomb.


and the United States hoared proud
~ together Sunday over the tomb
of George washington. Beneath
them spokesman OF the three great
democracies paid homage to Amer
ica's soldier and statesman. and
pledged themselves, each 10 the 9TH
er i'm the name of the dead. 10
prosecute the present mighty serug-
gle against autocracy on the Hines
he himself had followed in bringing
America into being
In groups of twos and threes. an
eminent gathering, including the
members of the French and British
war commissions. the presidents
cabinet and members of congress,
had strolled up through the sloping
grounds from the river bank until
perhaps half a hundred people stood
-sith barred heads in semi-circle
before the tomb The day, which
had been heavy and threatening as
the party approached on the presi-
Dental yacht Mayfiower. suddenly
burst into sunlight. which played
through the trees on the uniforms
and faces Of those assem- bled.
Viviani Makes Address.
Without fOrmality Sec'y Daniels
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 glor-
iously aided. NJ. Niviani delivered
an address in which the whole
force Of his emotional power, deep
ened by the significance and SOM
breness of the occasion, fought for
expression.
The spectators. though most IF
them could not understand French,
caught the suppressed feeling and
fire of the orator and followed his
words spellhound as they quickened
under the thrill of his imagination.
Apart from his voice not a sound
could be heard. And as he finished.
the silence became supreme with the
general realization that no applause
could express the emotions aroused.
NJ. Viviani said in part:
I'VE 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 aft
err the tremendous labor of achiev-
ing for a nation its emancipation.
Ia 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
Lafayette.
Measured by Presidents.
when we contemplate in the dis
tant past the luminous presence of
Washington, in nearer times the ma
jestic figure of Abraham Lincoln.
when we respectfully salute Pres't
Wilson the worthy heir Of these
great memories, we at one glance
measure the vast career of the
American people. 1t is because the
American people proclaimed and
won for the nation the right to gov
ern itself; it is because il proclaimed
and won the equality Of all men,
that the free American people at the
hour marked by fate has been en-
abled with commanding force 10
carry it's action beyond the seas; il
is because it was resolved to extend
its action still further that congress
was enabled 10 obtain within the
space of a few days the vote of
conscriptiOn and TO proclaim the
necessity for a national army in the
full splendOr Of civil peace.
IN the name Of France, I salute
the young army which will share
in our common glory.
while paying this supreme trib-
ute to the memory OF Washington.
do not diminish the effect Of my
words when I turn my thoughts TO
the memory of so many unnamed
heroes. 1 ask you before this tomb
to bow in earnest meditation and
all the fervor of piety before all the
soldiers of the allied nations who,
for nearly three y-ars, have been
fighting under different flags for the
same ideal.
AT this solemn hour in the his
tory Of the world. while standing
from this sacred mound, the final
victory of justice. I send to the re-
public of the United States the
greeting of the French republic"
BalfOur Deeply Moved.
Then came forward Arthur James
Balfour, foreign secretary of Great
Britain. who stood for a moment in
silence. a tall. erect. kindly figure.
Overcome with all that the situation
meant in the lives Of the great An
glO-Saxon countries. Mr.. Balfour
abandoned his decision not to speak.
and gave express to a few poignant
sentences, evidently straight from
the heart England had honored
Washington as she never had be-
fore.
There is no place in the world
where a speech for the cause Of lib
prfv would Ea haffar DIooad rho,,