The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-09-14


undertaking. 1t was with entire JUS
tice that Washington wrote to Rocham-
beau, ITO the generous aid of your ma
ton and to the bravery of its sons is
to be ascribed in a very great degree
that independence for which we have
fought"
France Was Our Sponsor.
Following the decisive victory al
Yorktown-impossible without the as
sistance and cooperation Of Washing
toms French allies on land and sea
which virtually ended the War for In.
dependence, came the treaty Of Yer
sailles in 1888. 1t was this treaty
which organized and created the United
State Of America, and it was a French
sloop which brought to Boston the first
announcement Of its execution. Thus
France, having helped US to win our in
dependence, gave us a friendly asylum
in which to conclude our terms Of peace.
She did more. She stood sponsor for us
upon our entry into the sisterhood OF
nations; was the first European state to
receive a diplomatic representative
from our shores, and similarly was the
first to recognize our national dignity
by sending to US a representative from
her court.
Always Americas Friend.
When in 1903 the United States de-
sired to purchase from France the city
Of New Orleans, Napoleon the Great
coded US the whole Louisiana territory,
with its enormous resources, thus Civ
ing us access to the Caribbean sea and
to the Pacific ocean and making ours
the lands that now form the vast and
fertile plain west of the Mississippi
The acquisition OF this territory was OF
inestimable significance in the develop
ment of the nation; after the Revolu-
ton itself and the Civil War perhaps
the most significant event in our his
/ tory. Again in 1912, though not d.
rectly allied with US, France indirectly
aided US. And in 1898, following the
close of the Spanish-American war,
fepm France came the overtures for
peace. and Paris was again the scene
of the treaty which concluded matters
Thus in 1888, 1903, 1912 and 1898 France
participated in the most momentous
acts OF our national existence. This
continuity of good will and service en-
phasizes the close, intimate and deep
sympathy which unites the two peoples.
The Nations Capital Of French Design,
It was a French engineer, Major
IL'Enfant, who had fought and bled for
us during the War for Independence,
who was commissioned by President
Washington to prepare plan for the
building of our federal city, after that
undertaking had been decreed by con-
gress on July 49, 1880. Major L Enfant
did this work with conspicuous ability,
and his plans were closely followed,
though he did not live to see realized
the city of his dreams. However, on
April %, 1909, his remains were remov-
ed from their previous resting place
and reinterred in the Arlington Ma
tional cemetery with fitting cere-
monies. in which the president OF the
United States, representatives Of con-
gress, the supreme court, the Society
of the Cincinnati and other patriotic or
CARNATIONS participated.
Reciprocal courtssiss.
Thirty years ago the people OF
France gave to the people Of the Unit
ed States the colossal figure of Liberty,
which stands on Bedloe's island in
New York harbor. There, raised high
above the waters Of the hsrbor and
looking out toward the open sea, fam
ing torch in hand, the great statue
welcomes the traveller visiting our
shores and the immigrant seeking ref
uge in free America. Later, moved to
an expression of our undying apprecia-
ton of a French gentleman and a
hero. the people of the United States
gave to the people OF France lnchl-
ment to the memory Of Lafayette,
which was unveiled in Paris On July &,
1900 The ceremonies upon this &C.
casion were imposing and dignthed,
and the event united yet more closely
the sister republics Of America and
France.
The deeply rooted sense OF attach
ment existing between the peoples of
France and America was again mani
tested when the United States welcom-
ed Marshal Joffre, former Premier
Viviani and the French commission on
their memorable visit to this country
shortly after our entrance into the Eu-
ropean war. Everywhere they were
acclaimed with the widest enthusi-
asm. To the American public they
typihed the soul of heroic France, and
the great, generous heart of Columbia
beat with affection for them. This
visit in the unity of feeling it express
ed was one OF the most significant
events in the history of two peoples.
The emotions awakened here by
Joffre and viviani were equaled only
by those aroused by General Pershing
and his staff when they arrived in
France as the vanguard of the United
States army, the harbingers OF Ameri-
cas- might come 70 the rescue OF
France and democracy.