Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
UNITE At TOMB
OF WASHINGTON
Belgium and Russia Pay HON.
age to Memory Of Amer
lean Patriot.
PLEDGE THEMSELVES ANEW
Vow That Their Countries Will
Bend Every Effort to Make
Democracy Safe.
PLEDGE THEMSELVES ANEW
by Associated Press.


MOUNT VERNON. VA. June "a
Belgium and Russia united o-day at
tho tomb OF George Washington in
paying homage TO the American patrio,
and to the spirit of liberty and free
dom which his memory incarnatcs
The official diplomatic missions from
Belgium and from the new Russian
democracy pledged themselves and
their countries TO every effort for the
destruction OF autocracy and the safety
OF democracy.
The two missions. accompanied by
members of the Cabinet and other high
government officials. went down the
Potomac on tho presidential yach,
Mayfower.
EACH MAKES ADDRESS
OF TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON
Secretary Daniels introduced first
Baron Moncheur. head of the Belgian
mission. and then the Russian special
ambassador. Boris a. Bakhme,icn
Each made a brief address of tribute
TO Washington and OF rcconsccration
TO the Ideals he represented. Baron
Moncheur. aided by Lieutcnani-C General
LeclcrcQ. and Ambassador Bakhmctieff.
aided by Licutenunt-Gcncral Roop.
placed floral wrcaths on the tomb be
side similar wreathS laid there by
Foreign Secretary Balfour. of Great
Britain, by former Premier Niviani and
Marshal Joffrc. of France, and the
Prince Of Cdinc. Of Italy.
Baron Monchcur spoke very earnestly
and slowly:
I'm this solemn hour. when human
freedom is locked in a death struggle
with the powers 81 darkness. we come
TO pay homage to the great founder
OF American liberty.
Although his body lies here. his
work survives, and his spirit still lives
In the American people. / know Of
nothing which typiies that spirit bet
ter than the words OF Washington,
when in bcqucathing his sword to his
nephew, he added the injunction that
it should never be drawn except in
defense OF liberty and justice, and
that. when once drawn. it should never
be sheathcd before the complete vic
tory Of right over wrong
LOOK ACROSS THE SEA AND
SEE LIBERTY STRUGGLING
1t IL that spirit which animatcs
your nation in the present as in the
past. You looked across the sea and
saw liberty struggling in the grasp OF
autocracy. that hidcous monster. the
enemy OF mankind You came TO her
aid. and, by throwing your mighty
sword into the scales. you have insured
that right will prevail and that the
world Will be made safe for all honest
nations-thc small well as the
great.
You have done what Washington
would have done. and. therefore, pay
ing homage to the father of your coun-
try, offer tribute of devotion and
gratitude TO the whole American
people"
Secretary Daniels then presented
Ambassador Bakhmetieff.
Ambassador Bakhmctieff said:
with a feeling of deepest vcncra-
tion we have approached the sacred
tomb. in the life of nations there hap
pen TO be times when the trivial. every
day cxistences. with all their common
interests and petty strife, shallow feel
ing and routine activity. arc substi-
tuted by cpochs Of blazing and inn
petuous development. unrcstrained dis
play of creative genius. epochs when
customs. habits and national interests
are swept away in the irresistible tide Of
events epochS when days count for
ages. epochs Of historical cataclySm
round points of history Of mankind
Such epochs carry the greatest ca
lamities and the greatest blessings
FROM CRIES OF SORROW
IS ARISING NEW LIFE
Such cpochs breed their own men,
heroes and symbols Of grand feats
their witnesses and creators. George
Washington lived at such All epoch: he
was tho hero and spokesman OF his
time. Fate has bestowed on us the
blessing to be witnesses and partak-
ers of such an epoch from the horror
and ruins of heroic Belgium and 70
land. ruins soaked by blood OF nameless
martyrs. From the cries OF sorrow
and misery OF innocent victims there is
rising the dawn Of new life. life
of peaceful prosperity, Justice and hu-
manity growing out or the conquered
and smashed remnants of militant au-
tocracy.
ITO us Russians this epoch has
brought emancipation, has set op-
pressed nations free, has abolished the
injustice of racial prcjudices. Nearly
2O0.000.o00 human beings have got
the blessings Of freedom which more
than 100 years ago George Washing
ton had consecratcd in this country.
With feeling OF solemn veneration
and overwhelming emotion, bestow
on this immortal tomb this wreath as
tribute to the hero, to the knight OF
liberty and democracy from the mes
senser's Of Russa's freedom"