Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1917-05-10
THREE GREAT FLAGS.
FLOAT OVER TOMB
OF GEO. WASHINGTON
GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND
UNITED STATES RAISE COL.
oRs At MT, VERNON.
VISITORS PAY HOMAGE TO
AMERICAS GREAT SOLDIER

uuOuuVUO W U0VUvOS ~
AMERICAS GREAT SOLDIER
Eminent Gathering, Including Mem.
bers Of British and French War
commlssIon, Presidents Cabinet
and Members Of Congress, Stand
With Barred Heads In semI-cIrele
Before Tomb Of Nations Founder.
Mount Vernon, Va.-The flags OF
Great Britain, France and the United
States floated proudly together over
the tomb Of George Washington. Be.
meath them, spokesmen Of the three
great democracies paid homage to
Americas soldier and statesman, and
pledged themselves, each to the other.
in the name Of the dead, to prosecute
the present mighty struggle against
autocrscy on the line he himself had
followed in bringing America into be.
ing.
In groups Of twos and threes, an
eminent gathering, including the men,
bers Of the French and British war
commission, the Presidents cabinet
and members Of Congress. had stroll
ed up through the sloping grounds
from the river bank until perhaps half
. hundred people stood with barred
heads in q semi-circle before the tomb.
The day which had been heavy and
threatening as the party approached on
the Mayflower, suddenly burst into
sunlight which played through the
trees on the unifroms and faces Of
those assembled.
Without formality, Secretary Dan
iels mOtioned to M. Viviani, minis
ter of justice and former president
OF France, who advanced slowly into
the center. Before the tomb Of Wash.
ington whose efforts towards liberty
his own ancestors had gloriously aid.
ed, M. Viviana delivered an address,
in which the whole forces Of his emo.
tioaal power, deepened by the signih.
cance OF the occasion, fought for ex'
preston.
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.
his voice not a sound could be heard
As M. Viviana finished, the silence
became supreme with the general
realization that no applause could ex
press the emotions aroused.
Then came forward Arthur James
Balfour, foreign secretary Of Grea'
Britain, who stood for moment ir
silence, q tall, erect, kindly figure
Overcome with all that the situation
meant in the lives Of the two great
Anglo-Saxon countries, Mr.. Balfoul
abandoned his decision not to speal
and gave expression to few poignant
sentences, evidently straight from thu
heart. England had honored Wash
ipgton as she never had before.
IN. Viviani." said Mr.. Balfour, "ha'
expressed in most eloquent words the
feelings which grip US all here today
He has not only paid fitting tribute
to o great statesman, but he has
-, brought our thoughts most vividl.
down to the present. The thousand'
who have given their lives-French
Russian, Italian, Belgian. Serbian
Montengerin, Roumanian, Japanes
, and British were fighting for wha
, they believed to be the cause Of lib
erty. ..
"There is no place in the work
where a speech for the cause OF ht
: erty would be better placed than her
at the tomb Of Washington. But a
that work has been 80 adequatel.
done by q master Of oratory, perhap
you will permit me to read q fe'
words prepared by the British Mission
for the wreath We are to leave her
today:
9 Dedicated by the British Missio
q TO the immortal memory Of Georg
Washington, soldier. statesman. pa
triot, who would have rejoiced to Sc
, the country OF which he' was by brit
q citizen, and the country which hi
genious called into existence, fghtin
y side by side to save mankind froI
J. subjection to a military despotism.'
n Governor Stuart Of Virginia spok
= as the host on Virginian soil.
). washington" he said, "originall
j belonged to Virginia, but his priceless
e memory has now become commo
!, heritage Of the world. We consecra'
;. here today struggle bearing the 81
l. preme test Of the issues for which b
o lived, fought and died"
=. Marshal Joifre. victor Of the MARI
y and idol OF the French people. nel
J. came forward in field marshal un
form. Simply, but earnestly, he spoil
but twQ brief sentencee: =.