River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-06-28
RgSSIoNS OF BOTH COUNTRIES
GATHER WITH u. S. OFFICIALS
AT WAsHlNGTON's TOMB
PLEDGE FRIENDSHIP.
FLAGS OF THREE NATIONS
UNFURLED OVER TOMB
Belgian Baron Moncheur and Russian
Ambassador Bahkmetieff BestoW
Floral Wreaths and Deliver
Messages From Across
the Seas.

Mount Vernon, Va, June 25.-Bel-
ginm and Russia united at the tomb
x5f George Washington in paying hom-
age to the American patriot and to
the spirit of Liberty and Freedom
which his memory incarnates. Over
the tomb were Belgian, Russian and
American flags. The official diplo-
matte missions from the Belgian and
from the Russian democracy pledged
themselves and their countries to
every effort at destruction of autoc-
racy and the safety of democracy.
The missions, accompanied by mem
berB of the cabinet and other high
government officials, went down the
Potomac on the presidential yacht
MayfloWer.
Lay Flowers on Tomb.
A semi-circle was formed around
The tomb, and Secretary Daniels in
troduced Baron Moncheur, head Of
the Belgian mission, and Russian Spe-
gial Ambassador Boris A. Bahkmetieff.
Baron Moncheur and Ambassador
Bahkmetieff placed floral wreaths on
the tomb beside similar wreaths laid
there by Foreign Secretary Balfour Of
Great Britain, former Premier Viviani,
Marshal Joffre of France and Prince
IUdine of Italy.
1.-THE splendid courage of the Bel
gian soldiers at Leige prevented the
expected march to France" said Sec
Rotary Daniels in presenting Baron
M0ncheur.
There is no brave man or woman
who was not thrilled by Belgian pa
REiOtism and sacrifice in battle and
Belgian fortitude in disaster. Belgium
lis a nation of herOes."S
Baron Moncheur replied, earnestly
and slowly:
%Ln this solemn hour, when freedom
is locked in a death struggle with the
powers of darkness, we come to pay
homage to the great founder of Amer
Scan liberty.
Quotes George Washington.
Although his body lies here, his
work survives, and his spirit still lives
fn the American people. l know Of
nothing which typifies that spirit bet
Ter than the words of Washington,
when, in bequeathing his sword to his
nephew, he added the injunction that
IL should never be drawn except in
defense of liberty and justice, and
that when once drawn, it should never
Dc sheathed before the complete VIC
tory of right over wrong"
'sYOu have done what Washington
would have done, and therefore, in
paying homage to the father of your
country, l offer a tribute Of devotion
and gratitude to the whole American
people"
Secretary Daniels then presented
Ambassador Bahkmetieff, a ''spokes-
man of nation whose long friend
ship with this country was strength
ened when it became Republic"
Feeling of Veneration.
Ambassador Bahkmetieff said in
part:
with a feeling of deepest venera-
ton have we approached this sacred
tomb. Fate has bestowed on us the
Messing to be witnesses and partak-
ers of such an epoch from the horrors
and ruins of heroic Belgium and Po-
land, ruins soaked by blood of name
less martyrs From the cries Of sor-
row and misery of innocent victims,
there is rising the dawn of new life,
life of peaceful prosperity, justice and
humanity growing out of the con-
auired and smashed remnants of mill
tant autocracy.
with a feeling of solemn venera-
lion and overwhelming emotion, I be-
stow on this immortal tomb this
wreath as tribute to the hero, to the
Knight of Liberty and Democracy
from the messengers of Russia's free
dom"