The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-03
TAKE LIBERTY
OATH ON CRAVE
OF WASHINGTON
Frenchman StirS House With
Eloquent Appeal.
ROars and Cheers of Applause
Greet War ENJOYS.
KISSES MISS RANKIN'S HAND
KISSES MISS RANKIN'S HAND
JOffre Merely Responded with
"Vivi Amerique."
Republics Sworn on Hero
Graves to Protect Freedom.

Washington, May 3.-As the house
stood and cheered as only its orators
can cheer Marshal Joffre, Nice-Prem-
Ter Viviani and Vice-Admiral Choche-
pratt, of the French commission today
completed their list of official visits.
If the senate reception Tuesday was
spectacular, the house demonstration
today was a riot.
Pacifists and other anti-war MEM
bers led the applause for the commits
sion the doorkeeper announced:
1.-The honorable French commission
to the United States"
The commissioners arrived at the
capitol shortly afternoon. House and
galleries commences applauding long
before they entered the chambers
When Joffre and Viviani assembled to
Speaker Clarks rostrum to be pre-
sented, hand clappins changed to
stamping, desk pounding and cheers
Joffre Arises and Statutes.
AS Viviani finished, spontaneous
cheers were renewed. Joffre arose
and saluted.
tremendous cheer interrupted Clark
for a couple of minutes Then he
finished:
1.-The marshal CT France"
The speaker-no Enthusiastically
refrained from any attempt at pro-
nunciation. He stuck to titles.
! Joffre saluted the house and waited
for order.
Thank you" ne said finally. "Vivi
Amerique." Then he sat down.
| Miss Jeanette Rankin attracted I'M
usual attention. Marshal Joffre shook
hands with her; II. Niviani, to the
expressed in cheers-kissed her hand
intense pleasure OF the house-asain
On Grave of Washington.
France and America have sworn on
the grave of George Washington, on
the death beds of soldiers killed in
the present war and on all the graves
of all European battlefields to do a
republics duty of bringing other
countries to independence. Vice
Premier Viviani told the house today
! from the speakers rostrum. A free
| translation of his speech by Repre-
sentative Medill Mccormick follows:
Never until my dying day shall 1
| forget the acclamations of the Ameri-
can people, if l do not thank you ad-
| equately it is not because our gratitude
is lacking but because the words with
which to express it are insufficient.
Senses the American Soul.
1--WE feel that your sympathy and
your enthusiastic assistance comes not
only from your heart, but from the
jealousy which you have for your
honor, we have seen that you fulfilled
not only the obligations of national
unfolded in its charming intimacy the
completely of the American soul.
| when one meets an American he
meets a practical man, living for the
affairs of his line, but at the same
time, one discovers in the American
soul the freshness and the vivacity
of a new life, the strength which
comes from the dvotion to an idea,
and so, in that American soul we
have before US the paradox of the
/ Pn h nA of f1axa i,-al he
ideal.
There is a parallel between your
case and ours. You, like ourselves
carry the mandate of a free people
to maintain certain ideals to exchange
| certain opinions regarding the ire
mendous problems arising from the
war to the end that our two nations
may side by side achieve equality
and liberty. Opposed to us is an abso-
lutte monarch who seeks to compel
others to do his will.
1t Was a Bitter jest.
| when a few days ago the people of
this nation heard the call to arms that
man who is the central power in CEN
trail Europe understood the gravity of
the new situation which confronted
MIN and then we saw him leaning
/ from his throne, reckoning his sub
| jects, trying to reassure them with a
promise of universal suffrage. 1t was
| indeed a bitter jest.
| IF your national hero, George
Washington. could rise from his grave
and behold todays war he would
| himself proclaim that after a nation
has created independence it is bound
to defend it before all the world and
not only to maintain its own indepen-
dence but to create also independence
for other nations.
we nave sworn on the grave of
| Washington to fight to the end but
not only has it been sworn on the
grave of Washington, but also on the
grave of the soldiers who have fallen
in this war.
1T has been sworn on the death
beds of those who have died in the
| hospitals of Europe and it has been
sworn on the cradles of the newly
born. 1t has been sworn by every
lover of freedom from the cradle to
the tomb.
1T has been sworn"
Ambassador Jusserand. who follow
r.r1 frrf1x