The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1918-07-18

Sell governing LdLIOIlo VI LlO CWO
Americas, and now fights for the pres
ervation of its life, that Government
of the people, for the people. and by
the people. shall not perish from the
face of the earth.
"The second cradle of Liberty was
amid the Ruins Of the Bastille, in Paris,
on July ID, 1889. The people of Paris
destroyed this great medieval prison,
the emblem to them of tyranny and
oppression and autocratic government.
They lighted the torch of Liberty at its
smouldering ruins, and sent their
armies forth from the first Great
European Republic to carry this torch
into Europe governed b! absolutism
and cursed with privilege and inequality
and injustice.
"These two great Republics are chill
dren of the same spirit. Their es-
sential union, from the days of Lafay-
cite and Washington to the days of
Wilson and Poincaire and Pershing and
Focp, has been unbroken.
French blood and treasure were
given, so that we might found the first
great experiment of self-government.
America today sends her millions in
men and her billions in gold that the
Home of Joan of Arc and the Tomb of
Lafayette may remain inviolate.
France stands erect today unconquered
and unconquerable. America stands
beside her, our boys in khaki, shoulder
to shoulder with the horizon blue of
Frances brave men. Our stars and
stripes over the trenches beside the
tricolor of France proclaim to the mill
tary masters OF Germany a union
which shall carry the cause of democ-
racy to triumph, and form the basis of
greater world federation in the days of
Peace. Today we ask of France moth
ing but the privilege of repaying the
debt we owe. We, too, celebrate the
Fall of the Bastille, the first strong
hold of absolutisln- to go down before
the rising power of free men. We
shall stand beside her till the last
stronghold of autocracy falls in ruins
about the Hohenzollern dynasty.
From America on the one hundred
and twenty-ninth anniversary of the
dedication of the French people to self
comes the tribute not OF
our sentiments alone, but of ourselves.
The voice of America proclain1s today
With one accord, Long live, long live,
France.
The following resolution was
then offered by Mr.. Phanor
on behalf of the Four
Minute Men of the parish, on
motion of Mr.. j. ID. RuSca, chair
mrn of Publicity Committee, was
adopted by standing vote.
Resolved. That the 14th of July
message you have just heard be the
of Americas millions; that
it be delivered, through Four Minute
Men of the Committee on Public Infor-
nation, to the French Ambassador for
to the people Of France;
and that this audience with thousands
Of others, this day Tor evening" salute
and honor our noble ally, the Republic
Of France
The address of the occasion was
delivered by Hon. Jno. H. Over
ton, of Alexandria. 1t was a
stirring, patriotic deliverance, Gu
ligistic of the Spirit of France,
and loyalty of the American Re-
public and people. to their sore
stricken friend and ally. 1t moved
the assembly to the heights of en-
thusiasm, and stirred it to the
depths of patriotic feeling,
The two next numbers of the
Raising of the Flag"
by the Boy Scouts, and ''Saluting
the Flag" Dy the assembly, were
merged into one. The Scouts,
the future soldiery of the Repub-
lie, like veterans, raised the Tri-
colors and Stars and Stripes to the
top of the staff at the highest peak
of the building. AS they reached
the top, the Southern breeze
caught them, and as they waved
over "a land that is free," the
assembly gave a mighty cheer, in
and admiration of noble
split of France sister repub-
lie and her people.
the program ended with the
band PLAYING The Star Spangled
the assembly joining in
singing the inspiring words.
Thus ended a memorable day
and historical event to the glory
Of France and honor to ourselves.