Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-21
LAFAYETTE STATUE,
GIFT Of K. Of C.,
UNVE|LEDAT METZ
Memorial to "0ur Common
Dead" Presented by
ia. FIaherty.
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
METZ Alsace-Lorraine. August 81.
The statue of Lafayette, presented
to France by the knights of Colum
EuS of America. was unveiled today
by Supreme Knight James A. Flaherty
OF Philadelphia The population of
Metz cheered when he drew aside the
silk sheet yelling the statue. when
stands on an eminence dominating
the valley of the Moselle.
IN bis speech of presentation Mr..
F1aherty said:
This noble figure of French
robleman denotes more eloquentlN
than | can say the nature of this git
from the knights Of Columbus to the
republic of France in memory OF our
common dead, who persisted so that
the liberty that Lafayette and w ASH
ington fought for and won might De
preserved to the world
Mr. Flaherty said that the knights
o; Columbus as Catholic citizens of
America desired by this memorial TO
commemorate forever the holy bond
of union between France and Amer
lea. sealed by the blood of the french
and American hero dead.
supreme Director speaks.
William p Larkin of New York,
supreme director of the Knights OF
columbus, delivered the Grafton OF
the day He reviewed the historic
relations between France and the
I-uited States and told of the French
Catholic clergy collecting s6,oO0,eoo
to aid the colonies of America
We. of America. can never forget
the pastoraIs issued by the bishops
of France urging the people OF
ing days. he continued. IT IS al
together fitting and appropriate that
the knights of Columbus shouid Sc.
lect this historic spot as the op!ect
of their pilgrimage, for was not Metz
the starting point of Lafayette
American career? And was II not IN
Metz that. 100 years aftorward, WITH
in the sacred precincts OF 81 lem,
ent's College, Marshai Feroihanu
Foch the hero of the war. was lay
ing deep the foundations of that char
acter and genius which in later years
stood civilization in such sooo steao
and saved France?
Mr.. Larkin said the Knights or
Columbus welcomed this opportunity
to symbolic the age-old bonds PIMA,
ing America to France. He declared
the organization had chosen Lara
cite because he typihed pre-eIlileii.,s
and beyond all others the incarnation
of Frances fraternal feelings toWaro
America throughout the centuries anu
because he was loved and trusted
friend of Washington
Ambassador Wallace Talks.
Hugh C. Wallace. the American am
bassafior. in his address. discussed the
Russian situation in describing Laiay-
cites service to an ideal =.
"What would this great apostle Oh
liberty think of the crimes being com.
mitted today in the name OF hperty,
the ambassador said THE madmen
who have clothed themselves with DfleI
authority are trying to barter nosus
mess of pottage for suppression OF the
civilized conscience and recognition VI
their government. Notwltnstandiis
their crimes, the great people whom
. we know as Russians will, in the proVl-
dence of God. come out OF their present
darkness into the light.
..Those among them who honestly are
deceived will cease to follow their 1aise
prophets and the nation will turn TO lts
wise men and through them estaolsn
a government worthy to endure. Inc
imperial autocracy once dethroneo on
the battlefield is not to rise again
through the excuses OF a Daroarous
proletariat, nor can the great battle OF
civilization won in the west be lost III
the east
Mr.. Wallace retold the career of La
fayette and his relations with the Amer
cans who took him to their hearts
He described the efforts of Washington
and JEFFERSON 10 ODtdlu cue &c
lease from an Austrian prison SO thal
he might come to the United states.
The ambassador quoted Lafayette
answer to Talleyrand, who had onereo
him the ministry to the United States:
81 am too much an American to pre-
sent myself in the part of foreign
diplomat"
NOtables Present.
A great company of notable persons
representing the French and Americor
governments, the prelates and armies
of both countries. were on the plat
form. Among them were Marsha
Foch. Minister of Justice rHopiteau
Bishop Pelt, Gen. johnson. commander
of the 91st Division; DR.. Marco
Knecht, who was a member OF the
French commission to the United
States, and the municipal and de-
partmental officials.
An immense American flag brought
by the visiting knights draped the
base of the statuO The flag wa:
slightly damaged in transit and hac
been carefully mended by Nine. Mil
lerand. wife of the French premier.
An interesting feature of the cere-
mony was the presentation of bator
to Marshal Foch by Supreme knigh
FIaherty In handing the gift to the
marshal. Mr.. Flaherty said:
I'VE make this gift to Marsha
Foch as Catholic American citizens
because we. like the rest of the citi
gems of the United States. like thu
rest of enlightened mankind. realiz,
the debt humanity owes to this grea
man of Christ. who led the flower o
Americas youth to glorious victor!
and whose strong hand has so guide
the French nation in it's hour of vic
tory that that victory has been mad,
secure and permanent"
Mr.. Flaherty cordially invited Mar
shall FoCh to visit America TIL,
marshal was greeted with a storm o
applause when he arose to accep
the baton. America and Franc
long fought for liberty and they will
continue to protect liberty Throughout
the world" he declared