The Washington times., 1931-10-19
THRONG HEARS
HOOVER TALK
At FETE
President Says No American
Can View History With
out Confidence in Future

American can review the history
of the United States from York
town to the present without con
fidence and faith. without cour'
age, strength and resolution for
the future" President Hoover de-
clared today as he watched the
reproduction in pageantry of the
surrender OF CORVALLIS. - =
Victory for Liberty
In a brief address the President
declared:
1--WE assemble here to ceIe-
brate q victory for our own in
dependence, but not essentially
q victory over the British"
The complete text of Mr.. Hoo
ver's speech follows:
Our Guests and Ny FellotD
Countrymen:
No person here present. no
school child of the millions
listening in on this occasion,
needs reminder of the signifi-
canoe of the Battle of York
town. If we judge it by the
standard of battles in which
the contrary result would have
essentially varied the whole
course of history, then it be-
comes one of the very few de-
cisive battles in the history of
the world.
Six years of war for indie
pendence had Sorely exhausted
the resources, deplete d the
forces, and Sapped the support
of that group of men whose
genius gave freedom to our
country. With the inroads the
mother country had made in
subsection of the northern colo
nieS, it is extremely doubtful if
the struggle for independence
could have succeeded had
Washington lost at Yorktown.
Certainly with the victory at
Yorktown, our independence
was won.
One of Great Battles
In military history, York
town is distinguished as one of
the great battles in which land
and sea forces co-ordinated. The
naval cooperation was fur
niShed by France, herself also at
war with Great Britain. For
that cooperation we have held
during these $50 years a CRATE
full remembrance.
That sentiment, continuing
down through our history,
finally flowered in the co-opera-
tion which the American people
gave to France in their defense
against an overwhelming enemy.
The presence of Marshal Petain
and General Pershing here TO-
day symboliZes this second COM
radeship in arms, so magnifi-
Gently begun by De GraSse, La
fayette, and Rochambeau.
Ideals Went Forward
We assemble here to cele-
brate a victory for our own
independence, but not essen
TALLY a victory over the Brit
1sh. The long span of history
will interpret the American War
for Independence and this bat.
tie more in the light of a
struggle amongst English-speak-
ing people for the establish
ment in government of an ex-
!. tension Of a common philosophy
of human rights begun at Run
nymeade.
The principles and ideas for
which America contended had
many adherents and much
sympathy in England at that
time. The victory of the Amer
leans gave impulse to the new
order throughout the world;
and while the sovereignties of
America and England definitely
diverged at Yorktown, yet the
march of the ideals for which
the Americans fought also went
forward and triumphed in Eng
land itself.
: Tribute to Washington
The common acceptance of
many Of these principles has
aligned the English-speaking
people side by side for a cen
tury of peace, concord, sympa-
thy and devotion to a liberty
defined and assured under a
reign of law. The triumph of
these new ideas in America
strengthened the impulses for
liberty in France.
1T is not to be doubted"
wrote Lafayette, in sending the
keys of the Bastile to Wash
1ngton, that the principles of
America opened the BaStile."
Our purpose today is to pay
homage to a glorious event in
our national history. Among
many benedictions offered to
us by this ceremony, one is
renewed acquaintance with the
spirit of George Washington.
The campaign which led to it's
final climax here established
his military genius. 1t was the
crown Of victory which placed
his name among the great
commanders of all time.
1t is not too much to say
that without Washington the
war for. independence would not
have been won.
More Than Great General
WaShington's greatness was
far V1onra fka~ . r..,aok