No. 79.
Mr. F. B. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
No. 284.]
Legation of the United
States, Paris, September 9, 1870. (Received September 22,
1870.)
Sir: At about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon a
large crow of French people came to the legation, bearing the French and
American flags, repeating the cries, “Vive l’Amérique!” “Vive la
France!” A delegation, composed of very respectable gentlemen, waited
upon me in my private room and read a short address, begging that I
would transmit to my Government the thanks of a great number of French
citizens for the promptness and cordiality with which it had recognized
the French republic. I beg to transmit you a copy of the address to me
and my response.
[Translation.]
Légation des Etat Unis, Pains, le 8 Septembre, 1870—4 p.
m.
We come in the name of a large number of French citizens, certain
that we shall be approved and followed by the whole nation, to beg
you to present our thanks to your Government for the spontaneity
with which it answered to the notification of our French republic.
To you, sir, reverts a large part of our thanks for the gracious
words which your heart dictated in communicating to us the
recognition by your Government. The French people will long remember
the excellent words of the American minister. We did not expect less
of this great and generous nation, whose aspirations and principles
have always been in communion with the ideas of France. America and
France are sisters, sisters as republics, that is to say, sisters in
liberty. The ocean which separates us is less deep than the
sentiments which unite us.
Gentlemen: On behalf of my Government I
thank you for this demonstration. I shall take pleasure in
transmitting the thanks which you have so eloquently expressed for
the action which the Government of the United States has taken in
recognizing the new republic of France. In my communication, to
which you so kindly allude, I only expressed the sentiments of the
President and of the people of the United States. The American
people feel the greatest interest in the grand movement which has
just been inaugurated in France, and will indulge in the most
fervent wishes for its success, and for the happiness and prosperity
of the French people. Living themselves under a republican form of
government, they know how to appreciate its blessings, and to-day,
with warm hearts and eloquent words, they felicitate their ancient
ally in the accomplishment of that peaceful and bloodless revolution
which must challenge the profound interest of all lovers of liberty
throughout the world.
