Show a G Sil S DOllAR fOR lOU tT LAFAYETTE L COIN PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT OF OP FRANCE PRANCE I Given By Dy Robert Rob rt J 3 Thompson With i ithe I the compliments of President I I j I I Paris March 3 Robert J Thompson secretary a of the Lafayette monument commission as an special commissioner of the he t United States representing Preal i dent ent d McKInley and in his name pre presented s to t President Loubet this morn morning morning ing I ng the first of the Lafayette Lafaette dollars which are enclosed in a casket costing 1000 The presentation pre took place at atthe atthe the he t Elysee palace Mr Ir Thompson accompanied by the United States ambassador General I Horace Porter drove from the embassy e to the palace in the ambassadors m ors carriage On arriving ing ng at the tha at 1145 a am am am m they th were w e received by b M Mellard of the protocol and Captain Haguet of or the French navy nar who was sas the officer on duty The Americans were conducted to the pres prea presidents presIdents dents I cabinet study where M II Lou Loubet Loubet bet was awaiting them By B his side were M I Delcas the minister of for foreign foreign eign affairs and General the chief of the cabinet Several members of or the presidents household were also alan I 1 present 1 I General Porter introduced Mr I Thompson to President Loubet and the t pt presentation of the dollar was then made by Mr Ir Thompson in a few fw ap remarks He said I Mr lr President In the name and on behalf of the president of the United States Slates I 1 have the distinguished honor honorof honorof of extending to you the high represent representative l nt din alive of tho thu republic of oC France salu salutations j I I and ami greetings of friendship i j From the Uth lith of October illS 1898 the un an i I of oC the victory victor of Yorktown 1 I of or the French and American arms in inthe Inthe inthe I the cause of liberty the American I school scho l I youths were W N invited by the pros pres pr 1 ident Idt nt ind md governors of the several states o of the United States to contrib contribute ute their pennies P towards ls the erection of th tins monument m In Paris to a son of France our great and venerated Ye ally aUy I I General Lafayette I I IThe j I The response of the children was Vias I j universal the movement ment a splendid I II I success u s In further aid and in honor i j I I of the work an issue l ue of souvenir silver dollars was wan appropriated and I ordered struck by congress I Of or these the Lafayette dollars I the first to te issue ue from the mint was es especially for your our excellency r by b the president of or the United States and I have now the distinguished hon honor honor I or Mr lIr President of or presenting to you yon I j I thin thia coin a simple and sympathetic i i I token in his name and for the people i of the United States State I I voice the sentiments of or my coun when rhen I express the hope that thal i this memorial dollar doUar stamped with the likeness of and Lafayette I may remain always as It is I today an ar 1 emblem of the amity and the unity of o r I purpose of the two great republics of oi r j I the world II In reply the president said ald he was waa 3 deeply touched by the kind thought of o r I Americas president and people and am I particularly by the gracious manner in in I which the coin has been presented to b him by b Mr Mi Thomp Thompson on He begged the thi latter to be the interpreter to the dent of his warmest thanks and senti sentiments i taunts ments towards President McKinley and am I Ithe the American ration lation which animated animate the president and government of or the thi S French republic M Loubet added ded that he congratulated congratulated congratulated himself lf on receiving this souvenir which was wan a fresh pledge e of the reel red i ties tieD of or friendship which had so a C Clong long united France and the United I States and which he hoped to see Iee draw dra I I closer and stronger more and more I President Pr Loubet concluded with say sa saing ing that it was especially agreeable to V 0 him that thit the mission was entrusted to V S Mr Ir Thompson In view of the initiatory initiator I part which he took in the subscriptions S of the school children to erect a monument meat ment nt to General Lafayette Lafaette in Paris ParisI The French president then invited invite ii I General Porter and Mr Ir Thompson to t 0 I stay sta at luncheon af which Madame Madam e I Loubet and M were present i |