98 Root: Presentation 



side literature, science, and philosophy attend, while 

 history makes her record. The material of the medal is 

 American gold, as was Franklin. 



For itself this would be but a small dividend upon the 

 investments which the ardent Beaumarchais made for 

 the mythical firm of Hortalez & Company. It would 

 be but scanty interest on the never-ending loans yielded 

 by the steady friendship of de Vergennes to the dis- 

 tressed appeals of Franklin. It is not appreciable even 

 as a gift when one recalls what La Fayette, Rocham- 

 beau, de Grasse and their gallant comrades, were to us, 

 and what they did for us; when one sees in historical 

 perspective, the great share of France in securing Amer- 

 ican independence, looming always larger from our own 

 point of view, in comparison with what we did for 

 ourselves. 



But take it for your country as a token that with all 

 the changing manners of the passing years, with all the 

 vast and welcome influx of new citizens from all the 

 countries of the earth, Americans have not forgotten 

 their fathers and their fathers' friends. 



Know by it that we have in America a sentiment for 

 France; and a sentiment, enduring among a people, is 

 a great and substantial fact to be reckoned with. 



We feel a little closer to you of France because of 

 what you were to Franklin. Before the resplendence 



