The Champlain tercentenary

by New York . Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commission; Henry Wayland Hill

II. BRIEF REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN APPRECIATION OF THE ASSISTANCE RENDERED BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF FOREIGN NATIONS, MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS.

An outline of the work of the Commission was embodied in the recommendations adopted at the conclusion of the investigation and deliberation of the Preliminary Commission, found at pages 21 to 40 of the First Report of this Commission. Some modifications in the original plan were found necessary as the preparation for the celebration took definite form, but in the main there was substantial adherence to the original recommendations of the Preliminary Commission as may be seen from an examination of the Tercentenary Exercises and the transactions of the Commission hereinbefore given in some detail which involved, in addition to the celebration, the construction of two memorials to Samuel Champlain in the Champlain valley. One of these was a joint memorial constructed by the Vermont and New York Commissions in co-operation from funds jointly contributed by the two Commissions. That is the Champlain memorial at Crown Point Forts. Without the friendly assistance and co-operation of the Vermont Tercentenary Commission in planning and in sharing the expense involved in the construction of the Crown Point memorial, it is not likely that two memorials would have been built. This Commission takes this occasion to make permanent record of the fact that the members of the Vermont Commission were quite as desirous of erecting a fitting memorial to Samuel Champlain as were the members of the New York Commission, notwithstanding the fact that it was apparent to them that the joint memorial was likely to be located within the confines of the State of New York, rather than in Vermont. Undoubtedly the character of the memorial in the form of a lighthouse and its location on a point projecting far into the waters of the lake where it may be seen quite as readily by the citizens of Vermont as by those of New York, had something to do in bringing about unanimity of sentiment in the action of the two Commissions in deciding to erect a joint memorial.

It is hoped that this memorial will stand for all time as a monument to the wisdom of the two Commissions in thus performing a public duty in the spirit of fairness to the people of both states and in grateful appreciation of the character and services to humanity of Samuel Champlain. It met with the hearty approval of the French delegation, who placed on it the Rodin bust, a work of art, selected by M. Hanotaux and others and purchased with funds contributed by His Excellency, Clément Armand Fallières, President of the Republic of France, M. Raymond Poincaré, President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently elected President of the Republic of France and many others, as the seal of the Republic of France. They spoke in commendation of its artistic proportions and of its unique symbolism of the diffusion of the light of civilization through the valley by Champlain and his followers, who sought to inculcate in the “untutored minds” of the savages in the region the humane principles and benign precepts of the Christian religion.

The Champlain Memorial Statue at Plattsburgh was erected by the New York Commission out of the funds appropriated solely by the Legislature of New York. It occupies a commanding position at the outlet of the Saranac river overlooking the lake. The bronze statue of Champlain, the crouching Indian at its base and the granite approach together constitute an unique memorial, artistic in outline and worthy the discoverer of the lake, which bears his name. This will stand comparison with any memorial of the kind in the country.

The Commission submits these two memorials to the considerate judgment of the people of the State in the confidence that they will meet with general approval.

The Commission has thus constructed two suitable permanent memorials to Samuel Champlain in the valley as it was authorized to do by Chapter 181 of the Laws of 1911. In this as in other matters the Commission has endeavored to carry out the spirit as well as the letter of the acts under which it performed its labors.

In addition to the building of the Champlain memorials, the Celebration with its varied literary, military and naval features was carried to a successful conclusion by the Lake Champlain Tercentenary Commissions of New York and Vermont with the co-operation of the Government of the United States and the attendance of the official representatives of France, Great Britain and Canada. The Dominion of Canada sent over the Governor-General’s Foot-Guards under Lieut. Colonel D. R. Street with twenty-two officers and three hundred and eleven enlisted men and also the Fifth Royal Canadian Highlanders under Lt. Colonel George S. Cantlie with twenty-eight officers and four hundred and thirty-eight men.

The participation of the Canadian troops in their brilliant uniforms in the Plattsburgh and Burlington parades on July 7 and 8, 1909, gave color to the marching columns and elicited the commendation of President Taft as well as of the French and British Ambassadors. It was a graceful compliment on the part of the Canadian Government to the people of the United States and gratefully appreciated by members of the Commission and others interested in the success of the celebration, to which this contributed not a little.

The presence of the French Ambassador, His Excellency, J. J. Jusserand, the British Ambassador, the Right Honorable James Bryce, the Postmaster-General of the Dominion of Canada, the Honorable Rodolphe Lemieux, the Premier of the Province of Quebec, Sir Lomer Gouin, the Lieut.-Governor of the Province of Quebec, Sir Adolphe Pelletier, the Vice-Admiral of the Japanese Navy, Baron Stakichi Uriu and others officially representing their respective Governments, gave it international significance, and the history of Lake Champlain in this and other ways has become a matter of interest to the people of other lands.

The participation of these distinguished representatives of France, Great Britain, Canada and Japan in the Tercentenary Exercises added dignity and stateliness to the public and social functions of the celebration, which was widely commended through the press of this and other countries and has since become known as one of the principal commemorative celebrations of the century.

The discriminating and brilliant addresses of the French Ambassador, well known as the author of “The Literary History of The English People” and of many other works, as well as for his celebrity as a great diplomat, were keenly appreciated and will be read by all interested in the tragic events occurring in the Champlain valley during the period of its French occupancy. His touching tribute to Marquis de Montcalm, his graceful expressions of the warmth of the friendship existing between the people of France and those of America and his profound appreciation of the generous impulses of the people of New York and Vermont in projecting and carrying to a successful conclusion this commemorative celebration, in which Samuel Champlain was the central figure, will long be remembered. His long residence at Washington as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France, his deep interest in American institutions and in American history, and his wide and favorable acquaintance with the people of this country have ingratiated him in their affections, until they have become accustomed to look upon the distinguished French Ambassador as a member of the official circle of the nation.

The profound and illuminating addresses of the Rt. Hon. James Bryce, the British Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, delivered by him at Ticonderoga, Plattsburgh and Burlington, were full of that ripe scholarship found in all his public papers and in such works as his “Holy Roman Empire,” “The American Commonwealth,” “Studies in History and Jurisprudence” and in his other treatises. They were overflowing with good will toward the people of this country who consider Ambassador Bryce as a staunch friend of American institutions, as evidenced in “The American Commonwealth” and in all his public addresses.

Rarely, if ever, have there been accredited to this country by foreign nations two Ambassadors at the same time possessing such rare literary and diplomatic qualities as Ambassadors Jusserand and Bryce, each of whom achieved distinction and has been honored in his own country.

The able and instructive addresses of Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, Postmaster-General of Canada and Sir Lomer Gouin, Premier of the Province of Quebec, at Plattsburgh and Burlington were replete with historical suggestions touching the Champlain, St. Lawrence River and Great Lake regions and conveyed to the people south of the international boundary the good will of the people of Canada and their gratitude at the efforts being put forth to commemorate the life, the character and achievements of Samuel Champlain, who founded Quebec, the oldest city in the Dominion. There breathed through these the spirit of good will and genuine appreciation for what was being done in this celebration. The Canadian visitors created a most favorable impression and on their departure left many warm friends behind.

By a fortunate coincidence, Vice-Admiral of the Japanese Navy, Baron Stakichi Uriu, was visiting this country during the period of the Tercentenary Celebration and was one of the invited guests of the New York Commission. He spoke briefly at Ticonderoga and since his return to Japan has conveyed to the Commission his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him in being permitted to witness the Tercentenary Celebration and at receiving the official Report containing a record of it.

The addresses of these representatives of Foreign Governments were entertaining and valuable contributions to the Tercentenary Exercises, giving them an international character exponential of events to be commemorated in tracing the history of the discovery of the lake and the subsequent control of the territory by three successful sovereign nations.

The Commission takes this occasion to acknowledge its obligations in this respect to the distinguished visitors and Foreign Governments, which they severally represented, for their assistance and co-operation in giving the Tercentenary Celebration its international character and some of its most charming features.

We cannot close this report without again expressing our grateful appreciation to the people of France for their thoughtfulness and generosity in sending to this country a work of art by one of their most distinguished sculptors, to embellish the Memorial Lighthouse erected by the States of New York and Vermont to commemorate the life of Samuel Champlain. It was a delicate and beautiful expression of appreciation on the part of the leaders of thought and culture in our sister Republic across the sea to present a bust of such symbolism as “La France” as the seal of their approval of our efforts in this regard.

As far as we have been able to do so, we have preserved in this report the addresses of M. Hanotaux and others, as well as some of their reports on their return to Paris, embodying their views and expressing their feelings toward the people of this nation, which throw new light on the sympathetic character and generous impulses of the French people. The coming of a delegation of so many distinguished Frenchmen was a great compliment to the people of this nation. This in itself was a testimonial of good will, appreciated fully as keenly as the work of art. The people of the Champlain valley and elsewhere will not be likely to forget the fact that in addition to the distinguished line of great Frenchmen from Champlain to Ambassador Jusserand, who have visited the Champlain valley, there came to that valley in the month of May, 1912, a delegation of the most distinguished Frenchmen representing industry, commerce, science, literature and art, as well as civil and military affairs, jurisprudence, statesmanship and diplomacy, that ever visited this country. They came to place the seal of France upon the Crown Point Memorial Lighthouse to Samuel Champlain, and to convey to the people of this country the appreciation of the French Nation for what was being done to commemorate the life and character of one of their countrymen. The names of this delegation have already appeared, but let record be herein made of the fact that Fernand Cormon, member of the Institute and President of the Academy of Fine Arts, was one of the delegation that brought the Rodin allegorical bust from France and directed its location on the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse.

The President of the United States, William Howard Taft, Governor Charles E. Hughes, Governor George H. Prouty, Secretary of War Jacob M. Dickinson, Senator Elihu Root, Congressmen George R. Malby, David J. Foster, Frank Plumley and the other speakers, the poets and the clergymen who participated in the Celebration as well as Governor John A. Dix of New York and Governor John A. Mead of Vermont and other speakers and clergymen, who took part in the dedication of the two Champlain memorials, not only put the members of the two Champlain Commissions, but the people of the Champlain valley under obligations to them for their contributions to the excellence and high quality of the literary exercises.

Col. Calvin D. Cowles and staff of officers and the Fifth U. S. Infantry; Col. William Paulding and staff of officers and the Twenty-fourth U. S. Infantry; Captain William T. Littebrant and staff of officers and the Fifteenth U. S. Cavalry; Brigadier-General J. H. Lloyd and staff of officers of the Third Brigade of the National Guard, New York; Col. James W. Lester and staff of officers and enlisted men of the Second Regiment of the National Guard, New York; Col. John I. Pruyn and staff of officers and enlisted men of the Tenth Infantry of the National Guard, New York; and the Canadian Military Organizations heretofore referred to and the Flotilla, comprising the torpedo boat Manley and two steam cutters named Plattsburgh and Burlington, respectively, under command of Lieut. G. W. Steele, Jr., with Midshipman Gerard Bradford second in command, and L. O. Armstrong, with his company of 150 Indians, descendants of the tribes originally occupying the Champlain valley, were important factors in the military, naval and pageant features of the Tercentenary Celebration contributing materially to its success. The maneuvering of these troops in the Champlain valley was suggestive of the military expeditions and fierce engagements that characterized its history for nearly two hundred years after the discovery of the lake by Samuel Champlain.

This Commission takes this occasion to acknowledge its obligations in this direction to the commissioned and other officers and members of these various military organizations as well as to the Brigadier-General, Major-General and other officers and members of the National Guard of New York, who took part in the celebration and in the dedicatory ceremonies of the two memorials in July, 1912.

The Commission is also grateful to Hon. Robert Bacon, former Ambassador to France, to Paul Fuller, Jr., Secretary of Franco-American Committee, to Hon. Frank S. Witherbee, President and to the members of the Lake Champlain Association, to President John H. Finley of the College of the City of New York, to Hon. McDougall Hawkes, Chairman of the American Board of the French Institute in the United States, to Hon. Charles B. Alexander, to former Senator William A. Clark of New York, to Hon. A. Barton Hepburn, President of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York and to all others, who assisted in the entertainment of the French Delegation on their visit to this country in April-May, 1912.

Acknowledgment is also made of the entertainment of the members of the Preliminary Champlain Commission by the Hon. and Mrs. Nelson W. Fisk at their home at Isle La Motte on September 7, 1907, and of the transportation of the members of that Commission on the Valcour, owned by Hon. Joseph C. Sibley, to Burlington in the afternoon of that day, where they were entertained by the Ethan Allen Club in the evening. Representative Sibley also placed his yacht, Valcour, at the disposition of the Commission during the week of the Celebration.

It will also be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. P. Pell entertained President Taft and other distinguished guests at their home at Ticonderoga on July 6, 1909, and also the French delegation on May 3, 1912.

Commissioner and Mrs. Walter C. Witherbee entertained members of the Commission at their beautiful home at Port Henry on July 5, 1909.

Through the courtesy of Col. Robert M. Thompson, accommodations were provided by him for entertainment of members of the Commission at Ticonderoga on July 5 and 6, 1909.

Commissioner Howland Pell entertained the members of the Commission at his reconstructed Germain Redoubt at Ticonderoga on May 3, 1909.

Hon. John R. Myers of Rouse’s Point supervised the transportation of the participants in the Indian pageants during the celebration and in other ways aided the Commission in its labors.

Frank H. Severance, secretary of the Buffalo Historical Society, was secretary of the Preliminary Lake Champlain Commission and prepared two historical papers, which appeared in the First Report of this Commission. In these respects and otherwise he rendered important services to this Commission.

The Notes on the Archæology of the Champlain valley, contained in the [Appendix] of this volume, by Prof. George H. Perkins, Ph.D., state geologist of Vermont, is a valuable contribution to this Report and is gratefully appreciated by the members of this Commission.

The typographical excellence of the First Report of this Commission elicited general commendation and the State Printers, J. B. Lyon Company of Albany, New York, have spared no pains in the presswork of this Final Report to insure its general excellence.

The exhaustive analytical Index to the First Report and also that to the Final Report, prepared by Charles Alexander Nelson, A. M., will greatly facilitate their usefulness for historical and other purposes.

The members of the Commission were among the invited guests of the Hudson-Fulton Commission during that memorable celebration.

All these were gratefully appreciated as well as all other things done and courtesies shown to the Commission by the people of the Champlain valley in their enthusiastic support of the project of suitably celebrating the discovery of the lake.

In concluding their work, the Commissioners take this occasion to express their appreciation of the generous support and wide publicity given to the Tercentenary project by the Press of this Country and of Canada, which contributed much to the popular interest shown in this commemorative celebration.