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.