On the occasion of the second centennial of Franklin's birth, a solemn
celebration, lasting several days, was held in Philadelphia, under the
auspices of the American Philosophical Society, founded by himself more
than a century and a half before.
Many Americans of fame took part in the celebration, such men as the
Secretary of State Elihu Root, Senator Lodge, Horace H. Furness, former
Ambassador Joseph Choate, the President (not yet emeritus) of Harvard,
Charles W. Eliot, Doctor Weir Mitchell, and many others. Several foreign
nations were represented; England notably by one of her sons who has
succeeded in the difficult task of adding lustre to the name he bears,
Sir George Darwin.
In accordance with a law passed by Congress two years before, a
commemorative medal was, on that occasion, offered to France. The speech
of acceptance is here reproduced solely to have a pretext for reprinting
the generous and memorable address of presentation by the then Secretary
of State, Mr. Elihu Root; and also in order to help in better
preserving the souvenir of a more than graceful act of the United States
toward France.