The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-21 00:00:00

As the procession moved towards the Cross, the
band struck up the Masonic march, which was
specially composed for the celebration of the Burns
centenary at Dumfries.
Meanwhile an immense crowd had congregated
around the statue, the causeways were covered with
spectators on every side, and every window which
overlooked the site was occupied with groups of
ladies. Altogether it was estimated that the num-
ber of persons present was at least 8,000
or 10,000. A staff of police-officers, under
the direction of Mr. Chief Constable Bent,
was in attendance, and maintained an open space
in front of the statue until the approach of the
procession, when the gentlemen constituting it took
up their position within the circle, amidst loud
acclamations.
The music and cheering have ceased,
The MAYOR ascended the base of the pedestal
and said—Fellow, citizens, this is no every-day cere-
mony at which we are now assisting ; it is no com-
mon honour which is being paid to the memory of
a fellow citizen. We may ask the question now,
as it will be asked in days to come, when strangers
shall pass through this busy market place and look
on this noble work of art, why is the statue of Jas.
Steel placed here ? Is it as a memorial to a well
known leader of a political party ? I say at once
on no party ground would a statue have the right
to stand here in the market place of all the citizens.
Is it a memorial of the affectionate remembrance of
the many and the warm friends who surrounded
him in his lifetime ? Again, I say on no private
ground has a statue a right to stand here. (Hear)
The memorials of private friendship are appropriate
in the house appointed for the dead, but not in the
busy haunts of the living. (Hear, hear.) There
must be something of a deeper significance in the
act which places the statue here—here, looking on
one side towards the place where in his early days
he wrought as a printer's boy, and on the other side
looking to the hall where in after time he sat as
chief magistrate upon the bench—here, of all places,
where men most do congregate—in the very heart
of the city's life. (Cheers.) I have said there must
be no party ground. Ido not say there must be no
political ground. It would indeed be difficult to do
honour to James Steel and forget that he was a
journalist. But in his character of journalist there
are features on which all may unite to give honour
and respect. If there be one point more than
another on which men of all parties have agreed
it is this, that for the proud position which this
nation occupies among the nations it is in no
small degree indebted to the freedom of her
press—(applause)—and no man more than James
Steel, through a long political life, at a time
when many were but spelling the lesson they now
know so well by heart, no man more faithfully or
more unflinchingly maintained the independence of
the press. (Hear, hear.) I may go a step further
in this direction without passing- that line which
I should be the last to trespass upon, and I may say
that as one of the earliest, one of the ablest, and one
of the most consistent advocates of great measures
which the whole nation has now adopted and ap-
proved—l say in so far as those measures are there-
by removed from party ground, for the share which
he took in their accomplishment we have a right to
pay public honour to his memory. (Applause.) I
have said that on private grounds this memorial
would be misplaced here. But we cannot separate
the citizen from the man, and naturally and inevi-
tably the esteem which is felt for his private kindli-
ness and integrity will mingle with the honour paid
to his independence as a journalist and long useful-
ness as a citizen. (Hear.) But tine main ground I
take it is •
tins, and this it is to which the one word
on the
bodily 8
memorial points—that th rough all the ha-
rassinglabour of a journalists' 's career, during
and the spirit wras*
life he was sufferingneve from which for 1 ong years of his
or the
free, he nevertheless found time,
and indefatigably, him enei •getically to pro-
moteobjects having for their aim
assist in carrying out all
mmoratlhaenmd aterialuaental improve-
mentiprove
of the town,
townsmen.ltil those who bet tr, office in ths
{Hear, hea .i. and cheers.)
Thereforemen
t f theit
is th
city are assembled on this ocea •
sion. Therefore it is
that the societies which cherish It is memory are
gathered around to join in the .hoiu nir which is to
be paid him. Therefore on these mai ry grounds it is
dot this fit.atue stands 'here Ito of narnent to the
town,. a Menll2l,
--ial of a valuable eitiz ;en, and a last-
ing exan:ple to oilhers, now,
and in days to come.
(Loud cheers.) g of the statue
The cords which hseld the cove
rill
Ma rll the _ ayor
were then drawn, and a_s the '
'OlO th
said--"I _d
I declare this sti. '''"e a —uly inaugurated.' At
t from the large
the same moment a loud c 'beer bu,
1.2
me time. The
assembly, and was protract 'tcd, for SO
band then played an air, f ~Nr -wb dch
a L-11 3Kr Mayor and
Mr. CRACKANTHORPE sa. 't4--- '.
gentlemen, as the May or ha s c: !tilled upon me to
ture
address a few words to this L 186.4311b13r' I len
to take my place on this
pedest. .14 As one of thei
subscribers to this testimonial to o. . late laventeu _
friend Mr. Steel, Ipresumel have had the honour of
receiving an invitation to assist at tin s ceremony.
And, gentlemen first I atmig although '
ht hesitate
about accepting'that nor that I
invitation, feari 0
might be lookednembering
that this scheme
upon as an intruder, re •
d with
the citizens of a testimonial oriel late .
of Carlisle, and has been carry ied Da 137