The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-22
THE LINCOLN STATUE,
Dedication Ceremonies at Prospect Park
Letters from President Grant and
Governor H0ffman-An Eloquent
Oratisn by Rev. DIR. SfOrrs.

Inc bronze statue Of Abraham Lincoln in Prospect
Park, Brooklyn, was unveiled and dedicated yester-
day with imposing ceremonies. The noble emf
nence from which the imposing ngure OF the
iamented President looks upon New York and her
wide environs was covered by an immense multi
tude; and as the immortal features were revealed
ana the roar OF the cannon rolled the hills the
scene was one OF the most solemn and
impressive OF the age. Distinguished person
ages, wealth, fashion, veterans OF the great
war whose glory is inseparable from the
lustre OF Lncons name and thousands OF earnest
patriotic citizens were congregated the spot to
do homage to the illustr0us dead, and all that
pomp and eioquence can manifest were onered IN
dedieating the memorial.
Within the enclosure about the statue were officers
OF the army and navy and JUST outside the Twenty
third regiment formed q gittering line along the
slope. Just above, on the knoll, the artillery was
planted. and stretching away ON every hand was
vast concourse OF people splendid equip
ages and mounted officers in uniform. The
platform was occupied by the Park Commissioners.
the Committee Of the War Fund OF Brooklyn and the
orators OF the day, and close at hand the band OF
the Navy Yard pealed forth the national anthem
the sculptor stripped the ven from the majestic
figure.
The statue is OF bronze, nine feet in height,
mounted upon massive pedestal of granite, and
representing the late lamented Chief Magls-
trate az pointing 10 the constitution OF the
United States which he holds In mis- left
! hand. The head is uncovered, and a CLOAK
thrown back from the breast hangs gracefully from
the shoulders. The base is very deliberately sculp
tared There wreaths on the east and west sides
which enclose the letters ~. $. Az and s'U. S. NJ
on the south side is an eagle holding shield in the
centre OF winch Is female holding an axe and sup
| ported by bundle OF reeds with the motto, zen
/ draght maakt maghtn and on the north Is eagle
with a broken shackle in his taious.
The statue has been produced by dollar subscrip-
tons placed in the hanus of the W ar Fund Committee
OF Brooklyn, and was executed by the sculptor, Mr..
| Ii. X. Br0wD
At three o'clock the ceremonies were opened with
| Hail. ColumDa,n by the band, after which Mr. A..
A. Low, as presiding 0Iicer, delivered IN address
recitlng IN eloquent terms the virtues OF the de-
ceased President and the motives and means by
! which che statue was erected and concluding as
| follows:-
! FELLOW CIrI1Ess-we have come here to-day by
invitation OF the War Fund Committee TO take part
| in the consummation OF this long-chershed purpose,
| 30 celebrate with appropriate ceremonies the unve
ing OF the statue Of our hate laInented President
Abraham Lincoln. The President or the United
States, the Governor OF the state Of New York the
| Mayor ana Common Counch OF our city Judges Of
ths respective courts officers OF the army and navy
soldiers and sailors VINO shared IN the pers and In
the giories OF the war, and all VINO contributed TO
the erection OF this monument have been asked to
be present 10 witness the transfer OF this gut OF the
people TO the city OF their pride. and on the part
l
committed the acceptance OF this sacred trust. Per-
! init me, III concluding these Introductory remarks
10 associate with the rich memories OF this hour
and OF ;nis occasion, the ever memorable words Ut
tered nS SIR. Lincoln at the close OF his inau
| gural-the last, believe, publicly addressed by him
! 10 the American people. They Will endure longer
than bronze, however imperishable 1t seems. WHAT
better inscription can Ds put upon this monument
With malice towards mona with charity for all with arm
In the right God gives to the rzht let strive
hnish the work We in, bind up the
wounds 70 for him who shall have borne the battle and
Tor mis- widow and orphans DO all which achieve and
cherish ust ana lasting peace among ourselves with all
nations.
The statue was then unveiled while the artillery
Numbered a national salute the multitude cheered
| and nags noated up the peak and out upon the
strong sea breeze When the cheering hal subsidized
| hr. j. T.. WALLACE on behalf OF the War Fund COM
mitsee formally presented the statue. He said he
| had the nonor 70 represent double constituency
FIRST the thirteen thousand contributors, consisting
| OF citizens OF Brooklyn OF both sexes aud all ages
| VINO mad each given one dollar TO the fund and
whose names were engrossed and deposited IN the
| Historical Society Tor preservation. Secondly, lie
! woaid speak Tor the War FuDd Committee
prominent citizens OF brooklyn, who contributed
largely TO the support OF the government IA the
early days Of the war. The committee wished to
testify 20 tue faithful and efficient management OF
the iund by Nj. Isaac II. rockingham, the Treas
urer who by Judlclous Investment OF the money
in United states bonds, had increased the amount
by $4,000 Nh. wallace thanked the press for their
aid, coinplimented the sculptor and his work.
requested the PARK Commissioners 10 accept the
statue IN perpetuity, add closed with eloquent
and patriotic peroratlon.
Mr. J. ;. I. rrRANAHAS. President OF the Brooklyn
Park commissioners, replied IN their behalf saying
that the Commissioners had selected three sites Tor
statues IN the Park aud trusted tue two yet
unoccupied would be nted oy snose Of washington
and Jackson.
Rev. Or. sroRRs was then introduced andheiivered
most impressive grafton. After referring to the
soiemnity of the event which had called them to-
gether ne said II was the dfst statue Of such mate
ria raised by spontaneous gifts from the people to
among the cities whose streets were shrouded at his
death. IL was 1t occasion OF pleasure and pride
that the purpose TO erect It. which sprang up stimuli
fapa ali with no Of haafh hah thuI
been accomplished and that here hencefortl 1t Is
stand; on the summit crest OF our expanding aud
beautiful city; on q spot coDsecraed more than
ninety years since py the patriot blood which then
so freely and so fruitfully 1el; overlooking the
MONIES noIG IA, ana working places Of million and !,
ton Of the commerce 81 lie word. IN "A respects
was Us position 1t one. There was no impro-
! priey but an obvious harmony, In placing the
memorial OF him whom we honor at q polnt where
1 we pass in full view OF IT, and almost beneath ts
very shadow, so often. Out wreste and OF
soul, aud OF theirs who wrought with him, through
those fierce which were closed with his death,
had come abundant and wide prosperity. Because
| he suffered, we enjoy. He staggered under loads OF
/ obligation and OF care that we might after-
| he YEARLY bore, ana bore 70 tne enc nsa
been lgh.ened b. trick or by UeacherJ
In him there had been for US no sold peace ana no
/ people had reared Tie statue because they loved
Lincoln; they raised u IN grateful recognition OF
4 his service in shaf immense work which he IN q
| large measure directed and inspired Lincoln stood
/ as an exponent OF what the American life pro-
duoe without foreign assistance. Born the hum
best conditions OF hfe ne represented better than
| any other who has been eminent In once
among us the native American faculty and train
ing. In a time OF intense excitemenis when
! feeling was passionate, And when anger
easily turned 10 mallgnity ne kept his frank
ana kindly temper In time OF Immense
opportunity for ans dishonest greco and gain his
integrity was perfect as the lusire IA the dia.
mopd, vs. the blue ia the sky With millions OF
gold waiting his word FOR their dlstributlon he
touched no penny tina. was not his and fell IN death
as unCorrupt when he entered on his great Otce.
All these traits In the character and history OF
Abraham Lincoln which the Annals Of every time 10
| come must nnd and record. II was no mythical
hero or sage whom they commemOraied-no Odln
| or Hernann--wnosa form looms grander through
mists or time. II was man whom we had known,
and watched and buried. Ii was no yison OF ideal
beauty which was incorporated In the statue. "
was the TAIL harsh featured ngure OF one more at
home on the prairie than Ia the paror; IN the once
| for work, than in the boudoir. But because he
| stood uear us OF our own time, and we have
~ -hau uhrira nnrr nnh an.t