The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-06
DOUBLE sHEET-THREE CENTS.

DO ~ DlLlI NJ
| plans and estimates. on the 18th Of December,
1901 a contract was entered into with j. A. Bailly
an eminent artist Of this city, to model and cut In
white marble the beautiful statue to-day unveiled IN
your presence. On the 10th Of February, 1862 the
| City Councils, In answer 70 request from our asso
citation, passed ian ordinance TO locate the statue
OF washington in front OF Independence
Hail." In May, 1869, circulars printed in
proper form TO receive the names Of all the children
and teachers in our public schools were issued;
placed In the base OF the statue and such OF them as
were returned have been so placed. On the 9th Of
june 1859, grand entertainment was given in the
mar schools also, the Girls and Boys High Schools,
to aid in completing the base Of the statue. Sub
citizens, which are recorded elsewhere. On the 2d
Of july 1862 the material for the granite base was
delivered on the ground, and on the next day both
base and statue were set in place And so our long
and arduOus labors draw near a close-nOt I'm sor-
row and sadness, but in Joy and gladness. We have
done It'll Our statue OF Washington is fnishedl
The first In the cityl And now, on this, our
glorious old, yet ever new, Independence Day."
Ihe washington Monument Association OF the First
School District of Pennsylvania" representing the
children and teachers OF our public schools presents
statue.
O.. Behold it-colOssall grandl But moment ago
1t was wrapped in the folds OF the starry banner
now its beauty is unveiled. Admire it as a work OF
art. Nay, more, admire it a work of Anlerf-
ran art. Every mallet every chisel and hammer
every square and compass and the mechanicai
heads and hands and genius, al! american
n. D., A.
OF Philadelphia, ie here beside me on this platform
to-day. Modest In person. unassumng In manner
how must mis- soul klndle as he looks his finished
statue and on these admirlng thousands and listens
TO the songs OF thrilling hearts gushing from lips OF
innocent sweetness attuned TO the divine harmones
OF musicl This, too is his hour OF triumph and let
all accord to him due praise for this maserpece of
| sculpture. Genius has ts triumphs, and her heroes
are crowned with the laurels OF all ages
In the centre Of the foundation Is placed box
containing the names OF children and teachers, D-
rectors and Board OF Controllers, Mayor and CITY
OF the association, ETC., and copy of the
Holyy.,I HHoIy Bible The base Of the statue is Of
and is in four pieces, weighing about twenty tons
The statue is Of white marble feet inches high
The left hand of Washington rests the hilt OF hs
sword, sheathed in peace; his right hand rests on
the Bible, the Bible on the Constitution aud Amer-
right OF the figure The weight of the figure s about
SIX tons. The whole height OF base and statue is
s ieet inches and was erected under the supcrin-
north fOnt the base will bear the name WASHrNGToN
ON the south this inscription
ERECTED
BY THE
WASHINGTON MONUMENT ASSOCIATION
OF THE
FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Ine total cost including railing, will be about
six thousand five hundred dollars
Our work is done at last Our history and our
actions are before the people for their Judgment.
ar.l II may be s,, said that this is a small
and climb the SUBMITS OF highest mountains bind
ing with golden spikes the geographical extremes OF
our Republic; linking the great oceans by canal;
circng the earth and plowing the oceans with eec,
trc messengers, in preparation OF the day when the
hosannas OF liberty shall sweep from pole to pole
Great as these things are, physically considered,
they are but small when compared with the astound-
ing results which will flow from them. Although
our statue is but small, yet If 1t opens wide the peary
gates OF art culture in our city, If it promotes refine
develop and intensity American nationality: II il he
the precursor OF statues to Penn and Franklin and
other Americans OF real worth, 1t will have crced
q fnI hu tfo rOio
AS look on this one, there rises within me a
secret joy which, like divine charn rushes through
all my nature. 1t is this. The statue will speak!
Yes, the SILENT cold beautiful marble will utter a
perpetual voice. II will teach American patriot
hearts the grand lessons Of Washngtons pure char
acter. 1t will speak to the patriot pilgrims who
from all nations, visit the shrine OF American inde-
pendence. 1t Will be 10 our dear children also
an object lesson OF perennial beauty and graceful
ness.
Suffer me to say few words as to the day, the
Yesterday was the Sabbath OF the Lord as well as
the Sabbath OF patriotism. Sublime spectacle! BY
common consent the result OF our Christian ciyZa-
ton, the Sabbath OF the Lord had precedence This
was rght-God first; Liberty next.
Though the shout OF jubilant mlrth was not heard
in all our Streets nor the booming OF cannon, nor
the rattle OF musketry, any of the usual outward
concentrations Of nations JOY yet the nation was
patriotism and Christianity, twin brothers as they
are, met, embraced, and knelt around thrice ten
thousand affairs, and arose, strengthened by the
act, TO bless God for Liberty! All over our beloved
land Christianity gave to patriotism the pledges OF
memories OF the Revolution the nowerage and FRA
GRANGE OF heaven.
To-day we meet amid the glad tumult OF nations
jubilee. The sovereign symbols OF American ma
tionality begin again 10 look up from beneath the
blood-fringed clouds OF fratricdal strife. The
genius OF American constitutional liberty once more
scars on seraph wings OF peace, seeking the alti-
tudes Of new, higher, and more vigorous and har-
monious nattonhoOd. And so, from Ocean-ashed
margins OF Atlantic coasts east to the gOden-p plains
and serene waters OF the lovely Pacific on the west
and from where liberty is whispering in Cuban
waters which sweety margin the orange groves Of
Florida ON the south, to the snOw-clad cliffs OF
Canada and Alaska on the north, reviving and
uniting people sing hosannas Of praise to the eho-
yah OF Washington, "who has made and preserves us
q nation"
The place where the statue stands 'Tis sacred
gToundl just at the vestbule OF IIberty's tenn
plel just by the steps from which was first pro-
claimed the Declaration OF Independence On the
very spot often pressed by the living feet of Wash
Ington! just in the shade, too of old independence
Hall!
Az Phiadephians, what a treasure is
IN our midst TO guard and love - the
greatest place on earth save Calvary. The place
where the giants OF the Revolution assembed-mas-
ter-men OF the olden time and OF ali time are they
model reyoutonists Of this day. and all days come
are they. "Independence HALT how we ought TO
love and cherish thee with ceaseess vigilance and
gratitude, thy memories, and the shining record of
sacrifice, OF matchless eloquence, and unsurpassed
courageI The place where Patrick Henry cleft the
ming OF free speech! and sent flying over the colo
MES brave words of cheer to the trembling vet mar
shaling reV0lutionists, thrilling them with the Inn
mortality OF lnvncibty! The place where Richard
hearts the rushing foods OF his polished eOquence
bursting the chains and letters OF monarchy forever
The place where Adams the elder, tore away the
scarlet drapery from proud Engand's throne break
the royal insignia OF klngly despotIsm.
ana driving the last nail in the coin OF dethrOned