The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-26
TIE LINCOLN STATUE.
Interesting Event at the Capitol-The Great Work
Of Winnie Ream Observation-Disclosures By
Senator'S Trumbull and CARPENTER
and Representatives cullom,
-. Eanks and Brooks.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 1871.
The unveing OF Miss Ream's statue OF Lincoln
took place tonight In the rotunda OF the Capitol,
which was brilliantly illuminated and decorated
with nags. One Of them, made of Californian silk,
was suspended over the statue. President Grant.
Vice President Colfax. General Sherman, Judge
Davis, the committees on public buildings and
grounds and the orators Of the occasion occu.
pied seats on the platform. There was
q very large audience including Judges
Of the supreme GcclaT and members
o. S2pRre. win their families. After music by the
Marine Band Senator Morrill, OF Vermont, said that
four years ago little girl was employed In the Post
ONCE at $500 year, but she had faith that she could
do something better. Congress gave her an order
10 execute statue Of the late President Lincoln.
That statue and the artist before the spec.
tators. Judge Davis, Of the Supreme Court, then,
according to the programme. proceeded slowly to
unvei the statue, which was covered with the ma
tional flag. AS soon as this was done the assembly
broke forth In applause.
Senator Trumbull, OF Illinois, In the course OF
his remarks said that previous to the passage OF the
act by Congress giving to Miss Ream the execution
OF this work a number Of persons had made stat
uettes and heads Of Lincoln, and she also made
bust from sittiIgs by Lincoln. This bere such q
striking resemblance to Lincoln that Congress or
dered from her statue Of life size. After giving
brief account OF the artist and her personal
history and OF her visit to Rome he said
she succeeded In procuring a block OF
marble without q stain-a fitting emblem
Of the pure character and spotless life OF him the
statue is intended to represent. Although Lincoln
was often seen in happy frame OF mind there were
periods with him OF great depression and Melan-
choy seemed to have marked him for her own.
When burdened with thought MS countenance
was what the artist mad endeavored to pres pre-.
serve In marble. Perhaps the highest COM
e sarne %as e readiness "a exc%
"This is Mr.. Lincoln" others would Judge OF the
Representative Culiom, OF Illinois, after saying
4 that, as q member from the former home OF MIR.
! Lincoln, 1t was deemed proper he should make q
that from the earliest history of the human the
worlds heroes and benefactors have been honored
statues. Geaius alone could make the marble
speak. The art OF sculpture and tue per.
tsei The degrees Of ns sin As hes
advance in form and beauty, SO the people rise in
present persons from all parts Of the republic, in
Guiding the Chief Magistrate and the makers and
Of the press Divine Providence has raised
men for great ,p The people
the saviour Of the country the greatest act recorded
in his history was the freeing OF four millions 0!
su s at sSs e @
speakers allusion TO Grant and Sherman was
loudly applanded; and, In conclusion, he said :;
name Of Justice, Union and Liberty
General Banks commenced his remarks with the
NJ han
any which occurred since the foundation OF the
asSed e
duties with such earnestness, sincerity and success
traitors. The great cause OF his success was the
welfare Of all men. In tile very beginning OF the
was with dicuity prevented rom I'M mailing yis
to General Mcclellan In Maryland, by which
he would have gs5e HE his safety ;0
relation 70 personal welfare. y want Mcclellan &
succeed he said "for his success Is our success
Lincoln had no personal animositles. Those who
differed from him were not necessarily estranged
was this quality that drew to him the hearts Of al
classes OF the people. 1t just that his figure o.
remind Us and our successors OF the virtue cnarac
ter success and devotion to the principles which he
Senator Patterson, OF New Hampshire, in the
course OF his remarks alluded to the fact that the
snos wheas s wh mead LAY w etecsd
sands now as then, assemble under this dome
uttering the language which Lincoln uttered at the
dedication OF the Gettysburg Cemetery as appllca
BILE to the present occasion, 1t might be said we
cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot
ballow this monument 1t is for US, the living rather
to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that
he began. No monument can increase the fame
OF Lincoln. IL shall live after this statue shall
have crumbled and mingled with the earth. We
have no Pantheon; but, with patriotic pride, we
decorate the Capitol with the image OF the great
ruler. In conclusion. he, as the previous speakers
had done, rendered to Miss Ream his sincere con
gratuations on her success.
Representative Brooks, OF New York, said 1t was
appropriate that, in unwilling statue like this. a
democrat should be given an opportunity to express
for himself and associates their common interes,
both In the man and in the monunent--rhe memo
rial Of the man. He who acted SO foremost q part
as Mr.. Lincoln In that portion Of our history--the
most exciting and most perllous save that OF oul
Revolutionary era--s entitled not only to such me
mortal as this but to have it placed here under the
great dome or the Capitol. We have no Parthenon
no Pantheon, no Vatican, no Pinakothek nor nc
Westminster Abbey wherein to entOmb our Illus
trious men, or to erect statues to their honor
Yet the time IL comng-nay, II Is In part come
when this Rotunda and the surrounding
halls and grounds will be nllod with pictures
paintings, frescoes. statuary br0Dzes ff1ezes has
reliefs and other monuments OF the worlds mem0ra
BILE men. But in tile work here that we are unyeil-
ing Is the double memorial OF not eny Chief Magis-
trate in tue prime OF life foully shot down. but the
memorial OF woman's handiwork, O woman's plas
tic art. The Paithenon, the Vatican, the great mu
seums OF Paris, Londsn and Berlin bring ever 10
cur eyes the works Of some Phidias OF
Praxitelss Of antiquity, but they show us
fngerwork Of the falrer sex, while here In this ro-
tnnda we now see the equal rights OF woman, IL not
with the hallot, with the pencil, the chise the
Artistic implements TO perpetuate the human form
divine. Fortunate the man thus sculptured / For.