New-York tribune., 1872-01-18

great work Of which Franklin was the beginner-I
rejoice that he has been spared to meet with us on THIS
to be the proper successor OF Franklin the one
taught the world how to tame the lightning, ana the
other taught how to render 10 most useful as
messenger OF Intelligence across continents ana oceans
80 that oday, by the invention OF Morse the WnOle
world IL placed In instantaneous COMMUNICATION ana
any interesting event is flashed as by the lightning from
one end of the habitabe globe to the other 50 may
honor OF Morse, present, in behalf OF Capt De
Groot this statue OF our great exempiar 10 our nei
gent and, trust appreciative profession
After another air by the band the following address OF
acceptance made by c. C. Savage President OF the
Board of Trustees of the NewYork Typographical So
cety.
ADDRESS BY Mr.. SAVAGE.
ALBERT DE GROoT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PREss :
The agreeable duty has been assigned me to represent
the Typographical Society on ms
occasion and In its name and on behalf OF the neDers
OF the Press to accept the sacred trust you toaay cO
tOdan Of valued treasure Is honor that any society,"
any body men, would appreciate as the strongest eA
On this colossal statue Of Benjamin Franklin, the ac
Rnowedged patron saint of the printers or America ana
peer among the Immortal names IN history, you na.e
concentrated your love of art and manifested your ad
mration Of the art preseryatve OF all arts" And now
mating this noble the press and printers Of
New-YOrk On its chaste and massive pedestal, simple
whom it is Designated to portray, ever may it impers6
ably stand You have watched the details OF the creation
OF this statue IN the thoughtful mind and modelling hand
OF the artist Ernst Passmann, with all the zeal and ten
derness OF parent for his offspring And thank him
ana yOu In the name OF the printers OF NewYOrk that
you have not departed from the real Franklin love
to cherish TO give ideal hero clothed in the toga OF
an ancient Roman or a NEUROLOGICAL Greek There he
stands emDodying our idea OF the printer, the phoso
pher the Statesman There is the dress which Franklin
wore before sages diplomats and kings How wildly it
recalls the suit in which he appeared at the signing Of
the treaty OF peace with Great Britain 17s3 Which, ten
years before, he declared he would never again
untll he had "signed England's degradation and
OF the characteristics OF the calm, sturdy quaint
mon sense. which marked and made Ben Franklin stand
OUT among the Intellectual giants of his day with clear,
positive individuality,
1t is appropriate that this statue should be erected in
this center OF trade in the very midst OF our craft
work, instead OF in Central Park; for Franklins life
was devoted to practical hard work rather than to the
ornamental and the recreatiye Could Franklin step
into the mammoth printing and newspaper offices which
surround this mOnument-cOuld he look into yonder
PostOfce, what thoughts and contrasts would they
suggest When he first visited New York. in 1923, not
newspaper was published IN this city, and only one
later, he appointed Postmaster in Philadelphia the
whole mail Of the country would not equal that which
passes through city office in an hour But TINS
is not the place Is mine the privilege, OF prOnOuncg
a eulOgy the life and works Of HIM who is 50 truth
fully presented in the bronze before US Else gladly
would / recount TO you his trials aud successes,
and the which led thereto; and speak
of his maxims which almost the wisdom Of inspra
ton would remind yon of Frankn's habits OF indus
try and rugality whereby lie early acquired ease III
business wealth Of his answering integrity, which
secured him the seadast confidence OF his cOunrymen
Of his fidelity and patriotism which brought him the
highest honors and offices in the gift cOunry OF his
sagacy and justice, which enabled him 10 cope with and
master the most astute statesmen of Europe; OF his
stud0usness and research which gave him the key 20
unlock the Divine Arcana and present to the world
priceless treasures and OF his temperance, which
served a sound mind in healthy body for more than
fOur-scOre years In word, FRANKLIN diigent
whatever department he labored TO leave 1t better
than he found l and he stamped the whole with the
simplicity genius and grandeur Of his unaffected man.
hood Surely such man Is cowOrker with the DEITY,
upft humanity and bring the race nearer to freedom,
to brotherhood and TO God. . 80
Prof. Morse, welcome your participation IN TINS
scene for no hand deemed worthy To lift the vail
as yours Franklin caught the electric Thought from
heaven but IL reserved for you to yoke It's untaned
power 10 the service Of industry and intelligence;
Wherever the iron nerves traverse the earth there VIII
be and linked the names OF Franklin and Morse.
Albert De or9ot we thankfully receive this deed of
successors TO guard 10 with the vigilance Of love- May
God bless you for your noble gifti
The multitude slowly dispersed at the close OF Mr..
savage's address but smaller crowd continued in adj
mirng attendance az the foot Of the statue during the
entire day