New-York tribune., 1875-12-11
TIE PROPOSED CENTENNIAL STiTUE.

REPORT oP THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB COMMITTEE
on TIE LETTER OF NJ. LABoULAYE-NAIio'AL
CHARACTER or THE PLAN-ACIIoN By CON
GRESs SUGGESTED.
The following is the text of the report made
by the Hon. John Jay TO the Union League Club on
Thursday evening, behalf Of the special committee to
whom had referred The letter OF NJ. Labouayo Of
France In regard to tho statue OF Liberty which IA pro-
posed 10 erect OF the entrance Of New York harbOr The
report was accepted and adopted and on motion OF the
Hon s. b. Rnggcs it ordered 10 bo printed. The
Colnni tee consisted Of John jay. Elliot C. Cowdin, f.
n Townsend Richard Butler. and JOHN l.. Denny:
The succial Committee to whom referred the letter
addressed the President of the Union League club by
NJ. Edouard iaroulayc, Chairman oi Tue trrhch m.t
subject and report 10 the Ciub at its next meeting
respectfully roOr, that they have gwen to- th~ interesting
cotmuIrt ion careful consideration In TINS letlcr thc
strions author ana statesman, whose ihre as pit-
icist largely enhanced by MS Cos'itiionl History
of our Republic, ana who's, portrait nus adorii' our
walls informs ~ tl tie country OF Lafayette, on the
occasion ~ Centennial intends Ia offer 10 the United
states work Of 1nc ant worthy oi tho genius
of France, and which win testify 10 her
American brothers her participation ~ Their 10y
and her hdelty 20 her old traditions Tbc Fenc-Aintr-
Union Committee propose That tt tie entrance 10
York Jersey City ana Brook iy tu!l oi fic and where
ships meet from al parts OF t1e Wo,d sai no Grrcea
lie stltle to be tXecu,ct N ,opr'' %, ~ '1t1 V''e
lhan 100 fecD in hight. by Au. IUutLoldi the cc.e-
baied French Sculp,or-alrnGdy vel known IN America
md elevated on pedta! about - itet hI-h ~ hgnt
an auIcOe projected nom IL neal VIZ illuminate 'he sur
Tne monument remarks the letter. "wi he erected
by botn nations associated IA TINS fraterna achey
Ne .i smcabiy oif. our American friend, statue,
ana hope they thtr side Will meet tne expense Of
in advance OF its completion large part Of tie statue
in execution size VII! be sent 10 t"t eABihtoh at fh.a
dlDit yi.n "a view the whole mcnuMC mt; and IL Is
proposed tIat the two nations s3al ay together the
inst Oi to colossal monument Oh iAc ith Oi JuJ'
lS.G The subscription lass been Oi'uod IN France ile
~ aIo.n i%d ci i,ncr,n unon Committee is %ccontd
Ms
lave Tor y long tlme received many cnoJula~cLtnt3
fr or Aur,ilu friuds but is necessary that those
feeling. should unite around center 10 render or nc
tions DcaCOaS. VIC Thought We would 40 wen 80 apeai
IN Nc~-i OK - the IN hisIp ol tae Cp9l l.ai' CA
ideas We cordially request you 10 patl0lo our hhuSi-
taxing ia organizing committee with Mlch we MAJ nc
in cDirspoIdcncg, aud n forming the Initiative IN your
country ~ All necessary 20 accomplish tho real
jzation of our great and patriotic achievement.
among tAo honorary menbors Oi TINS committee Hfe
WashbuTn, our Minister 10 fIdncoi hi f,aitpui tue
French Minister at Washington, aud mo tidrquis lie
Noailes ambassador Oi France 81 Rome Ihc names
OF DE Ro.nambcaU and Do Lafayette recall tdeir great
ancestors aud their service to America while those Oi
Iaboulaye, Henri Martini DE Rcmlslt, DO Tocqucyie,
and their associates SHOW that In hs friendly tDuto 10
tho American pco pie their Centennial year fo united
names ol wide rtOWn identified with the trmpIs OF
modern France In law, history, lttteis and ant Tbs
fact enhances tIe significance or this popular movement
American people at period which, ~ remarked IN the
circular of tho COmln'itce, MARKS an ePOch oi
human history In recording ior the Nc" Noilu
tho foundation OF the Republic. aud recalling
10 France OF to most honorable page, IN her history
The fact enhances the great huhof laid Dy inc
ITenc-AmeTican Union Committee % tho Union League
(uO, IN asking 10 organize committee as center
around which the American people should be called upon
to unite. and which, IN rapOndenoc win the French
Committee should sec'ie 40 ehtouly .tto4 o he TWO
nations The history Ot the Club and The leading part
which bore In saving from disruption the integrity or
The National Union makes 1t easy understand now tLo
G1tinsIsled gentlemen OF France, VINO nave organized
this national Offering the centenary of our lcunitod
Rcpubic m looking Tor contral power through
organization the IIouch people IisLt the noic properly
address the American people with Vie" to united ana
cG,.ttyc action In "A common movement, should lave
turned 10 tins club assured oi iis sympathy and W'oh-
ing ard. But H. during the struggle lor national eN,
s.encc. tins association might have been fanny regarded
as representa-. the great body OF loyal American cti-
2rhs n eyerJ part O country, With mo Happy ter
n.natOn o tDo supreme ISSUE ana the return Oi peace
ana harmony and common devotion IN all sections 10
tle Constitution founded by Vr iatGeis-a Tcturn 80
much assisted aud warmly welcomed b! us-,here nave
naturally ariscn unGer the heatAul operation OF free
institutions among AN educated people new questions oil
national interest which thia Club longer represents
tbs united sentiment Ol loyal Americans, as IL repre-
rrntod the rcsOlye 10 mantaID the Nations! lie.
In this view, and gathering from the letter or nj.
Iab,ude and the accompanying circular that the pro
posed monument lnicndtdl u bo tue JOINT ao1 Oi tne
tNO nations, 10 wOud seem undesirable and indeed at
with that brVad intention that the conduct OF
the affair in america should be assulled by any body
whose memorable ad niOsl honorable uddltious should
awaken, however efFuncOusly, Ia any section OF our
country reooilaotOns Of recent differences winch yht
IN creating impression that might disturb ai pcrloet
unity Oi sentiment and action Wirn are desirable IN the
erection uf a monument solemn anniversary
commemorative OF the UabrOaen ifenJslP ot tho Two
people; Force seems to DO added to tlls
mated by tie caAnericih Union ,Vinmee 10. the
erection 81 t.o r,ao 10 an i,aua 'rignsins TO ana
would bo necessary iOr s erection. and whesc Con
gre.,ional action would De roqur"d ,or ITS asnsrnrt
.OBpoti0D of the prcocni cOsi swhclo, Oi The great
political parties of ihe Republic the senate has major
ity representing thc ANA tue House has majority
representing me othrr-soeirs 10 pdci II es'Hcaiiy
proper and desirable iVT the poFcct accOmp,hnen Of
the intent II the giit that tar -i'rot 'hnuid o pr
seu;cd IN purely national ush'. l' H't nsi Laat