New-York tribune., 1876-09-07
THE LAFAYETTE STATUE.
UNyAILING AND PRESENTATION OF THE
MEMORIAL

MAYOR wlCKHAM y. r. COUDERT, PRESIDENT
CATrELL OF IAFAYETTg COLLEGE, AND OTHERS.
Long before the hour appointed for the I'M
vang of the Lafayette statue In Unionsquare yester
day, tho crowds began to gather in the Immediate
vicinity and along the line of march of the procession
BY o'clock the streets in the neshborhood OF the
square rendered almost impassabe by the throng
AS usual upon such occasions people crowded tho stoos
OF private houses, bockadod the doorways filed tho
windows, and occupied every available space which
commanded view OF the parade or the subsequent
ceremonies At the square almost every tree and lamp
post held its cuging occupant and the space under
meath the horse of Washington was filed with
interested spectators.
At O'Clock the procession began to form on Fifth
ave. opposite the Hotel Brunswick the right resting on
TweDtysxhst The balconies OF the hotel were taste
fully decorated with tricolored and
and over the entrance the American and French hdgs
were intertwlncd. Owing to some misunderstanding
regarding the order OF march, much time was consumed
in bringing order out OF the prevailing confusion Sev-
eral of the militia regiments very late IN an
nouncng their intention take part In the parade and
the official programme had TO be considerably changed In
consequence The delay thus occasoned prevented tho
column from moving for more than two hours after the
appointed time. 1t was nearly $3.50 o'clock whom the
order march finally given. The route OF the pa
rade was down Fifth-ave to waverleyplace, through
waverley-placo to Broadway and up Broadway to
Unonsquare which the right OF the column reached at
about o'clock. The procession moved in the following
order led and followed by patoons OF police under COM
mand OF Capt. Steers
Grand Marshal +. A. Schilling and Adjutauts
First Observation-Disclosures Gray Troop OF Cavalry,
Brig-Gen. Yarian and Stuff, Seventh Regiment sixty
ninth Regiment Eighth Regiment United States Regular
Infantry and Artillery, Fire ENGINES Nos: l. A. l2 IL
30 80; Hook and Ladder Trucks; NOS 2 and 0; .,.
Battalion OF Gardes Laayetcs, Gardes Lafayettes OF
Troy Company ID of Second Regiment Compagnie Ita-
Third Division-French societies. &c. of New-York.
Fourth Dyislon-Guard OF Honor, 7lst Regiment;
Mayor Wickham and Consul-Genernl Breuil; Adj Gen.
Jas Il. Fry and staff Ma-Gen Shaler and Staf; city
officers and heads OF departments; French committee
Fifth Dvision-French musical societies.
sixth Observation-Disclosures from French societies OF
Quebec Montreal, Albany. and New-lork
Seventh DivisiOnMorton. Palestine, end Constantine
communicates of Knights Tempars and othcr Masonic
bodies
The small detachment OF regulars preceded by the
Governors Island band met with continual applause
during the march Upon the arrival OF the procession
at Unon-squarc tho militia regiments were placed on
the left OF the stand and the civic societies on the right
The decorations about the statue were very simple.
On each side were Hagsta each bearing the French
standard Near the foot Of each shield surmounted
with American ana French colors. Behind the statue
was third flagstaff attached to tho lalyards OF when
was an American flag that completely covered the statue
Around the stand which was placed NJ the ght OF the
statue the ground covered with laurel branches ana
flowers and wreaths laurel and cedar suspended
ton OF the neiShboriug OF Washington was sim
pIe trlco,or sash The small platform arranged for
the speakers was filed with members OF
the French Committee Veterans OF the war OF
1912 and Others front Of the stand seats had been
placed in a semcrcle far out into the street, and sur
rounded by ropes. These seats were filled long before
the procession made Its appearance and then room had
20 BIC made for many moro Among the persons occupy
ing these seats we're Peter Cooper Thurlow Weed,
Charles O'Conor Gen. Ward b. Burnett. Controller An
drew H. Green, Col. Morgan L. Smith, and Gen. smaller
Col smith commanded company at Poughkeepse a.
the time OF Iaay last visit to this country anu
afteryard was made colonel OF the 9th Regiment now
the 7th
EXERCISES AT TIE SQUARE.
The exercises at the statue began few minutes past
o'clock and were conducted throughout with great
promptness and dispatch. II was intended that the
Marseiaise Hymn should be played Ia concert by oil
the bands near tho platform but In the absence OF any
preconcerted signal they did not begin together and
several dld not finish the hymn until after Mayor Wick
ham had begun his speech This was consequently iost
TO "A large part OF the audience. The exercises were
opened with an overture by Grafula's 7th Regiment
Band after which william II. Martin called the assembly
to order
In presenting the statue TO the city, T. Breuil, the
Consul Gencral Of France addressing Mayor Wckham,
said
Mr. MAYOR: II is my good fortune to be nirustcd. by
virtue OF the Office which n with the pleasant duty OF
live or the city OF EswYork in the OF my conn-
trymen, the statue OF Gen lafayette In doing so aln
glad 10 avail myself OF this opportunity 70 express tnc
gratitude Of France for the warm and hearty sympathy
which the United states has manifested toward het on
various and recent occasions. To tho old residents 0f
NewYork tho promoters OF the celebration which has
brought us together muet leave me hon3r anu ,no
Measure OF paying the brave and chivalrons lAia-
yeIte the tribute OF respect which he
At this point IN the programme the United siaos nag
which vailed the statue swiftly raised by cord IN
the hands OF Bartholdi tho sculptor Amomcntary out
burst OF applause followed by music by the bands,
the singing OF the Marselase by tho Choral Society
.rEsperanoe" and a military salute OF ls guns The
sfae rests upon granite pedestal handsomely carved,
bo,rin in cold letters the single word Lafayette" II
stands upon tho fragment OF boat as II about to step
from its deck while underneath the bow OF tho boat the
waves are curling. The right hand OF tho statue holds
sword which points downward and Is pressed over the
heart and the left hand ana arm hre extended Ihrco
hearty cheers were given for Barhold the sculptor who
wos introduced by Mr. Mnrtn the chairman and bowed
bis acknowledgements In accepting the statue. Mayor
wickbam, addressing the ConsulGeneral OF France.
said:
Mr. CoxsU1-GENERAL The city Of New-York accepts
this statue with the thanks OF ali her people TO the
French Repubcrecprocatin tho feeling iu which the
gin is made. and entertaining the highest appreciation
who Was himself the most precions gift OF France To
these United states The sympathy to which you reer
and which all Americans c In tho fortunes am well
pcIng OF France, began with the advent OF Lafayette
forcfathers has 10 TINS "ay amG
innrihod with the admring and afectionato re-
gard with which now the fourth generation
~ freenen here cherishes his memory Is seen In the
Croyrtb nrosperty and power Of the nation whose lib
critics he efficiently helped to secure 80 long as MS
tory remains his name VIII he o household wOru
throughout the broad region between the Atlantic ana
Pacific Oceans where in each OF the states county OF
town il now honored In bearing 1t, and In his fame
every Frenclman Will share with every American
common heritage o. glory. Wc rejoice that New. YORK
has been selected RS the custodian Of this mennonite OF
him and setting mp here In this the most freqented
OF the public places OF tho city and In tue lmmedlte
neIohb6rbOod OF the statues OF Washington and Lincoln
we Summon all mankind 10 reverence tue examples they
hayo ipIf