New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-27
REPORT OF ROYAL PHELPS.


glory for ever and ever Amen.
REPORT OF ROYAL PHELPS.
Royal Phelps then made the following report IN
behalf of the committee " ich had had charge OF
this memorial work:
Mr.. GEORGE W. LANE President Of The Chamber OF o0D
It is now more than three years since Mr. Elliot c.
Cowdn distinguished member OF the Chamber Oh Eqn
body the Subject Of erecting to commemorate
the Inauguration Of George Washington as first Presdent
geceved and committee was appointed by the pres
dent Mr. Samuel d.. Babcock, to carry Il into eject,
A. A. Low, Royal Phelps, Elliot G. Cowdin, BENJAMIN e.
Arnold Lew Morton David bows James T Hd1itt
Joseph s. Lowrey, Edwin d. Morgan, Morris K Jesup,
John D. Jones, George Kemp Charles Lanier rIeEpopt
SHERMAN Samuel shethar, Henry T. Spaulding Ohver
hTyi a commee chose subcommittee of the following
members: Royal Phelps a. Low, b SntIehdeH'
Morris sssTp M MsTe sken
Governments permission for erecting the monument on
the e1 ssP hnd public
of the Chamber and were met by cordial response IA
W which aaa ss tSe SnSshea sculptor Mr. John
Ward making the monument and he has served us 10
now. MI President in behalf of the committee rep
resent hand the charge OF the monument over TO you ana
ask for our discharge lApplause
Immediately on the conclusion Of Mr.. Phelps's
speech cord was pulled by Governor Cleveland on
Aucaigne on the other, and in moment the drapery
fell off and the statue of Washington revealed
in all its noble simplicity and beauty. lt was
deftly and quickly done. There was a pause for
few seconds and then q hearty and spontaneous
cheer arose from the crowd of delighted spectators
This was the sculptor's triumph. Ii was popular
acknowledgment that he had spoken as eloquently
with his chise had any of the orators of the day
with their tongues full description of the statue
was published in THE TRIBUNE ON Sunday.
The unwilling of the statue was signalled from
the Equitable Building, and the forts acknowl-
edged it by a salute, but the sound barely reached
the scene of the ceremonies. After the unwilling of
the statue and the cheers with which it was
greeted had subsidized Mr.. Lane said:
In accepting the report of your Committee, II Is not
necessary Mr. Phelps for me 10 express in my APP
probation of the manner in wich you and your asso-
the statue itself the best evidence of their good udg
mcnt I'm selecting Mr.. Ward as their artist ana or the
fidelity with whichthcy have discharged the trust com
mitted TO them.
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
Addressing President Arthur, Mr. Lane said:
As President OF the Chamber of Commerce of the State
NewYOrk the pleasant duty dcvOlyes upon me to ten
the custody Of this statue OF Washington erected by cit
liens OF NewYork pursuant TO Act of Congress to com
memorate his taking the oath OF Office on this spot AL
first President.
The President replied in these words:
Mr. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS: 1t f. fitting
that other lips than mine should give voice TO the sen
not fail 10 inspire In every heart To myself mas been as
eTcises, and shaft not exceed its becoming limits
Ihave this historic spot where the first President
its Constitution simply TO accept in behalf OF the Gov
eminent this tribute 10 his memory. lCheers;l Long
NAV the noble statue you have here set stand where
yo, have placed H. monument alike 10 yOur generosity
and public spirit, and to the wisdom and virtue ana
genius of the immortal Washington prolonged ar
plause.l
ADDRESS OF GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
George William Curtis delivered the Grafton of
the day standing on the same stone on which Wash
ington had taken his first oath of Office 1t was as
follows:
The great series of Revolutionary centennial
celebrations ends y upon this day and upon this spot
The momentous events that marked the opening the c
mnation and the close of the conflict, hnye been duy
commemoraed and for eight years the full-stretched
memory OF the country harp thousand strings swept
by patriotic emotion has resounded with the heroic music
of the Revolutionary story To-day the Revolutionary
story ends At this hour hundred years ago. the last
British sentry was withdrawn. The imperial standard
OF Great Britain fell at the fort over which 1t had noaed
fora hundred and twenty years. and In Its place the stars
and Stripes OF American independence flashed III inc
SUM- Fleet and army, royal flag and Iscaret UNIFORM
coronet and ribbon every sign and symbol OF foreign a-
oriy which from Concord to Saratoga and from sara
toca 10 Yorktown had sought 10 sbdue the Colonies
vanished from these shores. Colonial and provincial
America had ended National America had bcgun ana
after the lapse of hundred years. the OF the
hone and promise OF National nativity Is still the
paan OF our power and assured prosperity glory
10 God IN the highest, peace earth good will Ia mani
Yet a more sorTowfu departure history does not
record In that huInating moment THE fruit of the
yctores OF the elder Pitt. which had rdled the globe
with British glory and had supplied the prctext for tax
ing America cumbled 10 ashes The catastrophe was
not that an English army yanqushed, II was that
England was wounded. II not field lost It was an
empire rent asunder. II was not blundcr OF military
strategy II was moral characterization. As her wisest
statesman had predicted England had fallen upon her
own sword; and she had drawn 1t against herself In
stng AT her kindred In America, she strnck Mt the
pnlItical traditions, the immenoIia rights. the jealous
ecr a M The are rustic eontne4tas Who had defended
those rights from Bunker Hin TO Newburg and who RS
tnr1ed hher on this day hundred years ago marched
through these streets they had marched to the battle
fields OF the Revolution keeping step TO the steady drum
and winning at last great victory for tho English
speaking race But none the less the political SEPARATION Ion
OF the two countries was complete England had dc
cincd the greatest opportunity that was ever offered TO
Se sa1 Of her birhght with the sturdy scfreance
of ndomitabe conviction and OF conscious power turned
10 carry forward new nation under other conditions
and through other institutions, the cardinal principles of
constitutional liberty
WHAT THE DAY CONTEMPORARIES.
This day therefore commentaries the end OF the old
order and this spot the beginning Of the new. With the
evacuation Of NewYork monarchy ended; with the in
augraton of Washington the national republic began.
The result indeed had been foretod by the OF
events through ali the colonial period which eliminated
I'm the total overthrow of British power The early New
England colonial leagues against In
dian neutrality-suspicious. PeDns suggestion Of O provincial
congress-the military association, for common interest
and with common impulse, In the old French and Eng
lsh wars-Franklin's scheme Of union at Albany-the
first doubt and dstrst Of British authoityhc morning
s,n OF Tie Revolution In Jonathan Maybew's preaching
fbe thunderbrst OF James Oss plea against the wrts
OF sssstance-the keen and fatal logic OF John NORM
tho ery warning of Patrick Henry 10 the King-tho
sponse OF New-York and vrgnia--the Stamp Act Con-
gress-and at last following the shots on Lexington
Green and the voey at Concord Bridge the varying ior