The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-01
THE BARrHOLDI STATUE.

Our Sister Republic of France gave us
the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty in com
memoration of our attainment of the
First Century of National Independence.
1t is at once the grandest and most mag
niticent gift ever made by one country t"
another. The cost of the Statue Was
$3.50 600, which was raised among the
French people by a popular subscription.
1t was left to America to prepare suit
able Pedestal for this colossal work.
About $3.50 600 was raised through The
American Committee, but that was $780,
600 short of enough to complete the Ped
estal on a scale of magnitude correspond
ing to the Statue. When there appeared
no hope of securing the needed 500. 900,
aud when it Was declared by the Ameri
can G )mmittee, in an address issued to
the public, that if the money was not
forthcoming the statue would have to be-
returned to the people who out of then
admiration for our free institutions and
love of patriotism had given it, the honor
of our country was thrown into jeopardy,
and it was at this .juncture, now two
months ago, that the New York World
issued an appeal to the people to make
up the sum required by popular subscrip
ton. The response has been wide and
| deep and general. At the close of the
| eighth week we have about $50, 900 on
hand which has been contributed by
more than 50,0 people. Seldom has
| there been seen in the history of our
| country a reader or more enthusiastic
response to the call of Patriotism. The
! French ship bearing the Statue of Liber
| ty to us has already left it's port on the
| the other side of the Atlantic, and is ex-
pected to arrive here about the 10Th OF
June. 1t is hoped that the Worlds fund
will be far on the way towards 500, 600
ere the gift of our Sister Republic shall
come into New York harbor. We renew
our appeal to the people. Let us come
up aud complete this great and enduring
| National work. All the ages to come
will do us honor for the respect we have
shown noble and patriotic sentiment
| Subscriptions need not be large Drops
of water make the ocean, and the dimes
and dollars of the people will prepare a
place for Liberty's feet.
A subscription list is open at the WING
office, and subscriptions of any amount
from one cent up, will be received and
| forwarded. The names of all contribu-
tors. and the amount contributed, no
matter how small, will be published in
the WING. and also in the New York
World. We trust that a good list of
names of patriotic citizens of Cecil will
be sent in.
The committee are now sending out to
each person subscribing one dollar to the
fund a miniature of the statute in nickle.
We are glad to learn that the beautiful
little statuettes are being subscribed for
throughout the length and breadth of
our country. This is as it should be, for
it is the noble gift of France to the
United States. Every lover of liberty
should subscribe 81, which, if sent to
Richard Butler, sccr try, 33 Mercer
street, New York, will secure one OF
these artistic statucttes, being fac
smile of Blrtholdi's great work.
Let the good work go on until every
home in the land shall possess this proof
of ownership in the graEdcst word OF
modern times
'LIBERTY ENIIGHTENING TIE WORLD"