The Cecil Whig., 1885-06-20
THE BARTHOLDI 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 grandcst and most mag
nificent gift ever made by one country to
another. The cost of the Statue was
$3.50, 900, which was raised among the
French people by popular subscription.
1t was left to America to prepare suit
able Pedestal for this colossal work.
About s1S5, 900 was raised through the
Amer' IN Committee, but that was $780,
900 short of enough to complete the Ped
estal on scale of magnitude correspond
ing to the Statue. When there appeared
no hope of securing the needed 500, 600,
and when it was declared by the Ameri
can Committee, 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 their
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 $4,000 people. Seldom has
there been seen in the history of our
country reader or more enthusiastic
response to the call of Patriotism. The
French ship bearing the Statue of Liber-
ty to us has already left its 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 erenew
! our appeal to the people. Let us come
upland complete this great and enduring
| National work. All the ages to come
will do us honor for the respect we have
! shown a 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
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, secretary, 33 Mercer
street, New York, will secure one of
these artistic statuettes, being Il fac
simile of Bartholdi's great work.
Let the good work go on until every
home in the land shall possess this proof
of ownership in the grandest word of
| modern times
'IIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD