The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-29


ings, SO close and compact were their ranks.
On the island itself was peaceful anu quiet
scene until the arrival Of the guests. Liberty,
the center of attraction, stood with her face COW
cred by the French tri-color. ready to reveal her
placid countenanfe to the world when the proper
time should come. To the south of the statue,
at the bsse of the pedestal, was platform large
enough to accommodate the two thousand
guests that bad bean invited, and against the
pedestal, facing the assemblage. was stage for
the speakers. This was tastefully decorated
with the flags of France and America, and in
the center, above the stage, hung large shield
bearing the name "a. Bartholdi" at the top, and
the word Liberty" in the middle.
At about half-past 2 the din Of whistles and
firing of cannon announced the arrival of the
French guests, and soon NJ. De Lesseps, accom-
panied by his daughter and Nine. Bartholdi, fol-
lowed by the other distinguished visitors,
mounted to the platform. They were met by
the American committee, who escorted them to
the seats arranged for them directly in front
of the speakers stand. Mime. Bartholdl,
De Lesseps. La Faivre and Admiral Jaures were
conducted to the stand. While waiting for the
presidential party, Gilmores band played ma
tional airs, and made the disagreeable waiting III
the rain as pleasant as possible. The scene on
scured, for the most part the faces of the audi
ence and the prominent thought was to protect
ones self, and sometimes this was done at the
expense of his neighbor.
After half hour of waiting. deafening din
of whistles, booming Of cannon, ringing of bells
and shouts of people sent the news that FRESH
dent Cleveland aud party were nearing the
island. AS the cutter Dispatch, with the President
on board, made its way through the harbor the
yards Of all the men-ofwar were manned
and the presidential salute of twenty-one guns
was given. In few moments President Cleve-
land, accompanied by General Schofeld, Major
general Banks and Leverett Saltonstall official
ly representing Massachusetts; Judges. Law
renee, Hail. Hoar and Bookstaver, appeared and
proceeded to the stage amid the chsers of the
assemblage, which remained standing during
their passage to the stand. General Schofeld
came to the front of the stand, and raised his
hand to stop the whistling which was resound-
ing from all the steamers in the harbor, but the
attempt to begin the ceremonies was futile, and
for fully fifteen minutes longer the noisv demon
stration was kept up. Dr. Storrs however. be-
gan his prayer in the midst of IL ALL and by the
time he had finished the salvo had ceased.
DIR. Storrs prayed for prosperity upon the pres
ent company, and that the ceremonies OF the
unwilling might have Gods blessing. He gave
thanks for the kindly affection from one great
people toward another, and asked that we might
make a right use Of the occasion; that no vio-
lence of the elements or destroying earthquakes
would ever render this great work futile, and
that we might advance in the arts and sciences.
He asked for prosperity for the officers of the
two nations, and that whatever was good in his
tory might continue. The preacher ended with
the Lords Prayer, in which the people joined.
General Schofeld then introduced NJ. De
Lesseps, who spoke in French. M. De Lesseps,
in his brief address. said:
II have eagerly accepted the gracious INVITA-
ton extended by the government of the great
American Republic. generous idea has in
splred the creation of the statue of Liberty; it
honors equally those who conceived and those
who have shown their appreciation by accepting
it. Liberty enliehtening the world! Great bea-
con rising from the waves at the threshold of
free America! Setting foot on these shores IN
der its rays. men will recognize that they have
reached a land where individuality develops in
all its strength, whore progress is religion,
where great fortunes are made popular by char
liable foundations, and by the encouragement of
education and science becoming the seeds of
abundant harvests for posterity. You
have reason, citizens OF America.
You have achieved the progress of your hundred
years by this cry and your intrepid.ty. In
speaking to you of the sympathy of France
feel that know how to express the thought of
all my countrymen. No painful or somber mem
DRY exists between these two peoples that have
but one rivalry-that OF progress. We accept
your inventions as you accept ours, without
jealousy. You love the men who dare and who
persevere. / say as you say, Go ahead We
comprehend one another when l use this phrase.
feel. then, at home among you. The illus
trious descendants of the nobility of France
who traversed the Atlantic a century ago. bring.
ing to the dawn of your independence the de-.
voted aid of our national sympathy and dream
ing of great destlnies for you-their dreams
have been surpassed A century later our SYM
of France today behold America powerful and
free, and they present to her this emblem to pro-
claim that she has grown for liberty.
'An English historian. Hepworth Dixon, has
regarded your constitution as an exotic, born
not Of your SOIL but in the atmosphere of
mn ha Nv
your law is thoroughly American, and am
proud to testify, also, that one may find in it a
trace of French origin. 1t is pleasure for me
co speak thus with open heart and to feel that
my words are treasured as those of true friend.
''Soon, gentlemen, we will find ourselves as
sembled again to celebrate another peaceful con-
quest Adieu until we meet again at Panama
where the North American flag of thirty eight
stars will wave by the side of the banners Of the
independent South American states, forming in
itv, the peaceful and fertile alliance of the
Franco-Latin and the Anglo-Saxon races"
When NJ. De Lesseps had finished his address
there were loud cries for Bartnoldi, who came
forward and bowed, and waved his hat to the
speech from the sculptor, General Schofeld
abruptly cried out: "Mr. Bartholdi has moth
ing to say, so there's no use talking about it,"
and announced Senator Evarts. who presented
the statue in the name of the American COM
mittee to the President of the United States
Mr.. Evarts said:
''Nfr. President-The scene upon which this
vast assemblage is collected displays a transac-
ton in human affairs which finds no precedent
or record in the past, nor in the long future, we
may feel assured, will it ever confront its coun-
terpart or parallel. How can we fifty frame in
words the sentiments, the motives the emotions
which have filed and moved the hearts and
minds of two great nations, in the birth of this
noble conception, the grand embodiment, the
complete execution of this stupendous monu-
ment, now unveiled to the admiring gaze of
men, and emblazoned in its coron alton of the
finished work. with the plaudits of the world9
What ornaments of speech, what eloGuence of
human voice, what costly gifts of the gold,
frankincense and myrrh of our hearts tribute
can we bring to the celebration of this
consummate triumph of genius, Of SKILL of la
Dor, which speaks to-day and will speak forever,
the thoughts, the feelings. the friendships of
these two populous, powerful and free repub-
lies. knit together in their pride and JOY at their
own established freedom, and In their hope and
purpose that the glad light of liberty shall en-
tighten the world? The genius, the courage, the
devotion of spirit, the indomtable will Of the
great sculptor, Bartholdi, whose well earned
fame justified the trust committed to him, to-
gether wrought out in stubborn brass and iron
the artists dream, the airy conception
of his mind, the shapely sculpture of
his cunning hand, till here it stands, upon it's
firm base. as if a natural playmate of the ele-
faa vi n.,h ar from, oil xuip1c thar