Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-07-14
The unwilling of the Webster Statue,

The unwilling of the Webster Statue,
at Concord, N. H.. on the 18th ult.,
was an event of far more than mere
local interest.
1t is estimated that $4,000 people
gathered to witness the ceremonies.
In the State House Park, just opposite
the Capitol in which Webster first be-
gan his political career. stood his
statue, concealed for the time being
under the folds of the American flag.
The exercises were begun with the Gus
tomary military parade, the troops, un-
der the command of Brig.-Gen. Daniel
M. White, Chief, march
ing with precision. Then followed the
distinguished guests in carriages,
among whom, beside Gov. Hill, were
Hon. George D. Robinson and staff OF
Massachusetts,, Gen. Daniel E. Sickles,
William M. Evarts, John Wentworth,
William E. Chandler, Gov. Samuel E.
Pingree and staff of Vermont, Gov.
ROBBIE, of Maine; Lieut.. Gov. Oil. 81
Ames, of Massachusetts,; E. B. Wash
burne, of Illinois; Gen. E. G. Graham,
U. S. A.; ex-United States Senator Pat
terson and Senator Mitchell.
After the procession had arrived at
the Capitol the President of the day,
George w. Nesmith, LII. D., personal
friend of Webster, delivered an address
of welcome, and then Benjamin P.
Cheney presented the statue to the
Governor for the State of New Hamp-
shire in the following words:
Your Excellency: l am happy at the
fulfilment of an intention which l have
long cherished, of presenting to my
native state a statue of Daniel Web
ster. trust that it may be received by
you, in behalf of the people whose p)-
litical rights are intrusted to your care,
as an appropriate tribute to the mem
DRY of son of New Hampshire who as
a patriot was unexcelled. and as an or
ator and stateman was without peer.
l now deliver to Your Excellency the
conveyance of the statue to the State,
executed by the trustees having the
matter in charge.
He then delivered the deed to Gov.
Currier.
Miss Annie George, the blushing and
beautiful daughter of Col. John H.
George, pulled the string, the flag
that had covered the statue fell, and
Daniel Webster, in bronze, heroic size,
gazed enignantly at the multitude that
had come to do him homage. At that
moment the lowering clouds let fall a
shower of rain that battered upon the
monument as if to christeI it.
Gov. Currier accepted the gift as the
official representative of the State and
thanked Mr.. Cheney for lis generosity
in giving it. Then Samuel Bartlett, D.
d., IL. D., delivered an Grafton, re-
viewing the life of the illustrious orator
and statesman in whose honor the
celebration of the day was held. He
spoke in eloquent terms of his services
to the state and nation and concluded
by saying: ''And as long as her foun-
tains shall gush, her lakes shall CLEAN,
her rivers run and her mountains rise
shall the memory of Webster be fresh
in his native State.''
VIM. G. Sheppard, of North Scituate,
| Mass, native of New hampshire,
read an lode to Daniel Webster" and
the following letter from rresiden:
Cleveland was read:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June, IL.
Hon. Moody Currier, Governor of New
Hampshire.
DEAR SIR: l regret that pressing
official duties will not permit me to be
present at the exercises attending the
unwilling of the statue of Daniel Web
ster at Concord on Thursday next.
Every occasion which does honor to
this illustrious statesman is of extraor-
binary interest to all American citizens
since our pride in his career and
achievements is not in the least limit
ed by partisan influence or by any sen.
timert less than national. 1t would
be we'll if in the capital of every state
there stood 81 statue, such as Concord
boasts, which should not only prompt
the memory of a man, but which should
also keep alive through the coming
centuries the love and veneration of
the American people for true American
greatness. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.