Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-26

the wives of many army and naval officers, with
tn re-, ladies' OF the French party were on board.
The land procession was to have started at 9
o'clock, but Mt that hour it had only begun to
form. The Fifth United States Artillery, COM
manded by Col. John Hamilton, and tho Engi-
neer Corps took their position in front of Secre-
tary Mhitneys house, at Fifty eighth street
and Fifth avenue. q few minutes after o'clock
: vt came the Old Guard, who stood near the
49,. -. nom bers Of his cabinet to leave Secretary
night -S-N' '-1'
Promptly at 10 o'clock the President, accom-
panied by Secretary Of State Bayard descended
the steps and entered an open carriage. They
We're followed by Secretary Of the Navy Whit
the Interior Lamar, Irivats Secretary Lament.
Rear Admiral Luce and staff, and Maj. Whipple.
n II, nc old Guard preceded the carriages, and at
avenue. Both sides of the avenue were crowded
with people, who waved their hats and applaud
Ell loudly rs the Presidents carriage passed. On
all see streets, from Central Purk down to the
reviewing stand on Tws nty-fourth street. the
dii'erent military companies and civic organize
tions were formed. The carriages containing
the President aud Cabinet were followed by a
battalion OF $50 police.
The United States Naval Brigade came next,
with the Engineers Corps, which consisted Of
then fell i'll line, together with detachment Of
MASSACHUSETTS, volunteer militia. These were
1e Meftb n sy the S.. SEVENTH Eighth
nents, and the French societies, num-
bering 2,503 men, The Governors OF Mas
sachusetts. Main, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode
their staffs, together with the United State
Judges. entered carriages attic Windsor Hotel
and fell into line behind the French ascot
atoms. After those followed divisions made up
OF mayors and official from various cities, visit
ing policemen and fremen veterans OF 1872
Grand Army posts, civic societies, tho Volunteer
Firemens Association. Knights of Pythias Of
Indiana numbering 80 men, oddfellows, and
other organizations.
The President reached the reviewing stand mt
Madison Square at 10 40 o'clock. He was greet
ed with hearty cheers as he drove up in front
OF the stand. Secretary Bayard rode in the
carriage with him. After the President had
members Of the French delegation were pre- re-.
scented to him. Most of the space on the stand
was reserved for the French guests.
Music greeted the officials and guests as they
landed on the island and assembled about the
statue. Then signal gun WAS fired, and the
Rev DIR. h. s. Seorrs opened the ceremonies
with prayer. Count Ferdinand de Lesseps then
delivered TN address on behalf Of the Franco
American union and Senator William NJ.
Evarts mado the presentation address on be-
half of the pedestal committee. The flag,
which had until then concealed the face of the
statue, was withdrawn, and the features of the
Goddess of Liberty were greeted with a salvo of
artillery from all the guns in the harbor. Three
batteries took part in the salute steamers in the
bay blew their whistles, and the men-of-war re-
turned the salute from their guns.
After music President Cleveland was intro
States accept with gratitude from their brethren
of the Fronch Republic the grand and complet-
ed work of art we here inaugurate. This token
OF the affection and consideration Of the people
OF France demonstrates the kinship Of Kepub-
lies, and conveys to US the assurance that in
our efforts to commend to mankind the excel
will, We still have beyond the American Cont
nenJ steadfast ally. We are not here to-day
to bow before the representation OF a fierce
and warlike god, filled with wrath and ven-
geanCe. but 1OyOuHlV cOntemDlat0
own deity keeping watch and ward be-
fore tor the open gates Of America, and greater
her hand thunderbolts OF terror and Of death,
she holds aloft the light which Eliminates the
way to mans enfranchisement. We will not
forget that liberty has been made her home p;
nor shall her chosen altar be neglected. Will
ing y,otaries will constantly keep alive it's fires,
sister republic in the East. Reflected thence
and joined with answering rays, a stream Of
light shall pierce the darkness OF ignorance
and mans oppression, until liberty enlightens
An address was then made by the representa-
tive of France, M. Letaivre, Minister Plenipo-
more music by Gilmore's Twenty second Regi-
ment Band, and then Chauncey M. Depew
delivered the commemorative address. We
dedicate this statue he said, "we dedicate this
statue to the friendship Of nations and the peace
of the world. The spirit of liberty embraces oil
races in common Brotherhood; it voices in all
1uuSutS6S UQe Sulu6 u0euS Guu hSplThGlOuS.
* Peace and its opportunities for material
| progress and the expansion of popular liberties
sends from here fruitful noble ession to a / the
world. It Will teach the people of all countries
| that in curbing the ambitions and dynastic pur-
| poses OF princes and privileged clnsses. and in
| cultivating the brotherhood OF man, lie the true
| road to their acknowledgements. The friendship
of individuals, their unselfish devotion to each
| other, their willingness to die in each others
stead, are the most tender and touching OF
| human records, they are the inspiration oil
voutb nd the so1aee n M Int moth II n
| is 80 beautiful and sublime two great peo.
! pies of alien race and Language transmitting
| down the ages love begotten in gratitude and
| strengthening as they increase in power and as
| simulate in their institutions and liberties"
The speaker reviewed the relations of the col:
| onies with France during the Revolution, and
| paid q warm tribute to Lafayette, the spirit Of
| whose life he said, was the history OF the time
which made possible this statue" and whose
the b
aristocracy of France, in their brilliant uni
forms, and the farmers and frontiersmen Of
America. in their faded continentals, bound
brothers in the knighthood of liberty
With emulous eagerness to be first III
At the death while they shared the glory
and compelled the surrender Of CORVALLIS and
his army. While this practically ended the war
it strengthened the alliance and cemented thu
| friendship between the two great peoples
| To-day, in the gift by one and the acceptance by
| the other of this colossal statue, the people O
| the two countries celebrate their unity IN re-
| publican institutions, in Governments founded
upon the American idea, and in their devotion
| to liberty Together they rejoice that its spiri
has penetrated all lands and is the hopeful
| future OF all peoples"
The speaker concluded as follows. II de.sut
| ly believe that, from the unseen and unknown
two great souls have come to particir.ie in thi
celebration. The faith in which taey died fn!
filled, the cause for which Trey bettled TIL
unphant, tho people they 1esed in the full en-
Of the rights 5G IN an 51ey
Washington and lafayette Join in the glad &C
claim Of Franco and the United States to libert,
enlightening the world"
aOid Hundred" was played by the band, AM
the assembly joined in singing the doxology
The ceremonies were closed with the benedic
ton, pronounced by the IT. Rev. Henry Pot
ter. D. D., Assistant Bishop Of the Diocese Q
New York. A national salute was then fire.
simultaneously by all the batteries in the hal
| Dor, atioat and ashore
A POETS TRIBUTE.
Poem Wv John G. Whittier on the Gift q
| France to America.