Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-29


speakers and principal guests From the
statue gorgeous French flag floated
French and American airs were chanted, and
the vast assemblage went wild with 'enthus-
lasm, Senator Evarts, as chairman of the
American Liberty statue committee, deliv-
cred a lengthy address as follows:
The scene upon which this vast assembly Is
collected displays a transaction in human af-
fairs which finds no precedent or record in
the past nor in the long future we
may feel assured, will it ever confront it,
counterpart or parallel How can we fifty
frame in words the sentiment, 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 en-
bodiment, the complete execution of this stu
pendous monument, now unveiled to the adj
miring gaze of men and emblazed in it, cor
onatlon of the finished work with the pludits
of the world? What ornament of speech,
what eloquence of human voice, what costly
gifts of gold, frank-incense and myrTh
of our hearts triCute. can we
bring TO the celebration of this triumph Of
genius, of skill, of labor, which speaks to
day, and will speak forever, the thoughts,
the feelings, the friendship Of these two popu-
lous, powerful and free republics, knit to-
gether in their pride and JOY at their own es-
pose that the glad light of liberty shall en-
tighten the worldf
For this arduous theme the American COM
mlttee has had the good fortune TO presept
an eminent citizen and accomplished orator,
from grateful and pleased attention to whose
eloquence the simple office the committee has
asked me 10 discharge will not
long detaln this eXpectant multitude
In the conflict which agitated and divided
the people Of the United States and aroused
the loyalty and patriotism of the country, to
the maintenance of contributed liberties the
hberty-loving people of France felt intense
and solicitors interest. When the issue of this
struggle upheld and confirmed the govern
ment maintained its unbroken unity, and
made all its people equal and free, the lib
erty-loving people of France hailed the tri-
umph with an immense and vivid enthuSi-
aSIn Nor was tins enthusiasm to be salts
f1ed, but some adequate and permanent eX-
preston of their sympathy in our
fiery trial, and congratulations at the
absolute supremacy of the principles and in
stitutions which had been in peril and had
come out from II, without the smell of fire
upon their garments. To this energetic move
ment of the French people there was added
their historic and momentous friendship in
securing an Independence, and the reciprocal
influences which had shaped and confirmed
the free and equal institutions of the two
countries, and 10 the working of all these
motives and sentiments of ardent and
generous people, we owe-the world owes
this visible and perpetual embodiment of
the love of liberty animating the two ma
tons, which stands before us to-day
To this realization the people of France
brought the fervor and inspiration of La
Boulaze and Henry Martin, the Lafayettes
and their illustrious companions, TO spread
abroad in all intelligent and upright minds
the zeal OF their own high purposes. They
drew from the well furnished members of
their accomplished and distinguished artists
the genius, the courage, the devotional spirit
the lndomitahle will of the great sculptor,
Bartholdi, whose weil-earned name justified
the trust committed to him. and whose work
covers with its splendOrS the gifted artist,
his llluStrious art, and the happy country
which gave him and his labors TO all this |
work. They furnished the exquisite artisan
ship. and the constructive skill and scientific
training and honest and hearty labor, which |
have together wrought out in stubborn brass |
and iron, the artists dream. the airy concep-
ton of his mind, the shapely sculpture of his |
cunning hand, till here it stands upon its |
irm base as if u natural playmate of the ele- |
ments, fearing no harm from all the winds |
that blow
This people of France, too, contributed |
from many slender means. and of their free |
will, the aggregated wealth demanded for so |
vast an undertaking all from their hearts |
As well as from theIr-purses, and all for love |
Of liberty abroad, and in hearty homage to |
the friendship of the great republics
The committee have no occasion to insist |
upon the share which the people of the United |
States have taken in the humber office of |
furnishing a pedestal not unworthy of |
The statue, nor unworthy of our !
for this noble gift and apprecia- |
ion of the generous disposition which |
IT. In the completed work of the |
pedestal the genius of the architect. the sa-
sacIty, the varied scientific and practical |
accomplishment OF the eDglneer-in- chief, the |
'ons tructlye faculty and experience of the |
builder and the manifold and mastery per |
ormances of skilled wUlkmcn upon this pro- |
,lgious structure, in the eevating and |
occurring Of the statue have all been com
Iined to set ont the statue for the admira-
ION OF our own people and of all corners to I
'ur shures
As with the French people 50 with or-
,w1, the whole means of the grcnt ex,endi-
ute OF the work has come from the free con-
ributlons of the people themselves and thus
he common people of both nations may Justly
lolnt TO greater, a noher monument
n and OF the history and progress and wei
are OF THE human race than emperors or
Kings or governments have ever raised
MIR. PRESIDENT: Upon the recommenda
lon of the president of the United States,
congress authorized and directed the presi-
lent to accept the colossal statue of Liberty
the world when presented by
'ltiZells OF the French republic and to tieSig- |
tate and set apart for the erection thereof a
iItable site upon either Governors or Bed
oes Island, in the harbor of New York, and
ipon the completion thereof shall cause the
ame to be inauglTated with such ceremo-
Gn,-y 20. e l
'ur people for the expressive and felicitous
memorial of the sympathy of the citizens of
1ur sister republic
The statue on the Fourth of July. 1881. in
farls, was delivered to and accepted by the
government, by the authority OF the presi-
lent OF the United States, delegated to and
xecuted by Minister Morton To-day, in
he name of the citizens of the United States
Who have completed the pedestal, and raised
hereon the statue, and of the voluntary COM
nlttce who have executed the will Of their
declare in your presence,
md in the presence of the distinguished
,uests from France, and of this august as
emblage of the honorable and honored men
II our land, and of this countless multitude,
hat this pedestal and the united work of the
wo republics is completed, and surrendered
o the care and keeping of the government
md the people of the United States.
Inc statue which was unveiled Thursday
'entitled Liberty Enlightening the World"
he name was bestowed upon it by NJ Bar
holdi. The idea aimed at was the SYMBOL
alton of the progress of civilization and the
rowth of freedom as expressed in the
epublican form of government 1t
vas also meant to perpetuate the
Of the French and American ma
ions begun in revolutionary DAYS when this
ountry was struggling to throw off the
English yoke The hight of the statue from
he base to the torch is 157 feet inch foun-
alton OF the pedestal to torch 305 feet
nches; from heel to top of head Iii feet
inches; length of hand 16 feet inches. Its
ntire cost was about $500, 900
The Governor of North Carolina said
D the Governor of South Carolina. "Sir,
he hest rptnp1v n this a. rid is nr Raft. |