Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-05

the multitude, the fog having lifted. For
Il moment the din of cannonading and
whistling was renewed, a salute of 100
guns being fired on Bedloe's Island to
which the war ships and Governors
Island responded. AS the sounds died
away President Cleveland stepped for
ward and accepted the statue in the fol
lowing words;
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND's ADDRESS
The people of the United States accept
with gratitude from their brethren of the
French republic this the grand and com
pleted work of art we mere inaugurate.
ms token OF affection and consideration
of the people of France demonstrates the
klnship Of the republics and conveys to
us the assurance that in our efforts to
commend to mankind the excel
lence of Il government resting upon
the popular will, we still have be
You'd the American continent a stead
fast ally. We are not here to bow
before the representation of a fierce and
warlike god, filled with wrath and ven
geance, but we joyOusly contemplate in
stead our own Deity, keeping watch and
ward before the open gates of America,
and greater than all that have been cele-
brated in ancient song. Instead of grasp
ing in her hand thunder bolts OF terror
which illumines the way to mans en-
reimbursement. We will not for
get that liberty has here made
her home, nor shall her chosen
altar be neglected. Willing votaries will
constantly keep alive its fires and these
snail CLEAN upon the shores of our sister
republic in the east, reflected thence and
joined with answering rays. The stream
OF light shall pierce the darkness of ignor-
ance and mans oppression until Liberty
enlightens the world
NJ. Albert lie Faivre, the French consul
general to New York, spoke next as the
representative of the Republic of France
and Chauncey NJ. Depew followed. The
doXology was sung and Bishop Potter,
clad in his ecclesiastical garments, pro
nounced the benediction. No name
spoken during the day caused so much en-
thusiasm as that of NJ Bartholdi, loud
cheers greeting it everywhere. There was
an -lneXcusable lack of arrangement in
leaving the island and embarking again
for home. The French visitors were
scattered here and there in the crush
ana detained in it for nearly an'hour NJ.
Bartholdl and his wife We're compelled to
elbow their way As best they could
through the crowd, which, not recogniz-
ing them, in the hustle paid them but very
Scant courtesy, nor was the great Count
DE LeSseps or those with him much better
treated. The president and his party be-
ing better known by the police received
more attention, but the president, cabinet
members, admlralS, the minister
divines, senators and all
the ladies bore their Inconvenience as
good republicans and true democrats.
The president left the city by special train
AT 5:33 p. N. The fireworks planned for
this evening as the close to the festivities
were postponed till Saturday on account
Ol the rain.
Poem by John G. whittier.
The following poem, entitled The Bar
tholdi Statue" by Whittier was read at
he unwilling:
The land that from the rule OF kings
In freeing us, its-if made free
Our old world sister to us brings
Her sculpturcd dream OF Liberty.
Unlike the shapes OF Egypts sands
Upllitcd by the uOil-wOrn slave:
On ircedom's soil with free mems hands
We rear the symbol free hands gave
y, France, the beautiful, to thee
once more II debt of love we owe;
In peace bcncat h thy ileur de lis,
We hail Il later ROChamDcau.
Rise, stately symbol holding forth
my light and nope to all who sit
In chains ana darkness belt the earth
With watchtircs from thy torch upht
Reveal the primal mandate still
which chaos heard and ceased to be;
Trace on mid-alr tiny eternal Will
In signs of fire, Let man be free ~
shine far shine free Il guiding light
To reasons ways and virtues ann;
A lightning flash the wretch to smite
Who shields it's license with thy name!