Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-15
The Lighter of "Liberty."

The figure of Liberty that towers in New York
bay sheds a living as well as symbolic light.
Equipped at last with for adequate ilIum-
nation the majestic statue is always visible, fam
ing its high-held beacon through the darkest and
stormest hours
For this new and ennobling touch to a great
emblem of American faith, particular credit is due
the New York World through whose initiative the
popular fund of thirty thousand dollars to install
the lighting system raised and the special act
of Congress authorizing the Government to accept
and maintain the plant procured. Upwards
of eighty thousand persons contributed to the
fund, most of the gifts being in sums less than
twenty-five cents, and thousands of penny each
Every State and hundreds of cities had part in
the giving so that the achievement was truly ma
tiona in character as it should be- But it was the
World that started the movement and kindled the
patriotic enthusiasm which kept it going
1t was the World too, which thirty years ago
raised the popular subscription that paid for the
pedestal on which Liberty stands. An appro-
priation by Congress for that purpose had failed
to pass, and a New York State appropriation had
been declared unconstitutional. In that predica-
ment, the World opened public subscription fund
and in few months collected more than one hun
dred thousand dollars from one hundred and
twenty thousand responsive Americans.
Because the Statue of Liberty was a gift from
the people of France to the people of the United
States it altogether appropriate that the fund
for mounting the colossal figure and thirty
years later, the fund for illuminating it should
come directly from the rank and file of the people
rather than from the Government. 1t is equally
appropriate that in both those patriotic enterprises
the initiative taken by a newspaper that stands
stanchly for the principles of liberty and light
The record of the New York World since its
establishment by Joseph Pulitzer, in 1888, demon
strates the reforming and constructive power of
publicity that is directed with thoughtful and up
right purpose. The World has waged campaign
after campaign for honesty and freedom in govern
fought oppression and oppressors of every kind 1t
has supported all policies and leaders that were
working for the common good. 1t has lived stead
fastly up to its founders ideal:
IAN institution that should always fight
for progress and reform, never tolerate injus-
tiee or corruption, always fight demagogues of
all parties always oppose privileged classes
and public plunderers. never lack sympathy
with the poor, always remain devoted to the
public welfare, be satisfied with merely
printing news, always be drastically independ-
ent, never be afraid to attack wrong, whether
by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty"
The World is a power in American affairs be-
it has convictions and ideals, because it
thinks in terms of the common country's interest
because it has the great gift of seeing and telling
the truth II is appropriate indeed that the move
ment TO light the Statue of Liberty was under
taken and carried to success by newspaper that
exempliies splenddly in its life the princi-
Piles which the great statue procaims.