Year: 1869

that battle and come OF victorious and triumphant
You are coming upon the stage Of action In this
grand drama Of life at period when more import
ant events eliminating than before startled
the world at any period o. its history and your own
country is the theatre OF action where those events
are transpiring. The strength and durability Of
those Institutions OF your country for which your
Washington fought and battled have just been tried
and tested never before were the institutions OF any
other nation; their permanency and durability had
been doubted and questioned, and their downfall had
even been predicted and watched for by other ma
tOns, and yet by the blessings OF God, who watched
and protected ms, stand to-day before those
nations a living example that we are the strongest
government among the nations Of the earth. Ay,
and we can now say that we are not only the
strongest but also the reest nation OF the world for
the tolling bondman can say that he Il a bond
man no longer and that the priceless boon OF liberty
and freedom is his and for him and his children for
ever; and fitting chorus TO this glorious song OF
liberty and freedom for the bOndman, there came to
us few days ago by the lightnlngs dash, from the
f8r-On Pacific coast, the glad tidings which were
re-ech0ed by our Independence Hall bell, that the
mighty Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were welded
together by the iron band OF commerce and civiza-
ton, thus forming for us a perpetual guarantee OF
an ocean-bound union for our country forever.
Therefore 1t is that say to you children that you are
coming upon the stage OF action at ofthe grandest
epOchs in the history OF country and you should
tnank GOD IN your hearts that you are Ine Sn'uren
rica is to-day. And, In conclusion, my young
friends, congratulate you upon this early manifes-
taton In your lives of your patriotic devotion to your
county, and may tSis statue of yours ever stand
here silent but impressive monitor to you and all
the people, speaking to us with tongueless but
touching power Of the oountless cost OF this glorious
Union OF ours and bidding us TO stand by that Union
at any and all hazards and under all circumstances.


Mr. Moore concluded amid great applause.


The "Star Spangled Banner" was then rendered by


George +. Gordon, ESQ the President of the
Washington Monument Association, then delivered
the following address OF presentation


Presentation Grafton by George II. Gordon.


Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen Of the Select and Common
Councils Of the City Of phd:-We come on this
jubilee day Of freedom TO this sacred place 10 per-
form pleasing and patriotic duty, and TO finish
sacred trust That In such a presence as this
such day az this standing amid the joyous smiles
temple and the very spot where the living feet Of
our beloved Washington have often pressed the
sacred soil every Pusation OF my being thrills with
Out faithful 10 the end shall receiue erOtpn Of
joicffg" This truth has illustration in assocla-
clouds which darkened our pathway In the
past and stand forth upon the rock unmoved


flashes the spendor OF its living jewelry or eye and
heart and voice in our presence to-day s a sweet,
loving, and ever to be remembered beauty-a JOY
ihat VIII pusate with the tidal waves OF our being
We do rejoice this day. for ourselves and for all the
children Of our public schools whom we have
patiently and faithfully represented Their gladness
seems to be complete And the gladness of our
association is also complete. With us is the joyful
consciousness Of having performed patriotic duty
in the faithful execution OF sacred trust, which we
preferred to perform NOW, rather than chill the
warm and generous sympathies Of the people by
FOOLISH II not criminal, delays for quarter or half
century.


To commemorate in monumental form, as a physi-





Of the life and patriotic services OF lustrious Wash
ington, "The Washington Monument Association
OF the First School District of Pennsylvania
ganized in the year OF Lord 1853 1t has existed
these eleven years, and although 1t has fallen far
and the future abundantly prove, that it has not
lived in vain.


Fresh with the vigor of youth and fred with high
hopes to do great thing for our city and
the memory of Washington, first thought ana
effort was to erect in Paramount Park, a summit
overlooking the whole city, colossal monument OF
towering height and architectural beauty 10 be un-
equalled In artistic taste and the magncence Of its
design and finish, with the gentle nowing and rip
music at It's base True, we reluctantly abandoned
the idea OF erecting in our city grand and tower
ing monumental pile; but, in determining to erect
htaue only, we are not without cause OF glad gratu
a'ions, for we shall be the first in this old city Of
Penn, and OF Syvana to erect public statue of any
kind. We have cleared some OF the rough, fossized
fogyism out OF the ancient paths where cultured
taste and national munihcence, enwrought with the
scuptors Transforming genius, have immortalized
the ages on tablets and inches ustred with the un-
dying glories OF art, and column still plumb in the
midst OF earthquake, ruin, and the sweep of the
scythe OF time. Our association has passed through
eleven years OF varied trials. We have walked
on foot all the wilderness way; for as yet
monument building, statue erecting American de-
sign and sculpturing, and almost every variety Of
American art has been at discount Especially is
the memory OF the hero father OF the American re-
public covered with the dust of fast and irreverent
age. II these be neglected and forgotten it is no
marvel that American artists at home are sighted aud
passed by by the sham aristocracy OF aforeign SEN
tment. Our work, as an association OF citizens, in
"
something more than the empty honor OF cold
marble statue IL is that from this as great
may read his wisdom and devotion as a patriot, his
unwearied vigilance and herosm as a soldier for
constitutional liberty and his profound counses as
a statesman. Let these qualities be the model for
our youth. Let WashingtOn's nationality intensity
ours until our whole educational system, pouring its


e-lssues into our youth, shall evolve the multiplied
grandeurs OF American nationality. bet all the
grand actions and examples OF washington's
viii, P and very "' soon On the n''lS natonaI S,I
wounds win be bound up and healed. And Instead
OF bitterness and hatred and unsanctied partisan
ship, there shall go forth over all the land as this
day there DO songs OF peace and JOY and fraternal
his morning march up the eastern archway to
meridian spendor 10 where he dips the golden
lrnges Of his evening robes on western slopes, and
mirrors the gories OF his evening beauties In Pacific
waters, one glad voice OF multiplied million harmo-
nies shall swell the glad refrain OF Peace Unionl


But let me pass our association in quick review
before you ON the 3Oth Of August, 1853, circular
school sections. On the 9th OF October, in the same
year. the first meeting was held. On the 10Th OF the
on the nth Of November, in the same year, the
association was fully organized. On the 22d OF
February, 1852 the first address was issued to the
public. Also on the 22d Of February, 1s59 the great
lair Of the public schools organized opened
continued Tor three weeks in National Hall, Market
street. Here the most OF the money OF our associa-
tOn was made. Advertisements for plans were
issued on the sth OF April On the 14th Of April,
same year, charter was obtained from the State of
Pennsylvania On the goth day OF June, 1859,
grand nora fair was opened in Jayne's Hall. On
The 18th OF October same year, after some del ay
and some feeling, the location OF the proposed
monument was liked by decided vote at
FaTmount Park On the 1st OF December, 1859, the
three premiums for best designs were awarded,
amounting to six hundred dollars On the sth OF
December application was formally made TO the
City Councils, and had they then acted, as did the
city Councils the other day February 10, 1S69) In
stead OF statue on the pavement I'm front OF Inde-
pendence Hall, a monument OF colossal dimensions,
from the highest summit in Paramount Park, would
have lifted its ornate peak TO the sky. From Feb
ruary % 1860 until 1861, may be termed the transit
tE,,, Of nfafn hil rad