—J xr±2: ‘j.r. GIBSON PEACOCK. Editor. VOLUME XXIII.—NO. 74. INDEPENDENCE DAY. Dedication of tlie Washington Statue-The Tribute of the Public School Children to the Municipality which Edu- cates Them-Great Enthusl- asm-X Brilliant Fcsta, X.V.- .; < • The Soldiers of the Wax of 1812— The Excursion of the Public Ledger Attaches. FIRES, ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, &0., &0(, &C„ ItO. The fifth of July thla year was a cool, bright aud exhilarating day, very Tare for the season. It haring been determined that the <sivlc part of the observance of our national independence should take place on that date, the occasion was-a,univereal holiday. The prindpalfocus of'interest, ot course, was the ceremony of nnveiling the statue of ‘l\ ashing ton in front of Independence Hall, the contri bution of the school-children of Philadelphia. THE DKDICAT lON OF THE WASHINGTON STATUE. During the short time on Saturday after, boon that the statue was left unveijed, it seemed as if almost everybody took occasion to pass Independence Hall, and, at the same time, to pass an opinion on the woTk. If the various criticisms made upon Washington’s head, hand, calves, ankles and appurtenances generally had each possessed the faculty of leaving a. mark upon the stone, the marble . would have been entirely obscured, like the canvas of that old Greek painter who incon siderately left a bit of charcoal beside his picture. , ‘ , V But tlie crowd who saw it on Saturday was but a select afternoon party compared with the dense throng which boredown upqnit yes terday-morning. tThe Jormer vraa the usual assortment of Chestnut street countenances— men whom it surprised no one to meet. But the assembly' nf-Monday was that astonish ing mob of the Unknown which turns up no one can tell whence, on Christmas eve and on Independence Day; the press of myrmidons, with uncouth ’and unrecognized faces, re cruited from workshops and factories, from .small genteel streets, from Cottage Bows and Villa Terraces, and from retired Placcsbear ing surprisingly aristocratic names. These goodfolk bore down upon Washington, with such invincible, determination that a little after eight there was not a fresh corn or bunion to set a foot on anywhere within' sight of where the marble hero awaited them behind his veil. They streamed past, with that set purpose of getting on which always inspires a throng who have no reason for getting on anywhere. They ■ brought the baby, they brought the lunch basket, they wore the linen duster, and they dragged into the worst of the press that damp and exhausted female who is never absent from the thickest part of a crowd—the per son vrfth a beMedforcheadand face floating down the stream like a tragic maslj, who ex presses herself sure of doing very well if she call only get intcua rather denser part of the mob, but who otherwise wili fainf relentlessly. , tiik ju.'vki.kd'mootment. ' 'flit cartway front Fifth to Sixth whs roped off, forming a parallelogram in whiph Wash ington awaited his time like -a prize-fighter. His lofty figure was completely covered-by a liberal .specimen of the national flag, the folds of w hich w ere at first adjusted with consider able grace in a kind of spiral upholsterer's arrangement. On the eventful morning, how ever, the drapery had to be straightened and simplified to allow of its easy fitting; and then it formed a sufficiently commonplace bag, uu der which, the statue presented n, vaguely knobby appearance, though the contour of the head and the hollow of the dyes were visi ble through the blue field of the banner; one of the large white stars Was plastered against Washington’s.lef| cheek; another sat oh the top of his lie’ad like a fashionable bonnet; and it was observed that while the First President stood helpless in this muffled condition, with the red stripes puffing around his person in the breeze like the Wrappings of a gentleman en gaged in the “simmering” portion of a.Turkish bath—it was observed that some person be hind, blessed with a pair of uncommonly idingv hands, was manipulating the drapery, and 'in some unknown -way groomujg-vaud iockeving the Father ql his Country, Seen 'from 'the front, the. operations of these: hands Tesembled nothing so. much as the pleasant parlor game of “the dwmh orator,” in wjuch. a mute assistant, concealed in the speakers cloak, heats that hapless "gentleman without remorse, tears his hair , for him; : gives away his money and scratches his noso, all under pretence, of. being , a part of liimseu. The prolonged efforts of this anonymous minister, which were much 1 to 'tlio taste of the spectators, at length prepared the toilet of the statue for the change, and theveU was allowed to restin peace.: The tackle which connected it with the transverse cable*above, passed, however, in perilous proximity to a stuffed: eagle, which: crooked its rigid jvings iust over the monument,. and to whose tall and pinions the breeze gave an unsuccessful imitation of fluttering; This noble fowl, during the whole performance of the Dumb Orator, constantly mid his allegoric head inimminent danger from the, swaying of the cords in his viclnitj', and was,more than puce on thepoinp : of being caught,, neck and crop, and taught posthumous flying lessons, or rather, suspen sion on the tight-rope, high alott; to the in tense sympathy of the spectators. ; '• THE HOPE- ■ ' AS the hour ofnino approached, the crowd, without losing their lino patience and good nature, became agreat. deal denser, warmer, - more eloquont.and more sarcastic. , It was a siiecial grievance that, the cartway was ■ closed to them, while it was opened to the horse-ears —-trnink' of which lumbering Juggernauts roiled frequently through the sacred enclosure, •so timCd as to intercept tho view 6f the pebple ' .•? / u $ i-'.s .» -- -k -, j!. ■ ,;••{; 4tV i; Vi •;. 'v ■ & ?•//. #/ 1 •• •/■ [ \i, ..'w'v ?. ’Jv ViY-t- '■•T-Si.Vp '" iiV^ vcryneatly whenever auyinteteßtiugpclnt'pf The laying of the cornerstone took placeon , the programme wan arrived at.* “Ciit "the Friday withoutany ceremony,tho newspapers rope!” was a constant cry, and the white of the day and of, the Vtolungton gloves of the police were constantly flung, in Monument Association andvbf the Hoard of the way of gauntlets, into the faces of ‘jenter- School Controlleife being >The eleva prising* individuals who essayed to duck under tion of the blocks forming the pedestal, and the tourniquet. “.Dan’l,. open the door,” the settingup of the Btatue, were supenn shouted a tall per- tended bv Jilr. William Struthers, in whose spiration, apostrophizing his'. ' .Honor the : establishment- Bailly’s statue was , prepared. Mavor, “we want to git in i” . . Thesame.gcntleman,fromtbe inception of the r music and aktiixeet. <'••••» undertaking, has interested himself in its suc- At ten-minnteft' to -nine arrived a musical cesslul completion,and lias opened his pocket band, a model of disjointed thinking and in- hook on various occasions wheri the funds, terjectional ideasj it bore downfromthewest, of the young contributors wore, at .extremely, playing a series of first lines,-so'that its per- low tide. ■■■•’ rorroance was ■ like the list of contents in a the oebesiohv or consecbation. - song-book. The crowd, quite ready ,for asen- Mr. Wm, B. Hanna, Chairman of the Com sation, was very glad of the music. band > mittee of City Councils,called the assemblage with disconnected ideas, playing a little bit of to order in a few-appropriate remarks,- .- .... the “Star Spangled Banner, ,r and a little bit of the tkayeh. , . , “Wearing of the Green,” marehed’past Inde- .Rev. Albert Barnes, D.-D., then delivered dendenec Hall, and made as if going to the tins.following prayer:. ~. i , ■- 4 river, but thought better of it. wheeled, and , Almighty Hod, our . Father, and God of our formed aroundthe statue, still, discoursing a: fathers, create within us .a sense of out de disconnected fantasia of first lines whenever: puulcnce.upou Thee, as we recall the great it felt like it. The npxtsensation was the turn-; events of the day we .celebrate, and .for brilpfa prettv big gun, drawn by gray horses, which we thank Thee. Great God, the people on bue'of wlueh rode Mr. Jakey , - rccog- of: this: land would thank Thee.for Thy con nized at once trom Ills resemblance to the fire- tinned iavor since, in this place, the Declara men’slithograjihs, and whose red shirt, low in tiou of. Independence was. announced to the ‘ thC neck, andcigar stump pointing up at the world. We thank Thee for Thy goodness, in correct apgle,. were superior charms tliat did presiding over our. counsels at that time,, a»d_ not prevent Jakey from looking , very indul- lor raising up for us those men of -worth ana gently at. Lize and her triends perspiring vujue; indwe-thank'Theby Almighty God, abundantly in the throng. lor-Thy goodness-iurfoUowing those coUn-r the CKKKMOJfv. scls with succc.sK —and ospecwlly, on this The platform, gaily festooned with bunting, occasion; do we render Thee thanks gradually filled with the official and invited for Thy goodness in. raising -up that great participants, near whom the school children, man to be placed at the - bead; of the tiling in from Independence square, in .their armies, to conduct them forward that they eniiorm of rosy cheeks and white dresses, might tight the battles of the country! _We ’ made an exquisite parterre Of blooming Ameri- ibank Thee, Almighty. God, that Thou didst so can beauty. When the orderly sequence of richly endow'him for this work, that Thou speaking and singing, as set forth in our-pro- didst enable him: to guide the country success gramme below,bad rcached-thuproper.point, fully through the trials of the war, ami that two charming little misscs.coming to the front under him our Independence was achieved, of the platform, assumed tne task of revealing We thank Tliee. for Thy goodness, Almighty ito the dtv«: Of. Philadelphia the : magnificent: God, in ]iresidmg ove.r tne counsels of the i present which theyaiid their, companions had nation, in forming the institutions of thib ; i made it. - The vast stripes swept Irorn around' country; and we bless Tliee fortliis man, who, the hero’s limits: the constellation of our after. leading the armies of the revo stars, ascending from his head, rode slow.!y up, lution to victory, became first Presir towards the empyrean and settled dent of the . united States—the man again .just above the brow, while the whom we delight-to call, the Father-of his whole draperv, : developed - as a Country. And we thank. Thee, our Heavenly banner of imposing and ■ noble, jiroportions, Father, that Thou has put it into the hearts of swung slowly backward and forward over the these children to rear this monument; to the monument, now covering it -with a translu- mtmory of that great man—that this work has cent roseate shade,and nowsweeping by to re-; been carried forward, and that now we come veal its features to the eastern sun. The to dedicate this monument to the purpose; m statue looked grand, pure and commanding as tended. GrcatGod,we pray Thee that this the spirit of the great Washington stands monument may stand here to remind, all enshrined in our imaginations; ' The; people pasSers-by of the great events in memory pf hailed the revelation with a great, hearty which this monument: is consecrated to-tlay, hurst of enthusiasm; the sweet, piping -voices and we earnestly pray Thee, Merciful Father, | of the children blent in sacred sonra with the that - these children by whom, this rnoiiu- ] shouts and tamult of s the; multltnde—and ment" : has been erected Bhall . he, stimu-i Philadelphia enthusiastically accepted, from kited by it to live to God as lie • did theliamtsof her little ones, a-grand lesson whose memory it honors, and shall strive, to and image and effigy of unstained patriotism.; uiiulatc liis private virtues,pure life, integrity As the great curtain developed, an enor- of character, and his religion. Oh, God grant, mous quantity of miniature Hags, which had: that they may ever have his example before*, been concealed hi its foldsj becamo disengaged, ; their eyes, andmay.be sensible of the teason aiul fluttered down among the crowd-in abun- ahieness and power of religion! And Almighty dance. These patriotic' toj-s were eagerly Father, we pray Thyblessing upon this city: seized to be preservedas souvenirs., - we y , pray Thy blessing upon the Mayor and the statue. ' ■ Councils and rulersand: magistrates of- the ,Bailly?s.statue of Washington, without be- city; wepray for Thy continued blessing upon ing an inspiration, is a'dignified and satisfying the public schools—upon tlieir scholam, their • portrait of the grandest man who ever sancti- teachers and officers: we bless Thee that the lied our walls bv residing within them. Wash-. curse of human bondage lias passed away . ington; 1 in bis conception; is the calm, wise, from this land, and-tlyit now. liberty reigns considerate statesman,-strong, in lfis prime of throughout the Union-;and we. pniy life, as he might have appeared when -addres- Thee that Thou will continue to smile .upon Ymg Congress during* his first' Presidency, this nation. Grant tliat its riders may five Simple vet decorous, .unassuming yet truly peaceably ami righteously. Bless the Chief noble, wearing the weeds of peacej.with more Magistrate of the nation,and may he worthily. plcasure'and truer gloTy than ever the uniform; discharge the great.duties incumbent on him. of wfir, thisedpy of- our best and bravest will Bless the men associated with lum in the ad be a lasting memento to us of the grandeur, ministration of the government; and bless all decorum, and peaceableness of right civil go.v- the rulers, and magistrate! of the land. , Oh. ernment and of - the beauty. of-equipoise and God, most merciful Father, grant that the self-eOhtrol 'as the highest attribute of liberty, hearts of, the people of this land may be nlieu The face of Bailly’s. Washington is nearly with gratitude tw well as joy, to-day. Arid a copv of that of the ’ statue by tlic great grant, O! our. Father, to raise up a genera- Frcnch sculptor Houdon, also in continental tionofliolymenand women, to advance the costiime, iu the Capitol at Richmond, Va. worship of Him who died. to save the whole The mask for that portrait was modeled on world. Oh God! Grant that the hearts of the the faco of the President at Mount Vernon, in people may be turned unto Ibee: tnat tue. 1785, the statue having been engaged by Jef whole nation may love, honor anil worship ferson express for the city of Richmond The Thee. And all these inereies wo in the Houdonstatue, probably tlio most reliable name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our portrait of any kind we possess 1 of Wash- Lord and Saviour. Amen, „ . .. ington, if the education and competency of • The prayer wasfollowedby singing of Hail tlie artist he considered, is one of the first four Columbia.” great works in which ' sculpture was publicly cnqiloyed in the -United States for the celebration of the hero’s memory The other three are, 2. Tho statue in Boman costume at N. C. hy Canbva, the head from Cerachi’s Bast—3. The statue in civic costume ‘in the State House, . Boston, by Chantry, the head from Houdon’s bust.—And 4, the Colossal figure by Greenougli at Wash-; ington, in Boman costume, the head from’ H oudon’s bust. It is probable, in fact, that all future statues of the great man will be copied, as Chantry, Greenougli, and lastly Uailly, have copied theirs, from the; beautiful and placid portrait achieved by Houdon. Since we have mentioned that artist and con tributed our mite to sustain his fair fame, we inav- go out of our way a momeiu. to vindi cate his memory from a ridiculous aspersion east upon it and upon the delicacy of Wash ington’s character, by that reckless declaimer, ex-Gov. Wise, of Virginia. That functionary, in his address Oh tbe.uiaugnratian of a statue of Washington at the Virginia Military insti tute, - stated that Hondon. ai'tor taking a mould of Washington’s face, “ persisted to make a cast of his entire, person?’ In opposition to; this foolish legend, Rembrandt Peale, while painting in Paris the portrait of Hoqdon, heard: from that, artist that he: cast ;the mask alone, not waiting for his workmen, who never joined him: lie.composed the figure, in Pans, from his own drawings and measurements, and from-the.picture, in Continental costume (the “Young Washington”), painted by C. W. Peale for that purpose by order of tho Virginia' Legislature. THE'PEDESTAL. One iof the first offers which a Paris bouryeoix makes a country visitor is to show; him the interior of the obelisk of luixor in the Place dela Concorde. 5 “Will you visit the in terior of the obelix ?” is one of the questions in •Which the Wit never loses; its t salt. ; No' doubt, there will bo a similar mild hoax rigged up for the pedestal of our Washington; for the stone of which it is composed does not yield to, the redgrauite of Egypt; for density: and impene trability. It is serious, compact granite, of a light color and exceedingly: firm .grain. To penetrate the interior of the principal block, which is a cube four • feet three finches high by four feet ,jn .breadth, will : be a tight job even for gentlemen who can see through a. xnillstoiie 'W'ithout thealtghtest * difficulty* It is: not; the t coarse. alid friable granite from*Quincy, nor yet the- stone from tWgreat beds at Port Deposit inMaryland: it is noble stone from Washington’s own soil, the finest piece; ever token from the . quames atßichmtmd. The squaring and dressing of these blocks is done in the most workmanlike manner, and considered as masonry could not be excelled by any Northern Workmen; the only drawback is that; the designer of the pedestal did not prepare the shape of the difr ferent blocks perfectly for one another, and the result, is a slight want of harmony in the outfine. The whole pedestal, wo desire to explain, was taken from the quarry and Ufessed completely by ! Richmond mechanics; both White and colored, who took pride in sending such a big stone. up. N?rib> . Before the war Richmond, was noted for its beautiful monumental work. Aa the largest' piece of ' granite eyer taken from there, alia, in justice rto the Workmen, the fact should benoted 'as evidence of their skilland industry in- finish ing this pedestal within the limited time al lowed them. \ , ' r ; f ouft wftoiiE oowmY. i * . PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, JULY &> 1869. THE- UNVEILING. The statue was then unveiled by Miss Mary McManus, of the Mt; Vernon school, and Miss Josephine Freeborn, of the Northwest school, and a salute was tired by the Keystone Battery, Captain, J. V. Creely, commanding. ADIIKESS OF HON. HENRY I). MOORE. Hon. Henry D. Moore (hen. delivered the following address: Fellow Citizens: I am truly sensible of the honor of being called upon to preside on this, most interesting occasion. The hallowed as sociations and memories.which cluster around the dav we celebrate, and which associations belong also to this sacred spot where we are assembled, together with the patriotic work and duty we are here to perform, all combine to impress my mind with a deep and realizing sense of the grandeur, and, I may also add,the solemnity of this occasion. 1 cannot but fe'el that any occasion or combination of circumstances and events which truly and forcibly-: speak to' its? of the birth, and life ' and struggles of our nation ought to be regarded by ns not only as of pa triotic interest and. grandeur, but with feel ings of solemnity also; and, surely, we have those circumstances and. events before us at this time—first, in the day we celebrate, the day on which our nation was declared to be “free and independent;” second, in this hal lowed spot where that declaration was first made and given to the world; and third, in this mute but eloquent marble before us, which speaks to us so truthfully and eloquently of him, who, by the blessings of God, gave to our natidn the life which has made that D ecla ration of freedom and ; independence a living truthfbr,all time to come.. We,are here to day, so consecrated in the history of our country by all the; memories of the past, to do for Philadelphia what I am. forced to say should have , been, done' long before this; and these children ot our public schqols are, here with the patriotic oifenng of their fresh young hearts, to teach us a lesson of patriotism and d.uty which older heads and Jess patriotic hearts! have neglected to learn and perfofm.' We are here to dedi cate: this statue' memory of one who.se fame is acknowledged ami whose name is honored and Tevered by every civilized nation in the world. And tve.l may they .honor and revere the name'Of Washington,’ for never be fore Was there ‘such , a combination of nuh tary skill and power,' with so much gpdu-. ness, and truth, aud virtue, anil such an, unselfish patriotism and love of country, all combined in one man, Us was manifested in his life and character, and in the services lie rendered his; country and the. world! More than a century has elapsed since his hirth; dorethan four score years have ypaseed away since hhattaihedthe meridian of Ins xmhtayy Slory, and more than three-score sinco bis eathVand yet his laurels aro still flourishing in all tho freshness of perpetual spring, and every return of this glorious anniversary re vives in the hearts of tlio patriotic and bravo the grateful recollection of his deeds ! As. a soldier, he fought for his couatty’s rights and the liberty ot miui, and not for individual glory! He sought not the triumph of fame, vet MhbrOW was entwined with her? richest wreatlh As a statesman he labored to' lay the foundations and establish the principles of a Eepnhlican Government in-the-heart S-of-a i free people,that permaneucymight be secured totherightsof man; and whenthhfast wish and object of his lifts was attained, here tired to the . quiet andpeacetftd - Shades ofSfesint i A'ernon, enriched, .not with the spoils OBwar, i not with the emqiume®te ;of . office,: but- with the fervent love apd gratitude of every I American heart, .and- a resplendence of 1 fljoty which’ time ' Will never dint. I And it 1 seems, to me, my fellow i citizens, that it : is pecffiiarl.w 1 appropriate' for ton this national anniversary to dedicate this tue, and to renews our vriws of patriotism and Jove of country and institutions which fought for and secured to us and freedom forever; and to these: children, and tlie eommittee represenfing .them, are we in dfcbted for the opportunity" of doing this work to-day; and to you; children, let rnesay, you have - done a noble and a glorious work, a work of patriotism worthy of older heads and hearts than yours; and, mjv youug friends,. I hone and trust that; every one of you will .strive to emulate ilie v character, and virtues, and goodness of him whose deeds you have sought to : perpetuate by this, sculptured fnarble. Many of you are just, about Cf. enter upon the- active- duties hf?Ufe, aml encountertlie trials:, and.troubles uflld temptations: of the world; and in that >great battle of life yon will, find that the vir tues and goodness and truth which so adorned and beautified the life and cliaracter of AVasli - ington will be the only sureweapons by which ' you can successfully light that battle, and come, oil victorious and triumphant; sTou are com ing upon the stage of: action iu the grand drama of life at a period when more important ; events are culminating than ever before star tled, the world, at-any period of its history, and your own country is tlie theatre of'-action where those ;events are tran spiring. Those institutions of your country lor which your Washington fought and bat tled have just been tried and tested as never before were the institutions of any other na tion. Their permanency and durability, had been doubted and questioned, and their dow'n fali had even been predicted and watched for bv other nations; and yet by the blessings of (foil, who watched over and protected us’, we ; stand to-day before those nations a living ovi dencetliat’we are tlie strongest Government among the nations of the earth.. Aye, and we oannow say tliat- we are not only the strong est, but also the freest nation of the world; for. the toiling bondman , can now say tliat he is a bondman no longer, and that tlie priceless booh of . liberty and [ freedom is his and for him and his I children forever! And as a fitting chorus to this i glorious song of liberty and freedom for the I bondman, there came to us a few days ago_ by I the lightning's flash from the far-off Pacific coast, tlie glad tidings which , were re (echoed by; our olef Independence • bell here, tliat the mighty Pacific- and At ( lantic oceans were -wedded together by the iron band of commerce and : civilization, thus forming for us and our country a per petual guarantee of an ocean-bound Union forever! Therefore it is that Isay td you, chil dren, you are living at one of the grandest epochs in the history of your country, and you ought to thank God in your hearts tliat you are the children of so grand, glorious and free -a country as America is to-day! And-now, ■ children, in conclusion, let me congratulate you on tliis early manifestation in your lives of your patriotic devotion to your country; and may-this statue of yours ever stand here a silent-hut impressive monitor to you and all the people, speaking to us with tougueless but touching power of the countless cost of .this glorious Union of ours, and bidding us to -stand-by that Union at any- and all hazards, and under all circumstances. 1; , The “Star Spangled Banner” was then sung hy the’ children’. ' THU VKKSENXATIOIf ADDKISSS. Mr. George -F. Gordon, President of the Washington Monument Fund, then-delivered: the following address: - Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia: We come on this , jubilee day of freedom to this sacred place to perform a pleasing and patriotic duty and 'to finish a sacred trust. That in such a presence as this, on such a day , as this, standing amid the joyous smiles of 50,000 children, sit the vestibule of our freedom’s temple, and.- ou the very (■spot, -where . the:, bring feet of ( our beloved Washington have often pressed ! the sacred soil, every pulsation of my being thrills with intense delight. It is written that “Those ichohold out faithful to the end shall receive a crown of rejoicing This-truth has-illustra tion in our association to-day. _ We emerge from beneath all the clouds which darkened our pathway in the past, and stand forth upon .the rock unmoved and. triumphant. Our crown of rejoicing; which flashes the splen dor of its bring jewelry of eye and heart . and voice in our presence to-day, is a sweet; loving, and ever-to-be-remembereil beauty—a joy that will pulsate with the tidal waves ’of our being. We do rejoice this day, for ourselves aridfor all the children,of our pubbe,schools whom wS -have patieutly and fiiithfuby repre sented. Tkeir glndness seems to he complete. And the gladness of-oitr association is also complete. With us is the joyful consciousness of having performed a patnotie duty- in the faithful execution of a sacred trust, w hich we preferred to.-perfona .sow, rather- than drill the warm and generous sympatliiesof the peo ple hy foolish, if not criminal, delays tor a quarter or hub'a century. , ‘ ■ To commemorate in monumental form, as a physical object-lesson, the goodness and great ness of theme arid patriotic services of'Ulus-: trious Washington, “The Washington Monu inent Assbciatxotl of, tlie First School District of Pennsylvania” was organized in the year of our herd, 1858. It has existed these eleven years, and although it has fallen far short of its aspirations, yet. the'present will show and the future abundantly. prove, that it hari not lived in vain. , , , Fresh with the vigor of youth, and fired with high hopes to do- a great thing for our city and the meiiory of AVasliington, our first thought and efl'ort was to erect in Fairmount Park, on a summit overlooking the whole, city, a colossal monument of towering height and architect!;;:al beauty, to be unequalled in artistic taste and the magnificence of its design and finish, with the gentle flowing andrq> pbng waters of our Schuylkill singing perpetual ..music at. its base. ; True,, ive, . reluctantly abandoned, the. .idea . of - erect-, ihg in our city a grand and tower ing monumental pile; but, m determining to erect a statue only, wc are’ not \rithpuf cause of glad gratulatums; for we shall he the first in this old city of Penn, and of Sylvania, to .erect a pubbe statue- ofauy kind. . We have cleared some of the rough, fossilized fogrism.out of the ancient paths where cultured taste and national munificence, enwrought frith. the ‘sculptor’s transforming genius, have' lio mor tab zed the ages on' tablets arid.; ui cues lus trod with the undying glories of art,'arid, column still plumb ,iu the ' midst of earthquake, ; ; -ruin, - and .the.-.. sweep, of, ' the ' scythe, of time. Our as- has passed through eleven* yfars of varied trials, AA r eliave walked, on foot oil the wilderness way; fbr as yet mon- UUierit building, statue erecting, Aniencaittlp slgnand sculpturing; and almost every variety of American art has been at a, discount, . Fsh peclaby is the memory of the Uero-father ot the American repuhtte coveted with the; duet of a fast and irreverent age. If these be ■ne glected and forgotten, it ts no marvel that these American artists at home are slighted arid passed by by the sham aristocracy of a foreign sentiment- Ouf work,as an :i,ssoriatlon of citizens, in erecting a statue to the memory of, . AVashiugtori, ik something--vinoro than tho empty honor, of a v cold marble statue; It is. that, from; this, statue as a great object-lesson, the present and; future! generations may read his wisdomgnddeyptiqn as a ; patriot, his uaweariecl vigilauco and ism as a SQltUer t‘oi’ c<? institutional liuGity', aiul .■.■■ ■ ■ i . " ~ i fc ., i < . bia-proforrad counsels as a statesman! . ie* these the model fprour youth.-fa-t Vnshington’s, nationiih ty intensity.- outs. until outwlidle educational systemvpounna itkw issues into our youth, shall evolve the rUUUKr plied grandeurs of American nationality. Let all the grand actions and-examples of Wash ington’s life penetrate -the national - heart and arill, and very. soon the ‘national woundswillbe-botuMl un and healed. And, instead ot hittemess and hatred, and unsaucti flcd partisanship, there shall go forth, over all theland, asthis dayrfiere do, songs of peace and joy antf ftaternal’Brotherhood from where tile suigilds-tliesKyiri-ltis morning march up the eastern auohway to-meridian splendor,to where he dips tlie golden fringes of his even ing robes on western slopes, and mirrors the glories of- his. oycning beauties in -Pacific waters, one glad voice. of ntattiplied million hannonies shall swell the'o&dtrefrain of Peace! TJnion! liberty! • But let me pass our association in quick re viewbefore yoll OiftheSOtllofAugust,lBsB, a circular proposing Organization was issued to the several school sections.. On the sth of October, in the ; same year, the first meeting 'whs held. On the 15tli of the same month apian was prepared ahd adopted; andion the 17th of ■November, in the same year, the association was fully organized. On tHe 23d of February, 1859, the first address was issued- to the public. Also,on the 22dof February,lBs9,thie great fair pf the public schools was organized,opened and icontiuued for three weeks. in National Hall, Market street. Here the most of tlie money of our association was made. • Advertisements for plans were issued on the Bth pf April. ’ On the 14th of April, same year, a charter-was obtained from the State of ‘Pennsylvania; On the 20th day-of June, 185», a' grand floral fair was opened in Jayne’s Hall.- On the 18th Of October,: game year, after some delay and seine feeling, the, location of' the proposed monument was fixed by a decided vote at Fair-: mount Park. On the Ist of .December, 185!>,the three premiums for best designs were awarded, nniouiitiiig toslx hundred dollars. On tlie Bth of December application was formally made to .the City Councils, and had they then acted;fas did the City Councils the other day (February 10,1809), instead of a' statue on the pavement in front of Independence Hall, a-inonuinent of colossal dimensions, from tlie highest stunlnlt in Fainnount Park; would have .lifted • its ornate peak to the sky.' From February 22, 1800 until 1807, may be- termed the transition period of our association. TWb period was not without an effort, in lectures and other ways,.and especially in an effort'to upite the fluids of other associations iu the, city whose objects were similar to our own. But this we failed to do. Our work will briug.thein to the light. = During this period a change' came and trouhleiTour councils. Death looked on seve ral of our members and claimed , them. ‘The Great Bebeilion” came and draped the North with mourning and the South witfwlanie,<tes6- latiou and woe. Peace. came—liberty trium phant! human slavery crushed: beneath the: chariot-wheels of freedom 1 And -how, in-tho clear sunlight of peace stands the - union*, of States, “one and Inseperable; now and ■ for ever! ■ All hope of erecting a monument as at first proposed being reluctantly abandoned, it was determined to be true to the trust reposectin us'liy expending the moneys in our hands for a statue of Washington. At a meeting of- tho association lield May 16, 1867, a •committee was appointed to-receive plans and estimates-.' On the 13tli of December, 1867, a contract was ■entered into with J. A. Baillv,'an eminent artist of tbis city, to model and cut in white marble the beautiful statue to-day .unveiled in your presence. “ On the 10th of Feb;, 1869; the City Councils, iff answer to a Tequest from our association; passed “an ordinance todocate the statue of Washington in front of'lndepen dence Hall.” In May, 1869, circulars printed in proper form to receive the names .or all the children and teachers in ‘ our public schools were issued; these papers were to have been • refumed to be placed in the base of thfe statue, and such, of them as were re turned havebeenso placed. On the 9th of June,. 1869, a gfand entertainment was given in the Academy of Music by the pupils of thirteen; fjunmar schools, also, the Girls’. and Boys’ igh Schools, to aid in completing, th» base of the statue. Subscriptions liavo also been re ceived from a number of citizens; which lire recorded elsewhere. tin the 2d of July, 1861), the material for tne granite base was delivered ■on the ground, and on the next day both base and statue were set in place; And so our long and arduous labors draw to a dose—not in sor row and sadness, but In joy and gladness. -We have done it! Our statue of Washington is finished! The fiftt in the city! And now, on this, our glorious old, yet ever new, “Inde-' •pendence Day,” “The Washington Monument •Associntiofi of the Firat School District of Pennsylvania” representing the children and teachers of our public schools, presents te-the • city authorities this finished and beautiful statue. Behold it—colossal!—grand! But a moment ' ago it was -wrapped in the folds of -the starry. hamier; now its beauty is unveiled; Admire it as a work of art. Nay, more, admire it,as a work of-American art. Every mallet, every cbisel and hammer, and square and compass, and the mechanical heads anil hands and gehiiis, all American! The artist and sculptor, Mr. J. A. Bailly, a citizen of Philadelphia, is here beside me on this platform to-day. Modest in person, un assuming in manner, how must his soul kindle as he looks oil his finished statue and on. these admiring thousands, anil listens to the-songs 'of thrilnug hearts gushing from,lips of, inno cent sweetness.attuned to the divine iSarmo nies of music! This, too, is his hour, of-tri umph; anil let all accord to him due pfraise for this masterpiece of sculpture. Genius- has its ■ triumphs, and her heroes are: crowned , with ■ the laurels of all ages. ■•-■-■ In .the centre of the foundation, is maced a box containing the names of ehUcnen and teachers, Directors ami Board of! Controllers, Mayor and City Oouucils, heads of* depart ments, records of the association, etc.;-and a ■ copy of tlieHoly. Bible. Tlie base of tlie states-is of Yirgiuia.granite; from, the-Bioh mond, quarries, anilis in four - pieces, ' weigh ing about twenty tons. The statue & of white marble, 8 feet 6 inches high. The left hand of- Washington rests on. the Mlt of his sword, sheathed ia,peace; his rightT- band rests oh the Bible, the Bible on the Constitution arid American flag which drapes the supporting column on the the figure.. The weight ■of the figure is about-six terns- Tho whole i height of nbase and .- statue, is ; 18, feet 6.indies, . and was erected, under, tlie superintendence ot , Stirutliers & Son, of this city. On the north ' float- the base will bear, the name Washing ’ i;o>n; on the south this inscription; . j ERECTED ■ BY TUB 1 WASHINGTON.MOrfIIJIUNT A£SOCIA'B(p>\ . or the. ■ FIltHT’ SCHOOLDISTIUCJT. OF rB^'KHV^VANaV, The total cost, including a railing, will be abouts<>,s3o. ,4 ~-.■■■■■■ , ; Our work is done at.last. Our Instory and our actions are before the peoplo tor their iudgmesb. It may bo said that ties.is a small aflmr iu, tliis, day oi mighty aclneyeiiarajH, when lion ways sweep, oyer plains and span dyers and. clunb. the summits °t ldßliest mountains; binding with golden spikes the geographical extremes of our HepubliC; linking tne> great oceans by cattal;: circling the earth andplowibgthe oceans with electric messengers, in .preparation ot the day vfhen the hosannas of liberty shall sweep mp pole to pole. Great as these things are, physi cally considered,, they; smalt when compared with the astounding results whiCh will flow ftom them. Although our statue Is I but small, yet. if it opens wide the pearly - gates of art culture lu our city; if it promotes s ~ im ► \ * >MS r < , ■> r r t -*J -jJ-y.^W ■ aM^ijajLt6r Ltd l) J l/i** < , p I l » i, h * \ * Lyi * vj" t * •<}-AIW2(I > , .. .' m rj ’ ' li 1 t r 1 V £ FETHERSW. Ptabb&tei 1 ' j r. i. •• V price {pflßiii o^ffm refinement iir therpjibliiS'tiiMfcf if if tends fit ,'\ fliLMeaHf to fi(itl'tTJtei«uy Aiatrica* nationalifyyfjybejue brecut*#r of-statues iff , j I'cnn anaFrnnHin % ntad other 'Americans of 1 real north, it vtH Imre circle*# Home of the *<j objects eonfemplaited by its projr«Sbft\ r ‘ As I took oil this one, there rises within .my a secret joy wlriWfe, like a riivfac charm, rushes through allnvv lintiirri. l ■ It S»fb»; ■ The statue -vrlll tipeak! Yes, the ailcnf. aohl, bcau- Tiiill marble will utter A perpetual? voice. It ■will tench American patriot ..npaftyfhe- grab a lessons of .Washlugibis’N pure diameter.,. it , wlfl speak to the fpatrifet; pilgrims .whoyfronf' allnatlons, visit tnesfirine ;of. Ani3eaf«iWin<le; peneierice. ■ It.will be ttpoiir dear’cbxlHren also • .an object'lessonof pereiEuial beauty httaigriiCer fulness. .. Snfferme to sny’a few words as ,f<> 'rtie;<ia y -rthe place; antfyVashiugton. Yesterday was tlip Sabbath of the rsordysw' \ygll as the. Sabbath .of patriotism. Jj'iibluno spectacle! By common consent? the rtsaltof tour Christian eivihzation,-the fjord had precedence'. This was' righ&-?G<fcl' first; Iribcrty next".-. •- ■- > i.« < - »*,.« - Though the shout of ‘ jubilant mirthwra not hearrtin all our streets* nor «the boamfejgHiS cannori,nor the rattleof musketry, the risrial outward demonstrations ofanasients joy, yet;.the nation was ilot without its jjjys, peerless and grand. American patriotisittfmoP Uhrlstianify—twin brothers as they are—met; embraced, nnd'knelt nronnd ,thrice Hten t&oa*- sand altars, nntlarose; strengthened by tfe** act, .to bless tied forlriberty! All over iwr beloved land Christianity gave to, pafriotian* • the pledges ofimmortality, and flungaroisn* the hallowed memories of the Revolution ttae flowerage and Jfragranee of heaven. ’ .. ..To*day we meet amid the .glad tumtilt of-ae nation’s jubilee. The -sovereign symbols ; e#F, Americau nationality begin again to loolc uat> ■ from beneath the blood-fringed of a fratricidal -strife. ; The genius :of America* ? ■ constitutional ' liberty once morn soars owi serriphwinris'rif'peace, seeking’the, altitudes* of new, higher, and more vigorous .and bar-*- monious ' nationhood. Arid so', from" occan»- Inslicd margins of Atlantic coasts east to the.- goldeu-plains and serene waters of the toveljr/ Pacific ori the west, and from where liberty ?«». whispering in .Cuban waters which«sweetly margin the.orange groves of Florida,’ on the ■ south, to the snow-clad cliffs of Canada and: Alaska on the north, a reviving and uniting' people slug hosannas of praise to the Jehovah!, of Washington, 1 *‘who has made and preserves us a nation?' : The place where the statue stands. ’Ha sacred grouud! Just at the vestibule of Xiber- ? ty’s temple!, Just, by the . steps from which was first proelaimedr the Declaration of Inde pendence ! On tile very spot often pressed by the living feet of Washington! Just' in the shade, tooi of old Independence Hall 1 As ITiUadelpluaas/whatatreasure is m our midst, to guard and love—the greatest place on, earth save Calvary. The jilace where the gi ants of the Eevolution assembled—master-men t of the olden time and of all -time. are. model revolutiohlsCsof this day,' and all . days ** to come are'thoy. “Independence Hall !”:how- •'j vve ought to love atari 1 cherish thee with • S less Vigilance and gratitude,thymemoriesv and ? $ theslnning irehord! of sacrificei' of matchless eloquence, and,unsurpassed courage! The place where Patrick Henry cleft the thunder- - cloud of British oppression vvitli the lightnings ipf free speech!' atuf sent flying over the!c!olo-» nies brave words : of cheer to the trembling,: yet marshaliug revolutionists. thrilling theme WiththeimmOrtaliSyof invincibilitySThtv jilace where Iticham Henry Deo pouredfbrlh'/v onwiUingearsaudwanuheartathci rushing. l !', floods Of his polished eloquence. bursting tlm ,J chains and fetters PC monarchy forever f The- ■% place where Adams, the eider, tore : away the ~>i scarlet drapery from proud England?* throne, 1 , breaking the sceptre, and trampling ifnddr foot.- the' royal ■ insigniai ©Dkingiy despot rsmp and ■driving the! last : anil in the colli d, oS:anda throned, monarchy ! Such is the. p lope ffomr; whence the statue ol our Washing ton, looks out upon the passing millions. . . Washington! beloved, heroic, George Washington! His praise i s on-every lip; hue life-is mirrored in everypatriot-heart; •his wisdom, prudence and virtue ill amino the j vision.of statesmanship; and his full-orbed J character; inbreathes the j issues.. o:f a • higher-' J life into the patriot; brotherhood of the nations, f It is a wise and beautiful Erovitl ence-whiqh. /; elevates and cnawns the goo ’d ■ insi man,jJ and sets great characters like s tars in.. the skies of national aad moral historjv. And so the' fame of*otur peerless state is .<] star of first magnitude, shall shin! e ac.it sparkle \ through all the ages which may j ,-ett belong t**- the prophetic destiny of earth., ' To;every great character there is a vitalizing ' " ' - eler "~' 1 “ and crowning element. In my. hinobic judgvi, meat, the grand and distinctive" feature intite, . character of Waehington has I)«Ven veiled from ,i public view by the -writers anil' boofcimnkers-.'; of the past. ■; Let inehumblv. uia-ell toidajr i that feature which ,yiumod.this 'rjnnernatnre-| and moulded into symmetric al otreiigth ajjdi! beauty his whole character. • " : 1 . ' 'Washington-was . a Christian. ?It .was, hial faith iii the Bible ns a Divine revelation,. ands his faith in anti practice of th e ■ truths- o£t th<te Gospel of jestis-Slessiah, which; girdled-and. guided him. It was Chvisttan.ity vvhlch,ucirv-odl[ his heroism audipade liim ii iviaeililc.; 16 wagi Christianity which,, breathe*! its .spint-p»vv#Ja into his natrmflsm, and made Mm faiishtiw persevering..; It- was .Ciirjitianity. tired , liis impulses, ' arid;v m.u-e tln-wft" noble and) . irresistible. ,■ . I?-, tianity wliw-h . cave mottldsiin sUs:ngtbJ.S|fl his integriegyananiado luia. honesty jmrei|ji!y| and wise.. It .wiis the Divanb Christianity circling, his, Inner naSure_a«®Calj Beritecosial flame, which, mive being the characteristics', ca, wisdom* KtffitMS and beaturjr, aiul presented); hiw.tOr, iis the model..off hood. The charms- hud matchless character haws' ‘ writer, whose name 1 would;gladb» I knew it, this majestic eulogy !—*?;,¥„ AjlfiS merciful:,. Scipio was content, patient, but it wasrese-.wsd lilendthem all in one; apd ilka terpieae of the Creciaai.artist, to e« glove of- associated b«»uty the modal, the pericctioa.of. evorj-ptef* general, he marshaled the peawhsy/MggMW ran, awl supplied l>y discipline fjMK-; iwgflM experience; os a statesman* .hd,f policy of the Cabinet lnt<%.thh;4Mll|mßHM hensiv.e system oft' geijeftil, adMbKSHHI such were/ the ‘wipduut. -and' the philosophy «8 l his ',‘WfW al to ’the soldier and -added the sagev 4t stained with ww» crimes , tipnist, he was,A^ft l ' for aggression Ids country called him ■ erty nnsbeath^d ft, Had he' steppetV doubted what station,: last gloiihusnct;or«Mrra^w.fl&ftM^^^^H| «yirat iu Vi-WS.I . Not world* to' ' win'ii puaeawM Kcaigu^lUa| TctgnpltteMg , ;A‘Ah,"IH tp|§| J, I VL'WHi' '■*
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers