The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World

I N A UG U R A T I O N
OF
T HE S TAT UE OF
LI B E R T Y ENL I G HTE NING
T HE
W OR LD
B Y T HE
PR ES I DEN T O F T H E U N I T ED ST A T ES
O N B E D L OW S I S LA N D ,
’
N E W YO R K
T H UR S D A Y, O C T O B E R
I s s ued
u nder
the
flutlz o r z ty of
’
2 8,
1 88 6
Commit/66
N E W YO R K
D
.
A
PPL ETON
AND
1887
C O MPA N Y
A s it w o ul d
sh o u
ld
w ish to
h
se e m
t at
po s s e s s
m a n y th o u s a n d
m e m o ri a l
a
o
A m e ri c a n s
f th e m a g ni fi c e n t
nn e c te d w i th th e unv e ilin g b y th e Pre s i
o f B a rth o l d i s fa m o u s s t a tu e
o f th e U ni t e d S ta te s
of
L i b e r ty E nli gh te nin g th e W o rl d
o n B e d lo w s I s l
an d
T h u r s d a y Oc to b e r 2 8 1 8 8 6 th e fo ll o w in g a c c o u n t
o f th e p r o c e e d i n g s
in c l u d in g th e a d d re s s e s in fu ll h a s
b e e n p re pa re d un d e r th e a u th o ri ty o f th e A m e r i c a n
T o th e a b o ve h av e b e e n a dd e d a b ri e f
C o m m i tte e
h i s to ry o f th e s ta tu e a n d th e b e a u ti fu l e n g ra vin g w hi c h
w a s e x e c u te d a s th e invi ta ti o n c a rd to th e hi s to r i c c e r e
m o ni a l fo rm in g a l to g e th e r a m o s t a ttra c tiv e s o u v e ni r o f
a n e v e n t o f n a t i o n a l i m o r ta n c e
a
n
n
n
i
n
g
d
o
t
e
d
to
e
p
fo rm a n e n d u rin g b o n d b e tw e e n th e t wo gre a t s i s te r
r e pu bli c s
Fra n c e a n d th e U ni te d S ta te s
r
d e nt
ce emo
ni a l
co
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N E W Y OR K, N
o vem be r , 1
886
.
LI B ER TY
W O R LD
EN LI G H T EN I N O T H E
.
H OR I Z I N G T H E P R E S I DEN T
A N D S E T A PA R T A S I T E F OR
TO
C O L OS S A L S T A T U E O F L I B E R T Y E N
THE
A N D T O P R OV I D E
L I GH T E N I N G T H E W O R L D
THE
P E R M A N EN T M A I N T E N A N C E A N D
F OR
P R E S E R VA T I ON T HER EOF
J OI N T
R
E S OL U T I ON
D E S I GN A T E
A UT
'
,
.
W/z z r ea s Th e Presi d e n t has com mu ni cated to
,
Congress t h e i nform ati o n that citize n s of t h e
Fr e n ch Rep ubli c p ropose to co m m em orate t h e one
h u n d red th anni versary of o u r i nd e pe n d en ce by
e re cting at th e i r o wn cost a colossa l b ronze
statu e of Li be rty Enligh te ning t h e World u p o n
a p e d estal of suitable p roporti ons to b e b ui lt by
p rivate subscripti ons u pon o n e of the i sland s b e
l ongi ng to th e Un ite d S tates i n t h e harbo r of
Ne w York ; an d
W/z e r m s I t i s p rop e r to p rovid e fo r t h e care
an d p rese rvatio n of thi s gran d m o nu m e nt of art
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'I VA UG UR A T I ON
6
OF
TH E
an d of th e ab id ing frie n d s hi p of ou r an ci ent ally ;
ther e fore
B e it R es o lve d fl
y the S e na te
°
s e n ta i z ves
a nd
H
f Kep r e
o use
o
l
t
ed
M
e
n
i
t
a
e
:
o
m
e
U
S
A
r ica
f
f
Co n
o
That the Presi d e nt of th e United
S tat e s h e and h e i s h ereby authorized an d di
r e c te d
to accept the colossal statue of Lib erty
Enlightening th e World
whe n p resent e d by
citizens of th e Fre n ch R e p ubli c an d to d esignate
an d set apart for th e e re ction th er e of a su itable site
u po n eith er Go ve rnor s o r B e d lo w s I slan d i n th e
h arbor of Ne w Yo rk and u po n th e compl etion
the reo f shall cau se the sam e to be i naugu rat e d
with su c h cere m onies as will se rve to testify the
gratitu de of ou r p eop le for thi s exp ressi v e an d
feli citou s m em orial of th e sy mpathy of th e citi ze ns
of ou r siste r Rep ublic ; an d h e i s h e reby au tho r
iz e d to cau se su i table regu lations to b e m ad e fo r
its futu re m ai ntenan ce as a beacon an d fo r th e
p ermanent care an d p r eser v ation th er e of as a
m o nu m en t of art an d of th e co nti n ue d good wi ll
of th e great natio n w h i c h aid ed u s i n o u r s tr u ggle
for freedo m
es s
r
g
a s s e m ble d ,
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App r o v ed M a r c h
3,
1 8 77
.
S TA T U
E
OF L I B ER
P R OCEED I N G S
A m e r i ca n s wh o w e r e
P a ri s
IN
so
TY
7
.
PA R I S
.
fo r t u n at e
as
to
be
ul
w
i
t
e
e
d
1
8
8
n
s
s
4
J y
p e rh a p s t h e m o s t n o ta bl e c e l e br at i o n o f t he
d ay t h at h as e v e r b ee n h e l d in t h e O ld W o rl d
Th e s tat u e o f L i b e r ty b y B a rt h o l di c e r
t a in ly h a d m u c h t o d o w it h t he gr eat n e s s o f
A ppr o p riat e a d d r e s se s w e r e m ad e
t he o ccasi o n
by M d e L e s se p s a n d L e v i P M o r t o n t h e
A m e r i ca n M i n i s t e r an d t he fo ll o w i ng l e tt e r
w as r e a d :
in
on
th e 4t h
o
f
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P
R ESI D E N CE
DU
P
MY
D E A R M R M O RT O N
C ON SE I L ,
A R I S,
F r iday ,
4
.
I have b ee n as pe r
haps y o u kno w se riou sly i n d isp osed an d i n ord e r
to be e qual to all m y d uties a m oblige d to ca r e
fo r myself to an exte n t to w h i c h I h av e n ot
M y l a b ors of yesterday fa
bee n accu stom ed
t igu e d m e m u c h an d I a m re com m en d e d to take
to d ay th e m ost abso lu te r ep os e
T h e Gove r nm e nt of t h e Repu b l i c wi ll b e r e pr e
sented t o day i n yo u r p rese nce by se v era l m inis
ters Fo r m e wi ll r e mai n a ll t h e r egre t of n ot
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L u e UG UR A I
3
mmv
z xa z
cu r
being able to b e p resen t i n perso n a t this festival
i n hono r of the fra t e rnity of two great r epu bli cs ;
b u t y o u a r e assu r e d that I shall b e th e re i n spi rit
h e art an d soul
Accept my d ea r M r Morton m y e ntire d e
J U L E S F E RR Y
v o tio n
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THE
PR o c Es V E R B A L
.
T he fo ll o w i n g is a tr a n s l at i o n
ces ver é a l
-
o
tion w hich
,
a
sm
f
t h e pr o ce e di ng s
w as
m a rv e l o u s
it h
’
s
a rt
s
c o n t ai n e d in
p e ci m e n
o
f
f t he
p
at t h e pr e s e n t a
a
o
bo x
,
ro
in i t s e l f
t h e F re n c h
go l d
.
T h e 4 th of J uly 1 8 84 ann iversary d ay of
Am eri can I nd epen de n ce
I n th e p resence of M J ules Fe rry M i ni ste r
of Foreign A ffai rs of Fran ce and President of th e
Cou n cil of Mi niste rs
Cou n t F e rdi nand d e Lessep s i n th e nam e of
Fran co Am eri can Uni on
th e Com mitte e of th e
an d of the national manifestation of which that
com mi ttee has b e e n th e organ has p re s ented th e
c olossa l statue of
Liberty Enlighte ning th e
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S TA T U
E
OF L I B ER
TY
9
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'
World th e work of th e scu lp to r B arth ol d i to
h is Ex cell e ncy M r M orton United S tates M iniste r
at Pari s p raying him to b e th e i nt e rp rete r o f th e
national s e nti m en t of wh ic h thi s work i s th e ex
pression
M r M orton i n th e nam e of h is com patriots
thanks t h e Fren ch A m e rica n Uni on fo r th i s testi
m ony of sy mp athy fro m t h e Fren ch p eople ; h e
d eclares that i n vi rtu e of th e po we rs c o nferr e d
u pon him by th e P residen t of th e U nite d States
an d th e co m m itte e of th e work i n A m eri ca r e p r e
sented by its ho norable Pr e si d e nt M r W i llia m M
E varts h e ac cepts th e statu e an d that i t shall be
ere cte d i n conform ity w it h th e vote of Congress
of th e 2 2 d of Feb ruary 1 8 77 i n th e harbo r of
Ne w York as a sou ve ni r of t h e u nalte rable friend
shi p o f two nation s
I n faith of w hi ch th e re ha ve s igned :
I n th e n am e o f Fran ce
M J U LE S F E RR Y
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M in is te r of F o r e ign A f
I n th e n am e of th e Uni te d S tates
M R M O RT O N
.
a ir s
.
,
,
fli in is te r
f
o
t /z e
Un ite d S ta te s
In t h e na m e of t h e French Am eri can Co m m ittee
M F E R D IN A N D D E L E SS E P S
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INA U
10
G UR A TI ON
OF
TH E
Th i s p r o ces z/er oa t was ta k e n t o M J ul e s
F e rry in o r d e r t o o b tai n h i s s i g n at ur e he a s
pr e v i o u s ly s t at e d b ei n g u n a bl e t o b e pr e se n t
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Th e F r e n c h fr i g at e I s er e a rr i v e d in t he
L o w e r B ay o f N e w Y o rk o n W e d n e s day
n
d
u
n
e
1
1
8
8
a
t w o d ay s l at e r s he w a s
J
7
5
e s co rt e d
w i t h i m p o s i n g c e r e m o n i e s by a l a rg e
A m e r i ca n s 'u ad r o n t o B e dlo w s I s l a n d w h e re
B a r t h o l di s fa m o u s s tat u e o f L i b e rty w a s s a fe l y
l an de d o n th e a fte r n o o n o f J u n e r oth T he
n a va l di s pl ay
w it h t he a d v a n tag e o f p e rfe c t
w e at h e r w a s br i ll i a n t a n d s u cces s ful A d m i r a l
L aco m b e a n d his s ta ff w i t n e s s e d a fi n e m ilit a rv
a n d c i v i c pr o c e s s i o n in h o n o r o f t he o cca s i o n
a n d w e r e o ffi cia ll y r ec ei v e d by t h e m ay o r o f t he
ci ty o f N e w Y o rk
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E
OF L I B ER
S TA T U
W AR
W A SH I N GT ON C I T Y
G ENE R A L
,
D
TY
1 1
.
E PA R T M E N T
S epte m be r
2 7,
1
8 86
.
Among th e requ i re me nts o f t h e
J oi nt Resol utio n of Congress app r ove d M arc h 3
1 8 77 au thorizing th e Presi d e nt to assign an d se t
apa r t a site o n w hi c h to e re ct th e colos sa l statu e
Lib erty E nlig h te ning th e World i s one that
Of
afte r th e com pletion of certai n p reli mi naries th e
Presid e n t s hall cause th e statu e to be i naugu rate d
w it h su ch ce re m oni e s as will se r v e to testify th e
g r atitu d e of ou r p eople etc
As th e p rope r p erforman c e of thi s d uty wou ld
r equi re of t h e Pre sid e nt frequ e n t p ersonal confe r
e n c e s wi th th e Co m m itte e ch arge d with maki ng
arrange m e nts fo r t h e i naugu rati on of th e statu e of
w h i ch t h e co nve ni en ces of th e p ubli c b usiness r e
qui ri ng his p e rsona l attenti on would n ot ad m it h e
has d e s ignate d you to rep rese n t hi m o n th e occa
sio n of th e i naugu r ati o n of th e statu e an d d esi res
y o u to consu l t freely wi th th e Co m mitte e having
c ha rge of t h e ce r e m oni es an d a ct i n accord
wi t h th ei r V i e ws an d w is h es i n carryi ng ou t th e
p rogram m e w hi c h t h at Com m itte e m ay agree
u po n
As th e u se of th e m i litary force i n t h e h arb o r of
N e w York m ay b e aske d to take p art i n t h e cere
m onies of th e o ccasion you a r e at l ibe r ty to give
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INA U
12
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
orders to all troop s w heth e r u n d e r you r com mand
as D i visio n Co m mande r or not to parti cipate to
th e extent r e qui red of th e m
V e ry respe ctfully
You r obedie nt servant
R C D R UM
( Signed)
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A ct ing S ecr e ta ry
M A J OR
-
GE N ER A L
Co m m a n d
J M
.
ing
S C H OFI E L D
.
D
iv is io n of
Go ve r n o r
’
,
t/z e
Atl
a n tic ,
I s la n d , N e w Yo r ' H
s
I N A U G U R A T I ON
I Va r
f
o
CER E M ON I E S
a r oo r
.
T h e following gene ral outli ne of a p lan fo r
th e ce rem oni es atten d ing th e i naugu rati on of th e
statue of Li berty Enlighte ni ng th e World has
been ap p ro ve d by M aj or Gene ral S c h o fi e ld to take
p lace T hu rsday O ctobe r 2 8 1 8 8 6
F ir s t — A m i litary naval and ci vi c parad e i n
Ne w York City T h e m arch of th e colu m n to te r
m inate at the Batte ry an d at othe r pier s i n th e
lo w er part of t h e city wh e re steam ers wi ll be tak e n
for B e d lo w s I s land Th e positions of th e vario us
organizat i ons i n th e colu m n wi ll b e su ch that i n
tu rning o ff to the p iers fro m w h i c h they are to e m
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S TA T U
bark the re w ill
i n th e m arch
be
,
E
OF
LIBER T Y
1
.
3
no cro s sing of col u m ns or d elay
.
—A t a giv en signal th e steam e rs
S e co n d
p
,
re
ced e d by su ch s hi p s of war a s may b e p resent w ill
m ove i n a p rescrib e d ord e r to B e d lo w s Island an d
wi ll occu py th ei r d esignate d p ositions
,
’
,
.
—T h l i m i t
h a rfa ge o f the i s l a n d w i ll o n l y
p e rm i t o f th e l a nd i ng o f a co m p a ra t i ve l y s m a ll p ro p o rt o n o f th o s e
w h o m a y w i s h t o ta '
H e nc e th e l e a d
e p a rt in t he ce re m o n i e s
ing s te a m e rs o n l y w i ll to u c h a t th e w h a r f w h i l e a ll t h e o th e rs w i ll
b e a s s i g ne d p o s t i o n s fro m w h i c h th e c e re m o n i e s m a y b e s e e n
N OT E
e d a re a a n d
e
w
i
.
,
,
i
T/z ir d
.
.
—Ap p ropriate
th e statu e to
set
be
ce rem oni e s at t h e base of
co nclu d e d n ear t h e h ou r of su n
.
nationa l salute fro m a ll th e b atte rie s
i n th e harb or ashore an d afloat D uring th e s a
l ute th e gu e sts an d othe rs o n th e i slan d wi ll r e
e m bark an d th e v essels of th e fl e et wi ll retu rn to
thei r w harves
F zf t/i —T h e ce re m oni es w il l b e con clu d e d by
th e i llu m i natio n of th e statu e
Al l m ilitary naval and ci vi c so ci eti es an d o r
a n iz a tio n s whi c h d e si re to take p art i n the para d e
g
w ill make early ap pli cation to t h e A m eri can C o m
m itte e at N o 3 3 Me rcer S treet N e w York City
or to th e Gran d M ars h al No 1 B road way so that
places may b e assigne d the m i n the col u m n and
F o n r t/z
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A
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'N A U G UR A TI ON
4
OF
TH E
the d e tailed p rogra m m e of the p arade mad e p ubli c
i n d u e ti m e
T he Com m itte e wi ll fu rni s h transp o rtation only
fo r those wh o are to take part i n the cere monies at
the statu e and those gu ests wh o are p rovide d with
ti ckets ad m itting the m to seat s up on th e p latform
All oth ers who may wi s h to take passage upon th e
bay w il l p r ovide the i r o w n tran sp ortatio n
.
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Approve d
( Signed )
J
.
M
.
S C H OF I ELD ,
M aj
Ge n era l
or
.
P u blishe d by o rde r of t h e Am eri can Com m i ttee
of the S tatu e of Liberty
H
R
Signe
I
A
D B U T LE R
d
R
C
(
)
.
,
S ecr e ta ry
.
Gene ral Charles P Stone has bee n appointe d
Grand M arsh al of th e parad e to take p lace i n th e
Ci ty of Ne w York
T he senio r o ffi ce r of th e U S Navy w h o may
be p rese nt is e xp ected to act as Ad m i ra l of the
Fle et and dire ct th e m ove m ents of a ll ve ssels tak
i ng part i n th e parad e u pon t he bay
.
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O ffi cia l :
J
.
P
.
S AN GE R ,
B r evet M aj
or
U S
.
.
A r my ,
E
OF
S TA T U
ME M B E R S
Mr
AT
’
z
M r and M m e
.
Mr
’
D e lefga es
Mr E
.
pa r
S PU L L E R
D élcfgu és
Mr
,
-
-
le S é n a t
pa r
,
F r a n co
A m er ica ine
’
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,
Sé nateu r
,
,
,
l a C/z a l n br e d e s D epu tés
’
Li eu t d e Vaisseau
.
d zc M in is tr e d e l a
p
ca 7n
B U REA U
1e C olon el
5
.
D ép uté
D épu té
V I L LE GE N T E ,
A id e d e
B A R T H O LD I
.
P E LI S S I E R ,
D E S M ON S ,
Mr
L E S S E PS
Un io n
l
,
Gén éral
’
UG
e
DE
J A U R E S S énateu r
I A m ir a l
’
le
A
.
1
.
Co mte F E R D IN A N D
P r és id en t d n Co n ite d
le
BER T Y
F R E N CH D E L EG A T I ON
T H E C E R E M ON I ES
OF T H E
P R ESEN T
LI
DE
.
,
111 a r in e .
P u s v,
D ele
e M in is tr e d e la Gu e r r e
g u e pa r '
'
Mr
le
Colon e l
L A U SSE D A T ,
'
D z r ecte a r d e l
Mr
.
L EO N R
OB
C/z ef d e Ca
Mr
.
’
Eco le
ER T
b in t d a
d es A
r ts
et
M etie r s
’
.
,
e
M i n is tr e de Z I
’
n s tr u ctio n
P n blz gn e
’
.
D E S C H A M PS ,
i
Vice P r es d e n t d zc Co n s ez l M
’
-
M r H I EL A R D
.
’
u n ic z
'
pa t
d e P a r is
.
,
M em br e détefgne d e la C/z a m br e d e Co m nz er ce d e P a r is
’
.
'N A UG UR A TI OI V OF
16
M r G I R OU D
.
A
Mr
,
i
D ep a te; d eleg a e d a M in is tr e d a Co mm er ce
’
n c en
’
C H A R LE S B I G OT
.
TH E
’
D elejga e
’
la
pa r
,
fi r esse d e
M r N AP O LEON N E Y
.
.
P a r is
.
,
i
P r es de n t d e '
a S o cz é te d e Geo r a nie Co mm e r cia ie
g p
’
'
M r L E ON M E U NI E R
’
.
’
.
M e m br e
OR
DER
,
po n da n t d e
co r r es
1
Un io n F r a nco
'
E X E R C I S E S ON B E D L OW S
T H U R S D A Y O C T OB E R 2 8 1 88 6
'
OF
,
.
I I Signal gu n
-
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,
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Of
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.
R
ICH AR D S
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S T OR R S D
,
.
D
.
Coun t FE R D I N A N D D E L E SS E PS o n behalf
of Franco A m eri can U nion
,
-
V
.
.
I I I Praye r by Re v
.
D
M usi c d uri ng the landing and seati ng
the asse m bly
IV
A m er ica in e
I SL A N
,
,
I
’
-
P resentatio n Ad d ress
E VA R T S
.
,
H on
.
W I LLI A M M
.
.
VI
.
VI I
.
Unveiling
.
Salute A sa l vo f r o m all t h e g u ns i n t h e
harbor
.
.
VIII
.
M usic
.
1
I N A U G UR A TI OI V OF
8
A fte r t h e a rr i v a l
U n ite d
S t at e s
,
a
o
f
TH E
t h e P r e s i de nt
by
cc o m p an i e d
H
on
f t he
o
T
.
F
.
.
W i ll ia m C
W h it n ey S e c r eta ry o f t h e N a vy H o n W i ll
ia m C E n di co tt S e c r e ta ry o f W ar H o n L
m
ar
e c r et a r y o f t h e
L
a
S
e
r
i
o
r
C
I
n
t
a nd
'
t he F r e n c h v i s it o r s
an d o t h e r
di sti n gu i s h e d
B a ya r d , S e c r eta ry
o
f S tat e
,
H
on
,
.
,
,
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.
.
,
.
,
.
,
gu e st s t h e m ee ti ng w as ca ll e d t o o r d e r b y
G e n e r a l S ch o fi e ld w ho pr e si de d d ur i n g t h e
ce r e m o n i a l Th i s w a s fo ll o we d by t h e
,
,
.
PR A YE R
OF R E V
.
R I
CH A R D
S
.
ST
OR R S
D
,
D
.
.
Almighty God ou r H e ave nly Fath e r w ho art
of an i nfi nite m aj esty and m ercy by whos e cou ns e l
and mi ght th e cou rses of th e w orld s a r e wi sel y or
d a i ned and i rresi s tibly established yet w h o take s t
though t of th e childre n of m en and to wh o m ou r
ho m ag e i n all ou r works i s j ustly d ue : W e bl e ss
an d p rai s e T hee fo r t h e know l e dge and u nde r
standi ng w hich T hou b e s to w e s t u p on m an an d fo r
th e s pi ri t of constan cy an d cou rag e born withi n
We glorify T h e e for the
h im of T hy i nspi ration
co m m an d whi c h T h ou do s t give hi m o v e r treas
u res of th e m i ne and the stre ngth of th e hi lls that
,
,
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,
S TA T U
E
OF
LI
BE R
T Y
,9
.
h e m ay m ake th e m th e mi niste rs of le s s ons of a gra
c io u s s ignifi can ce ; an d w e h u mb ly an d gratefully
recognize T hy p resen c e i n all w h ich h e achi e ves of
b e au ty and p owe r T h e m in d to d e vise an d th e
wi ll to ac co m plish bot h are of Thee Fro m Th e e
com e th th e a r tifi ce r s skill ; and to T hee t h e pa
t ie n c e of faithful workm e n i n w hate ve r d exterous
labor of the hand s e qually ren d e rs lau d and
p rai s e
I t i s i n Thy favor and th rough th e ope ration of
th e Gosp e l of T hy grac e that cities stan d i n qui e t
p rospe ri ty ; that p ea cefu l co m me rc e cove rs th e
s e as ; that p eoples and nations separated by ocean s
are no t seve re d i n sp i ri t b u t co nti nu e alli ed i n
com m o n d esi re and i n m u tual regard wi th happy
recollections an d w ith happie r h op es I t i s i n th e
b enign appoi ntm e nt of Thy w i ll that Li berty an d
Light att e n d in g e ach oth e r ad vance al w ays to a
su re r su p re m acy a m id th e m ani fol d tu m ult of th e
worl d an d th at th e ti m e co m e s constantly n eare r
wh e n th e e arth s hal l rest i n righteou sn e ss and
peace
W e gi v e T h e e th anks an d p raise this day for
th e lofty m e m orial h ere set u p of th e kind ly a ffe c
tion of o ne great p eople for anothe r ; fo r t h e s y m
an
d
h
e ski ll w hi ch has
a thie s w hi ch p ro m pt e d
t
p
wrought i t an d fo r all whi ch i t signi fies of re m e m
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INA U
20
G UR A
T I ON
OF
TH E
brance and of p romis e We p ray that T hou who
e n a b le s t man to m old th e m e tal an d m ake l ight
n in s his s e rvants wilt accep t th e d edication of thi s
g
m onu m ent to T h e e ; an d that h e r e it m a y abid e
u nd i s tu rbed by te m p e s t its m u nition of ro cks not
shake n by earth quak e wh il e wat e rs e n circl e i t and
t h e light o f th e m orning r e turns to gree t i t
We p ray that th e Li berty w hi ch i t r e pr e s e nts
m a y continu e to enlighten with b e n e fi c e n t in s tr u c
tion a nd to bl e ss with m aj e s ti c and wid e be n e
di ction th e nati ons w hi ch have part i n thi s work
of re now n ; that i t m a y s tand a sy mbol of p e r
an
d
that
walking
e
t
u a l con cord b etwee n the m ;
p
l n th e paths of kn owl e dg e an d freedo m th ey m ay
constan tly ad vanc e i n th e wisdom of th e i r cou n
i n m agnani m ou s e nte rp ri s e and i n th e n obl e
o ils
an d s a lutary arts w h i ch are ch e ri s h ed by p eac e
W e p ray for those w ho b e ar o ffi c e i n these
nation s ; that ruli ng i n T hy faith an d fear they
m a y partak e of t h e full n e ss of Thy favor ; that i n
all thi ngs p e rsonal p rosp e rity m ay attend the m ;
an d that wh at s oever i n p ubli c a ffai rs they d o o r
d e sign m a y b e so gu id e d an d furthe red i n Thy
p rovid e nce that w hat b e for e has b e e n beautifu l
and fruitfu l i n t h e h i s tory of th ese nati on s w hil e
j oyfully re m em bered s h a ll b e also continua l ly
surpass e d
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OF L I B E R T Y
S TA T U E
21
.
We p ray fo r all th e nations of th e earth ; that
in e qui ty an d charity thei r su re fou n dati ons m ay
be establish e d ; that i n p iety an d wisdom they
m a y fi nd a tru e w elfare i n obed i e n ce to The e
glory an d p rais e ; and that i n all th e e nlarge
m e nts of thei r p o w e r th ey may be ev e r th e j oyfu l
servants of H i m to w h ose h oly d o mi nion an d
ki ngd o m shall be n o e nd
Finally be pleased w e h u m bly b e s eec h T h e e
to gran t T hy blessing u nto th e cities w ith the
m ult i tudes of thei r h ousehold s b efore w h ich aris e s
thi s m on u m ent of p e ace ; a n d u nto u s fro m dif
fe r e n t land s and of v ari ous tongu es w ho are h e re
gath er e d ; tha t al l ou r d oi ng s b e ing m ove d by
T hy sp i ri t an d su bm itt e d to T hy gov e rnan ce m a y
b e c ro w n ed with T hy favor ; an d that havi ng
walked i n glad ness and faithful ness i n th e ligh t
whi c h T hou gi vest th roug h natu re an d art and
m an s d evi ce an d m ost of all through t h e Word
of Th y truth w e m ay co m e i n Thy grace to the
p erfe ct ligh t an d th e glori ous li berty of th e H e a v
e nl
e state
y
We o ffe r al l p raises an d seek all blessi ngs
wi th contrite co nfessio n of ou r sin s an d sh ort
com ings i n t h e Na me of H i m w h o love d u s and
sough t u s an d w h o H i mse l f h at h taugh t u s to
p ray sayi ng
,
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INA U
22
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
O u r Fath e r who art i n H e aven H allow e d b e
T hy Nam e ; Thy Kingdo m co m e ; T hy Wi ll be
don e on e arth a s i t i s i n H eaven ; Gi ve u s this
day ou r dai ly bread ; An d forgive u s ou r tres
passes a s we forgi ve tho s e w ho tr e spa s s agai n s t
us ; An d lead u s not i nto t e m ptati on ; B ut d e live r
u s fro m e vil ; F o r thi n e is t h e Kingd o m an d th e
Po w e r an d the Glory foreve r and e ver A M EN
,
,
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,
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.
C OU N T F E R D I N A N D D E L E S SEP S ON B EH A L F
F R A N C O A M E R I C A N U N I ON
,
OF
-
.
C o u n t F e r di n a n d d e
s
e n t e d t o t h e a u di e n ce
Lesseps
and
,
w as
t h e n pre
r e cei v e d w it h
w as
gr e at e n t hu si a s m
A s t h e v e n e r a bl e bu t a l e rt
w it h h e a d u n c o v e r e d
a n d h a n ds o m e o ld m a n
a l t h o ugh r ai n i n g s te pp e d fo r w a r d to a dd r e ss
t h e v ast as s e m bl ag e t h e n oi s e o f w h ist l e s in
c r e as e d a n d b e c am e dea fe n i n g M d e L e s s e p s
w a v e d h i s h a n d a s if t o s t o p t h e n oi s e a n d
l a ugh in gl y r e m a rk e d S t ea m w as i n v e n te d a s
a b e n e fi t a n d i t s pr o gr e s s i s w o n de rful bu t at
pr e s e n t it I s a n e v i l a n d r eta r d s t he pr o gr e s s
G r eat a ppl a u se fo ll o w e d t h i s
o f m y sp e e c h
.
,
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,
“
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'
.
S TA T U
m o t,
and
t u gs
an d
se p s
s
E
OF
LIB
ER
T Y
23
as s o o n as t h e st e a m w h i st l e s
o
-
st e a m e r s ha d s ub si d e d M
,
.
the
f
d e Le s
ai d
Ci tiz e ns of A m e ri ca ' I h a v e haste n e d to a o
c e p t t h e graciou s i nvitation accord e d m e by th e
Gove rn m en t o f th e gr e at Am e ri can Repub li c to
b e p res e n t t o day I t w a s a ge nerou s th ought of
those w h o p reside d at th e e re cti on of th e S tatu e
of Liberty
S he h a s h o nor e d e qually those w h o
have con cei ve d th is spi ri t of h osp itality an d those
w ho took great p leasu re i n accep ti ng i t
Lib
E
nligh
te
ni
ng
th
e
World
'
A
gran
d
b
eacon
e rt
y
raised i n th e m i dst of th e waves at th e th re s hold
of fre e A m eri ca '
I n landing u nde r t h e r ay s of h er ki n d ly ligh t
we k now that w e h av e r e ach ed th e co untr y w h ere
the in d ivid u a l i nitiati ve i s d ev e lop e d I n all i ts
po we r ; w h e re p rogr e ss is religion ; w h e re large
fortu nes be co m e t h e p rop erty of th e p eop le to
e nd o w chari ti es to en cou rage e d u cation to de
v e lo p sci en ce an d to so w for th e fu tu re see ds of
greate r be nefit
You hav e r eason citizens of A m er i ca to b e
p rou d of you r go ah ead ( App l aus e ) You have
made g rea t h ead way d u ring on e h u n d r e d y e ars
All h onor to t h is m otto o f you rs because you
,
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“
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'
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'
“
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,
INA U
24
G UR A TI ON
OF
TH E
hav e b e e n i nvi n cible i n you r i ntrepi dity ' I n
sp eaking to you th u s of t h e s ym pathy th at Fran ce
f e e l s for you I am e xp r e s s ing t h e s e nti m e nts o f
e ach
and every o ne of m y co m p a triots T he re
are no di s agreeabl e o r sorrowfu l r e collections b e
tw e en th e two nations T h e y hav e bu t on e ri val
r — that is p rogr e ss
W
e a cc e pt you r inv e n tions
y
as yo u accep t ours with out e nvy
T h e m e n who d e s e rv e an d w ho p ersevere are
to yo u r h e art I say like you —go ah e ad ( A p
l
au s e
We
u
nd
e rstand
e ach
oth
er
w
h
en
w
e
p
)
s p e ak i n this language
I feel that I am i n m y
ow n fa m ily w h e n I a m am ong you ( App lause )
Illustriou s d e sce ndants of Fre nc h n obility w h o
cross e d t h e Atlanti c a centu ry ago i n th e daw n
of you r i nd e p e nd ence th e e m ba s sadors of ou r
sym p a thy an d regard for you i n that n o b le strug
gle had b right v isions of you r great fu tu re T hei r
d rea m s h ave com e to pass ( Applause ) At th e
lapse of a centu ry o u r feeli ngs for you r e m ai n th e
T h e rep rese ntati ves of Fran c e dee m Am e r
s am e
i ca po we rful and free to d ay and p resent to
he r thi s e mb le m to p ro clai m that s h e i s no w
the p e rsonifi cation of libe rty
H ep worth D ixon
an English historian i n his work o n t h e N e w
Am erica afte r say ing that you r Consti tuti o n i s
neit h e r native no r does i t o we its o r igi n to E ng
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26
INA U
G UR A T I ON
tim e n ts ,
OF
TH E
th e m oti ve s th e e motions whi ch have filled
and m ov e d the hearts an d mi nd s of two great na
tions i n th e bi rth of t h e noble c o nception the
grand e m b o di m ent the co m plete e xecution of this
stup e ndous mo nu me nt no w u nveiled t o t he a d
m iri ng gaze of m en an d em b lazoned i n i ts coro na
tion of th e finish e d work w ith th e plaud its of the
world ' W hat ornam e nts of sp e e ch w hat eloqu ence
of hu man voi ce w h at costly gifts of gold frankin
cense an d myrrh of o ur hearts trib ute can w e bring
to th e celebratio n of this consu m m ate tri u mph o f
ge ni us of skill of labo r w hi ch sp eaks to day and
wi ll sp eak foreve r th e t h oughts t h e feeli ngs th e
frie nd ships of these t wo populous po werful and
fre e rep ublics kni t together i n th ei r p rid e an d j oy
at th ei r o wn establish ed freedom an d i n th ei r h op e
an d p u rp ose that the glad Ligh t of Liberty shall
Enlighte n th e World '
For this ard u ou s th em e th e Ame r i can Com mit
tee has h ad th e good fo r tu n e to p rese nt an em in ent
citize n an d accom p lishe d orator from grat e ful and
p leased atten tio n to w h ose eloquen ce the si m ple
o ffi ce th e com m itte e h as asked m e to discharge
wil l n ot long d etai n this exp ectant m ultitu de
I n th e confl ict w h i ch agitate d an d divided th e
peop le of th e Unite d States an d arou sed th e loyalty
and pat r i otis m of th e co u nt r y to t h e m ai ntenance
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S T A T UE
OF
LI
BER T Y
27
.
of ou r constitute d lib e rti e s th e lib erty lovi ng p eo
ple of Fran ce felt an i nten se an d soli ci tou s i nterest
W he n th e issu e of th e struggl e u p h eld an d con
firm ed t h e Gove rn m e nt m ai ntai ne d i ts u nbroke n
u nity an d mad e all i ts p e ople equal an d fre e the
liberty lovi ng p eople of France h aile d the tri u m p h
w ith an i m m e ns e an d v i vi d e nthusiasm Nor was
this e nth usiasm to b e satisfie d bu t by som e ade
quate a nd p e r m anent exp r ession of their sy m pathy
i n ou r fi e ry trial an d congratulation s at the a b s o
lute su p r e m acy of th e p ri n cip l es an d i nsti tutions
w hi ch had b ee n p ut i n p eri l an d h ad co m e out
fro m i t wi th ou t the sm ell of fire u p on thei r gar
m ents To t h is e n ergeti c m ove m e nt of t h e French
p e ople the r e was ad ded th ei r histori c an d m o m ent
ous friend shi p i n se curing o u r i n dep enden ce an d
the reci procal i nfl uen ces wh i ch had shap ed a nd con
fi rm e d th e free an d equal i nstitutions of th e t wo
cou ntries ; an d to th e worki ng of a ll th ese m oti ves
an d senti m ents of an arde nt an d ge nerou s p eop l e
w e o w e th e world ow es this visibl e an d p e r petual
e m b odi m e nt of th e love of liberty ani mating t he
two nation s w hic h stand s before u s an d th e world
t o d ay
To this rea l izati on t h e peop l e of Fran ce b rough t
th e fervo r an d i nspi rati on of Laboulaye an d H e n
ri Marti n th e Lafaye ttes an d th e i r ill ustrious com
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'I VA U G UR A T I ON
28
OF
TH E
panions to S p read abroad i n all int e lligent an d u p
right m ind s th e zeal of th e i r o w n high p urp ose s
They dr e w from th e w e ll fu rni s h ed nu m bers of
thei r accom plish ed and d i stinguished artists th e
ge niu s th e courage th e d e votion of spi rit th e in
domitable will of th e gr e at sculptor B artholdi
w hos e well e arn e d fa m e j ustifi e d t h e trust c o m
m itte d to h im and w h os e work covers with i ts
splend ors th e gifte d artist h is illustriou s art an d
th e happy cou ntry w hi ch gave h i m an d h i s labors
to this work T hey fu rnis h e d th e exqui sit e arti
the co nstructiv e ski ll and sci entifi c
s a n s h ip an d
trai ning and honest an d h earty labo r w hich have
togeth er w rough t ou t i n stubborn b ra s s and i ron
th e artist s d ream th e ai ry co n cep tion of h is mi n d
the shapely sculp tu re of his cu n ning h and till
here i t stand s u pon i ts fi rm base as i f a natu ra l
play mate of the ele m e nts fearing n o harm fro m a ll
the wi nds that blow T his people of France too
contribu ted fro m many sle nd e r m ean s and of
their free wi ll th e aggr e gate d w e alth d em an ded
fo r so vast an u nd e r taking all from thei r hearts as
w e ll as fro m th eir p u rses an d all for love of libe rty
at h om e an d l ove of libe rty ab road an d i n h earty
ho mage to the fri e ndsh ip of th ese g r eat repu b li cs
T h e co m mittee h ave no o ccasio n to i n si st u p o n
the s h a r e w hi c h th e p eop l e of the U nite d States
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S TA T U
E
OF L I B
ER
T Y
29
.
h ave taken i n th e h u m ble r o ffi c e of furnish ing a
p ed estal not u n worthy of the statu e n o r u n worthy
of ou r gra t efu l accep tan ce of this nobl e gift an d
app re ciati on of t h e ge ne rou s d isp ositio n wh i ch
p rom p te d i t
I n th e p erfe cted an d com p lete d
wo rk of th e pe de s tal th e geniu s of th e arch i te ct ;
the sagaci ty th e vari e d s cie ntifi c and p racti cal
acco m p lish m e nts of th e enginee r in chief ; th e con
struc tiv e facu l ty an d exp e ri e nce of t h e b u ilde r ;
an d th e m anifold an d m asterly p e rform an ces of th e
skille d work m e n u p on thi s p rod igious stru ctu re
an d i n th e e levation an d se curity of th e statu e
have all b ee n co mbi ne d to se t ou t th e statu e fo r
th e ad m i ratio n of ou r ow n p eople an d of al l co m
e rs to o u r shores
As with th e Fre n ch p eople so with ou r o wn
the w hole m eans fo r the great e x p enditu res of th e
work have co m e fro m th e fre e contri butions o f th e
p eop l e th e m sel ves an d t h u s th e co m m o n p eop l e
of both nations m ay j u st l y p oin t to a g reater a
n ob l e r m o nu m ent i n an d of t h e h istory and p rog
r e ss an d w e l fare of t h e h u man r a ce tha n e m p ero rs
or ki ngs or govern m ents hav e e v e r raised
M R P R E S I D EN T : Upo n t h e re co m m e nd ation of
the Presiden t of the Unite d S tat e s Congress a u
t h o r iz e d an d di re cted th e Presid e n t
to accept
th e colossal statu e o f Lib erty Enlig h te ning th e
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'N A U G UR A T I OI V OF
30
TH E
World wh e n p r e sented by citiz e ns of t h e Fre nch
Rep ubli c and to d esignate and s e t apart for the
e rectio n th e reof a suitab le site u po n e i th e r Gov
c ruor s o r B e d lo w s I s land i n th e harbor of N e w
York ; an d upo n the co m p letion the reof s h a ll cause
the sa m e to be i naugu rated w ith su ch ce re m onies
as w rll serve to t e stify th e grati tud e of ou r p eople
for the exp ressive an d feli ci tous m emorial of the
s y m pathy of th e citiz e ns of o u r si ste r r epub li c
T h e statu e o n the 4 th of J uly 1 8 84 i n Paris
was d eli ve re d to and accept e d by thi s Govern
m en t by th e au thori ty of the Presi de nt of th e
United States delegat e d to an d e x ecut e d by M in
ist e r M orton To d ay i n th e nam e of th e c itizen s
of th e Uni te d S tate s w ho have com p lete d th e pe d
e stal an d raise d th ereo n th e statu e an d of th e vol
m
u n ta r
com
ittee
w
ho
have
ex
e
cute
d
th
e
wi
ll
of
y
th e i r f e llow citizens I d eclare i n you r p resen ce
and i n th e p resen ce of th ese di s tinguish e d guests
fro m Fran ce and of this augu st ass e mblage of th e
h onorable and honored m e n of ou r land an d of
thi s cou ntless m u lti tu d e th at thi s p ed e s tal an d the
u nite d work of th e two rep ubli cs i s co m p le te d
an d surrend ere d to th e care a n d ke epi ng of th e
Go v ern m ent and th e p e op le of t h e Uni ted S tates
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S TA T U
E
OF L I
BER T Y
f M r E va rt s
31
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p e ec h M B a r
t h o l di a s s i s t e d b y M r D H K i ng J r r e m o v ed
t h e F r e n c h flag w h i c h h a d c o v e r e d t he fa c e o f
t he sta t u e w h i c h w a s t h e s i g n a l fo r a n o t h e r
e n t h u s iasti c o u t bur st o f t he s t e a m w h i s t l e s fr o m
t he floti ll a a n c h o r e d in fr o n t o f t h e i s l a n d a n d
a n ati o n a l sa lu t e fr o m th e s h i p s o f w a r d r o wn
ing co m pl et e l y b y t he v o lu m e o f s o u n d t h e
st r ai n s o f t he M a r s e i ll ai s e fr o m t h e b a n d
It
w a s full fi ft e e n m i n u te s b e fo r e t h e r e w a s s u ffi
ci e n t si l e n c e t o p e r m i t o f a ny m o r e s p ea k i n g
a n d t h e n r e p e ate d r o u n d s o f c h e e r i n g a s P r e s i
d e n t C l e v e l a n d ca m e fo r w a r d pr e v e n t e d h is
b e i n g h e a r d at t h e b eg i n n i n g o f his r e m a rk s
A t t h e cl o se
o
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A
CCEP T E D
BY T H E
PR E SI D E N T
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w ait e d 'u i e t l y w i t h a s m i l e o n his c o u n
t e n a n ce u n ti l t h e e n t h u si as m o f t h e a u di e n c e
H
e
,
h ad s p e n t i t s e l f a n d t h e n ac ce p te d
o f t h e n ati o n t h e co m pl et e d sta t u e
l o w i ng w o rds :
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on
in
b e h alf
t h e fo l
INA U
32
G UR A TI ON
OF
TH E
T h e p eop le of th e Uni ted S tates accept with
gratitude fro m th e i r b re thre n of the Fre nch R e
p ubli c th e gran d an d completed work of art w e
h ere i naugu rate T h is toke n of the affe ction an d
consid eration of the p eople of Fran ce d e m onstrates
th e ki nsh ip of rep ubli cs an d conv e ys to u s th e as
su rance that in ou r e fforts to com m end to m anki nd
the excellen ce of a gove rn me nt resting u pon po p u
lar will we still have beyond th e Am eri can conti
n ent a stead fast ally We are not h ere t o day to
bo w before th e r e prese ntation of a fierce and war
l ike god filled wi th w rath an d vengeance b ut w e
j oyously cont e m p late i nstead ou r o w n d eity keep
i ng watch and ward b e fore the ope n gates of
A m eri ca and greate r than all that h ave been cele
I nstead of graspi ng i n h er
b r a te d i n an cie n t song
h an d thu nd erbolts of te rro r and of death sh e holds
aloft th e ligh t w h i ch i llu mi nes th e way to m an s e n
franchi se m en t We w ill n ot fo rge t that Liberty
h as h ere m ad e h e r h o m e ; no r s h a ll h er chosen
altar b e neglected Wi lling votari es wi ll constant
ly keep ali ve i ts fi res an d t h ese shall gleam u pon
t he sh ores of ou r si s ter r ep ubli c i n th e East R e
fle c te d th en ce an d j oi ned with ans w e ri ng rays a
str e a m of ligh t shall pie rce th e darkness of ign o
rance an d man s opp r ession u nti l liberty e nlightens
th e world
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I N A U G UR A T I 0N
34
OF
TH E
any whe re attract att e ntion an d d ef e ren ce B ut
h e re o n A m e ri can soil it evi nc e s sp e cial s ign ifi
cance sy m bolizing th e e xist e n c e an d d e ve lop m e nt
of you r nation du ring m ore than one h u nd red
y e ars I t e m bodies th e m e rits you have di s p lay e d
b efor e t h e world d u ring that long p eriod i n th e
achi e v e m e n t of lib e rty
I m p r e s s e d by this great fact an d i n r e m e m
b ran ce of t h e s a m e a co mm i ttee of Fre nch ci tizen s
conc e i v e d the i d e a of e m bodying und e r th is strik
i ng form t h e beneficial w ork your repu bli c h a s
acco m pli s h ed i n m od e rn soci ety an d of e recting
at the entran ce of thi s m agni fic e nt h arbor th is
e m b l e m of p rogress for t h e i nstru ctio n of th e
w orld To u s A m e ri can s an d Fre nch m e n liberty
i s not on ly a co m m o n doctri ne it is al s o a family
ti e F ro m t h e allian c e b e twee n th e two nations
spra n g forth its m o s t dazzli n g m anife s tation its
It
e xpansion an d rad iance th rough th e u niv e r s e
w ill b e an e t e r n a l hono r to Fran ce to hav e s e c
e ffort of you r he roism and to hav e
o n d e d th e
u nd erstood i n t h e first d aw n th e subli m e p rosp ect s
whi ch w e re p ro m is e d to m anki n d by you r g e ne r
T h e w hole Fr e n c h nation fi v e years
o u s ardor
ago associ at e d h erself wi th you r glorious York
to wn C e nten nial an d w ith deep e m otion th e
grandsons of Lafayette Rochamb ea u D e G rasse
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S TA T U
E
OF
LIB
ER T Y
35
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an d o t he r i llu strious warriors gaze d u pon th e
portraits of thei r an cestors o n th e co m m e m o rati ve
pi ctu re s of you r glory an d read th ei r nam es in
scribe d a m ong th e h eroes an d fou nd e rs of you r
nati onal i n dep ende n c e B efore such i mages e ve ry
Fre n ch h eart i s m ov e d by th e sam e feeling fo r
th ese are not m e rely h istori cal a n d m a tte r o f fact
ex h ibitions— the re is th e asserti on of brot h er h ood
form ed on th e battl e fi eld an d str e ngth ened by t h e
conform ity of i nstitutions by th e com m u nio n of
faith i n th e sam e p ri nci ple B u t m ore p o werful
than m ere m o nu m e nts an d i nscri ptio n s will b e th i s
maj e sti c statu e w h i ch sym bolizes th e p ri n ci ple
itself and w hi ch not o nly re calls a gloriou s p ast
bu t sp read s i ts lu mi no us ligh t u p on th e p resen t
an d ove r th e future
T he repu blics of th e past were d ebase d by
hostility to ward foreigne rs by arbitrary and
bru tal p o we r and by s l avery Eve n i n th e m od
e rn w orld liberty was d u ring l ong ages th e m o
no
l
o
Far d i ffe r
p y of p rivileged castes o r rac e s
ent i s ou r l iberty w hi ch relie s u pon t h e equality
of rights an d d uties for all citizens w h i ch s e
cu res fo r each th e sam e p rote ction an d e xt e nd s
to a ll a m ate rnal soli citud e w itho u t distin ctio n o f
bi rth wealth opini on o r co l o r Consequ e ntly
thi s sym bol w hi c h w e i naugu rate to d ay is not a
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INA U
36
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
chi m eri c all e go ry
Pledge of a fraternal u nion
b e twee n th e t w o gr e atest rep ubli cs of th e wo rld
i t i s greete d si m u ltaneou sly by m ore than on e
hu nd red million s of free me n w h o ten de r friendly
hands to each oth e r across the ocean Ad mi ra
b le spectacle w hi c h appeals to th e m ed itatio n of
thi nkers because i t m eans th e triu mp h of r e ason
an d of j u sti ce ove r t h e m ate rial dom inion ' I t
m eans i n brief the extinctio n of bloody stru ggles
an d th e u nion of all p eoples through the stu dy of
scie n ce the respect of the law and sym pathy fo r
th e weak Yes s u ch are th e truth s w hi ch o u r
statu e of Liber t y i s p roclai m i ng
S u ch are the
r ay s w hi ch beam fro m h er torch to illu m inate the
w h o l e world A m ong th e thou sands of Eu ro
p eans w h o are d ai ly co nveyed to these h osp i
table shores no one wil l pass before this glo r ious
e m ble m w ithout i m m ediately perceiving its m o r al
greatness and wit h ou t greeti ng i t with resp ect
and thankfulness
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E
OF L I
S TA T U
BER T Y
37
.
C OMMEM OR A T I VE A DD R ES S
B Y H ON
C H A U N C E Y M DEPEW
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W e d ed i cate th is statue to th e fri en d shi p o f
nati on s an d t h e p eace of th e world
T h e spi ri t
of lib erty e mb races all rac es i n co m m o n b roth er
h ood ; i t voi ces i n al l l anguages th e sam e n eeds
an d aspi rations
T h e full p owe r of i ts exp ansi ve
an d p rogressi ve i n flue n ce can n o t b e reach ed n u
ti l wars cease armi es are disban d ed and i nte rna
t io n a l d ispu tes a r e se ttl e d by law ful tribu nals an d
th e p ri n ciples of j usti ce
T h e n th e p e op le of
every nati on secure fro m i n vasion an d free fro m
th e bu rde n an d m enace of great ar m a m ents can
cal mly an d dispassionately p ro m ote thei r o w n hap
i
T
h
e
m
arv
e lou s d ev e lop
n e s s an d p rosperity
p
m e nt an d p rogress of thi s rep ub li c are d u e to t h e
fact that i n rigidly adhe ri ng to the ad vi ce of
\Vashi ngton fo r absol ute n eu trality and non i nter
fe ren ce i n th e poli ti cs an d p oli cies of oth e r gov
e r n m e n ts w e have avoi d ed th e n e c e ssity of d e p le t
i ng ou r i nd ustri es to fee d o u r ar m i e s of taxi ng
an d i m poverishing ou r r e s ou rc e s to carry o n w ar
and of li m iting ou r li b e rti e s to con centrat e powe r
i n ou r govern m e nt
O u r great C ivi l strife w ith
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I N A U G UR A T I ON
33
OF
TH E
all its expend itu re of b lood an d tr e asu re was a
te rri ble sacrifice for fr e e do m Th e r e su lts are so
i m measu rably great t hat by co m parison th e co s t
i s i nsigni fi cant T he d e ve lop m ent of Lib e rty was
i m p ossi ble w hile s h e w as shackled to th e slave
Th e divi ne th ough t w hich in truste d to th e con
quere d the full m ea s ure of ho m e ru le and accorde d
to the m an equal share of i m p erial po wer was th e
i nspiration of God With sublim e trust i t l e ft to
liberty the e l evation of the freed m en to politi cal
rights an d the conversion of th e re be l to patriotic
citizen s hip Th e rays fro m this torch illu m inate
a centu ry of u nb roke n friendship betwee n Fran ce
and the Uni te d S tates
P e ace an d its O pportun ities for material p rog
r e s s an d th e expansion of pop ular libertie s se nds
from h e re a fruitful an d nob le lesson to all th e
world I t w ill teach the p eoples of all cou ntries
that i n cu rbing th e am bitions and dynasti c pu r
po s es o f pri nc e s an d p ri vileg e d class e s an d i n cu l
t iv a t in g the b roth e rhood of man lie th e true road
to th e ir e nfran chise m e nt T he fri e ndshi p of i n d i
v id u a ls th e i r u nselfi s h d e votio n to each oth e r th ei r
wil li ngn e ss to d ie i n each oth e r s stead are the
m o s t t e nd e r an d to uchi ng of hu m an records ; th e y
a r e t h e i n s pi ration of youth and the solace of a e ;
g
but nothing h u m an is s o beautiful and sublim e as
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S TA T U
OF
LIB
ER T Y
39
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two great p eop les of ali e n race an d language tra ns
m i tting d ow n the ages a lov e b egotten i n gratitu de
an d stre ngth e ni ng as th ey i n crease i n po we r an d
assi m ilate i n th ei r insti tutions an d lib erties
T h e Fre n ch allian ce w hich e nabled us to w i n
ou r I ndep e nden ce i s th e rom an ce of hi story I t
o vercam e i m p robabiliti es i m p ossi ble i n fi cti on an d
i ts r e su lts su rpass th e d ream s of i m agi nation T h e
most d esp oti c of kings su rro u n de d by th e m ost ex
e lusive of fe u da l aristocraci es sending fle ets and
arm ies o ffi c e r e d by th e scions of th e p rou d est of
nob i lities to figh t for subj ects i n re volt an d th e
lib erti es of th e com m on p eopl e i s a parad ox be
y ond th e p o we r of m e re h u man e n ergy to h ave
wrough t o r so l ved T h e m arch of th i s m ed i aeval
c h ivalry across ou r States resp e ctin g p ersons an d
p rope rty as soldie rs n eve r had b efore n e ve r taki ng
an app le o r tou c h i ng a fe n ce rail wi th ou t p er m is
s i o n an d p aym ent treati ng th e ragged Conti nentals
as if t h ey w ere knigh ts i n ar m o r an d of n oble
ancestry captivati ng ou r grand m others by th e i r
cou rtesy an d ou r gran d fath e rs by thei r cou rag e
r emai n s u n equal e d i n th e po e try of war I t i s the
m ost m agnifi ce n t tri bute i n hi story to th e volcani c
force of ideas an d th e dy nam iti c pow er of truth
though the crust o f th e globe i m priso n t h e m I n
the sam e ignoran ce an d fea r lessn ess w it h w h i c h a
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I N A UG UR A T I ON
4o
OF
TH E
savage plays abou t a p owd e r magazi ne wit h a
torch th e B ou rb o n ki ng an d his court b utt r essed
by th e consent of centu ries an d th e u nquestion ed
possession of ev ery p o wer of th e state sough t r e
li ef fro m cloying pl e asu re s an d vigo r for ener v ated
m ind s i n p ermitti ng an d en cou ragi ng th e lofti e st
ge ni u s and th e m ost i m passioned e loque n ce of th e
ti me to discuss th e rights an d libe rti es of m an
With th e orato r the the m es were theories w hich
fi red only his i magi nation and with th e cou rtie rs
they w e re pasti m es o r j ests Ne it h e r sp eake rs nor
listen ers saw any applicatio n of t h ese ennob l i ng
senti m ents to the com m o n m ass an d grove l ing
herd w hose i nd ustries th ey squand ered i n riot an d
d ebau ch an d w h ose bod ie s they hu rled against
battle m ent and battery to gratify ambitio n o r c a
p rice B ut these revelation s i l l u m i nated m any a n
i ngenuou s sou l am ong the young aristocracy and
with d istorte d rays p e netrate d th e Ci m m erian
d arkness w hi ch e nv e lop e d th e peop l e T hey bore
fruit i n th e heart and m i n d of one youth t o w ho m
America o we s m u c h an d Fran ce e ve ryt h ing—th e
M arqui s de Lafayette
As th e ce ntu rie s r ol l by and i n th e fu l lness of
tim e th e rays of Liberty s to r ch are th e beacon
lights of th e wor l d th e cent r a l ni ch es i n th e
ea r t h s Pantheo n of Freedo m w il l b e fille d by t h e
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INA U
42
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
'
d ed i cated to Liberty En lighte ni ng th e World
T he A m e rican Com m i s s ioners at Pari s tried to
dissuad e thi s v olu nte e r by telli n g h im that thei r
credi t was go n e that th e y could not fu rnis h hi m
tran sportation an d by handing h i m the d ispatch es
an nou n ci ng the r e verses w hi ch had befallen Wash
in gto n th e r e treat of h is d i s hearten ed and broke n
army across N e w J e rsey and th e al m ost hopele s s
condi ti o n of th e i r cause B ut he replied i n th e se
m e m orable words : T hus far you hav e seen m y
zeal only ; now i t shall be so m ething m or e
1
w ill pu rchase an d equi p a vessel m yself I t i s
while dange r p resses that I w ish to j oi n y ou r for
tu nes
Th e Ki ng p ro h ibits h is saili ng ; he eludes
the guard s sen t for h is arrest ; h is fami ly i nterpose
and o n ly his heroi c young wife
e ve ry ob stacle
shares h is e nthu sias m an d se cond s his resol ution
to gi ve his life an d fortu n e to libe rty Whe n on
the ocean battling wi th th e cap tai n w ho fears to
tak e hi m to A m eri ca and p u rsue d by B ritish
cruisers sp e cially i nstru cted for h is captu re h e
w rites to h e r thi s loving and path eti c lette r : I
hop e for my sake you wi ll becom e a go od Am eri
can
T hi s i s a se nti m ent p rope r for vi rtu ou s
hearts I nti mat e ly alli ed to th e happi n e ss of the
w hole h u m an family i s th at of Am e ri ca destined
to be co m e the respectab l e and su r e asylu m of
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S TA T U
E
OF L I
BER T Y
43
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v i rtu e hon e sty tole ration equality an d of tran qui l
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'
liberty
Ex cep t th e M ay fl ow e r n o shi p eve r
sai led across th e o cean from th e O ld World to th e
Ne w carrying passe ngers of su ch m o m e nt to t h e
futu re of manki n d
I t is i d le n o w to sp e culate wheth er o u r fath e rs
could hav e su cceed e d with ou t the Fren c h allian ce
T he struggl e wou l d u n d oub tedly have b ee n i n
defini tely p rolonge d an d p robably co m p ro m ise d
B ut th e alliance assured ou r tri u m p h and Lafayette
secu red th e allian ce
T h e fabled argosi es of an
c ien t an d th e arm adas a n d fl eets o f m od ern ti m es
w ere co m monplace voyages com pared w ith th e
m ission e nshri ne d i n thi s i nspi re d b oy H e stood
before th e Conti ne ntal Congress an d said I w i s h
to serve you as a v olu ntee r an d w ithout pay a nd
at twe nty took h is p la c e w i t h Gates an d Gree n e
and Li n col n as a m aj or gen era l i n t h e Co nti n enta l
A rmy
As a m e m be r of Wash i ngton s m ilitary
fam ily s hari ng w i th t h at i n com parable man h i s
board an d b e d an d blanket La faye tte wo n h is
fi rst an d greates t distin ctio n i n re ceiving from th e
Am e ri can chief a friend s h ip w hi ch was close r t h an
that b e stowe d u po n any oth er of h is co m patriots
an d wh i ch e nde d only i n deat h T h e great com
m ande r s a w i n th e r e ckless dari ng with w hich h e
carri e d h is wou n d to rally th e flying troop s at
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I N A U G UR A T I ON
44
OF
TH E
B randy wine th e steady n erv e with wh i ch h e h el d
th e colu m n waveri ng u nd e r a faithless gene ral at
M on m outh th e wi s d om an d cautio n wi th w hi ch h e
m an oeuv r ed i nferior forces i n th e face of th e en emy
his wi llingn e ss to share e ve ry p ri vatio n of th e i ll
C lad an d starving soldiery an d to pledge his fortu n e
and cred it to re lieve th ei r p rivations—a com mande r
u po n w ho m h e coul d rely a patriot h e could trust
a m an he cou ld love
T he su rrend er of B urgoyn e at S aratoga was th e
fi rst d ecisiv e eve n t of the war
I t d efeated the
B ritis h plan to d i vid e the country by a chai n of
forts u p the H udson and conque r i t i n d etail I t
i nspi red hop e at h om e and confid ence abroad I t
seconde d the passionate appeals of Lafayette an d
th e marvelous d iplomacy of B enj am i n Frankli n ; i t
overca m e th e p ru den t co u n sels of Necke r warni n g
th e ki ng agai nst th is exp eri m ent an d won th e
T reaty of Allian c e b etwee n t h e ol d m onarchy an d
th e you ng rep ub li c Lafaye tte n ow s a w that hi s
mission was i n France H e sai d I ca n h elp th e
cause m ore at h om e than h e r e and asked fo r
leave of absence
Congress v ote d h i m a s word
and p resented i t with a resolution of grati tud e an d
h e r e tu rn e d bearing t h is lette r fro m that c o n v e n
tion of patriots to his king : We r e com m en d th i s
young noble m an to you r M aj e sty s noti ce as on e
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S T A T UE
01“ L I
BER
I Y
45
.
w h o m we kno w to b e w ise i n coun ci l gallan t i n
th e field an d patie n t u n d e r th e hard shi p s of war
I t was a c e rtifi cate w hi c h M arlborough m igh t have
coveted an d Gustav u s m ig h t h ave worn as t h e
p rou d es t of hi s d ecorations B ut though king and
cou rt vi e d w it h ea c h oth e r i n d oing hi m hono r
thoug h h e was w elco m ed as n o Fre n c h m an had
e ve r bee n by triu m p h an t p ro cession s i n ci ti es a n d
f e tes i n vi llages by ad d resses an d p opula r a p
p laus o b e reckoned th e m of valu e only i n th e
p o w e r th ey ga v e h i m to p rocu re ai d for Liberty s
figh t i n Am eri ca
Fran ce i s no w co m mitted to
war h e argu ed and h e r e n e my s w eak p oi n t fo r
attack i s i n Am eri ca Send th ere you r money an d
m en an d h e retu rn ed wit h th e army of R o c h a m
beau an d th e fl ee t of D e Grasse
I t i s fortu nate sai d D e M au repas th e Pri m e
M i niste r
that Lafay ette d id n ot wan t to strip
Ve rsailles of i ts fu rn itu re for h i s dea r A m eri cans
Non e too
fo r n obody cou l d wi t h stan d his ardor
soon di d thi s assistance arrive fo r Washington s
l ette r to th e A m e r i can Com m issi on e r s i n Pa r is
passe d it on th e way i n w h i ch h e m ade th is u rgent
appeal : I f Fran ce d enies a ti m e l y and p ow erfu l
ai d i n t h e criti ca l postu r e of o u r a ffai rs i t wi ll
avai l u s nothi ng sh ou l d sh e atte m p t i t h ereafte r
\Ve are at this h o ur s u sp end e d i n t h e balan ce
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'N A U G UR A TI ON
46
OF
TH E
I n a word we are at th e en d of o ur teth e r an d
no w o r n eve r d eli v e ran ce m ust co m e
Gen e ral
Washi ngton s a w i n th e allied forces no w at hi s
d isposal th at t he trium ph of i ndepen d en ce w a s
assu red T he long dark nigh t of d oub t and d e
Th e
s pai r was illu m inated by th e d aw n of a hop e
m a t e r ia l was at han d to carry ou t the c o m pr e h e n
si ve p lans so long m atu red so long d e f e rred so
patie ntly kept T hat m aj e sti c digni ty w hi ch had
neve r be nt to ad versity th at lofty an d awe in s pir
i ng reserv e w hi ch p resente d a n i m p enetrable bar
ri e r to fa m iliarity eith er i n cou n ci l o r at th e fes
ti ve board so dissolve d i n th e w elcom e of t h ese
deci siv e visi tors that the d eligh ted Fre nc h and
astou n d e d A m eri can soldie rs sa w Washington fo r
the first and o nly ti m e in h is life exp ress his hap pi
ness with all the j oyou s e ffe rv escence o f hilariou s
youth
T he fl o we r of th e young ari s to cracy of Fran ce
i n th ei r brillian t u niform s an d th e farm e rs and
frontie rs m e n o f Ameri ca i n t h ei r faded Continent
als bou n d by a co m mon bap tis m of blood b e cam e
b roth ers i n th e knighth ood of Libe rty With em u
lous eagerness to be fi rst i n at th e death whi le th e y
share d th e glory they storm ed th e re dou bts at
Yorkto wn an d com pelle d t h e su rrend er of Corn
walli s an d hi s army W h ile this p racti cally e nd ed
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S TA T U
E
OF L I B
ER T Y
47
.
th e war i t str e ngth en e d th e allian c e an d ce m ent e d
th e fri endshi p b e twee n th e two great p eoples Th e
m u tual confid e n ce and c hi valri c cou rte s y w h i ch
characterized th ei r re lation s has no like e xa m p l e i n
i nternational comi ty W he n an o fli c e r fro m Gen
e ral Carleton th e B ritish com man d e r in chief cam e
to h eadquarte rs w ith a n o ffe r of p eace and i nd e
m
e nd e nce
if
th
e
A
e
ri
cans
woul
d
r
e nou n ce
the
p
Fre n ch allian ce Washington refuse d to re c e i ve
hi m ; Congress sp u rne d Carl eton s secr e tary bear
ing a like m essage ; and t h e S tates l ed by Mary
land d enou n c e d all wh o e ntertai ne d p roposi t ions
as
o i p eace w hi c h w e re n o t ap proved by F ran c e
p u bli c ene m ies
An d p eace wi th i ndep en d e n ce
m ean t p rosperi ty and hap pin ess to a p eop le i n t h e
very depths of p ove rty and d esp ai r Fran ce o n
th e oth e r hand though sorely p re s sed for m oney
sai d i n th e rom anti c spi ri t w hi c h p er m e at e d th is
wo nderfu l Unio n : O f the twen ty seve n m
i llio n
livres w e h ave l oan e d you w e forgive you n ine
m i llions as a gift of fri e n d shi p ; and w he n wi th
years t h e re co m es p rosp e rity yo u can pay t he
balan ce wi t h ou t i nterest
Wi th th e fa ll of Yorktow n Lafay ette felt that
h e co ul d d o m ore for p e ace an d i nde p e n d en ce i n
t h e diplo macy of Eu rop e than i n th e war i n Am e r
i ca H is arri val i n Fran ce sh ook the Con tin e nt
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INA U
48
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
T ho u gh one of th e m ost p racti cal and self poised
o f m en hi s rom anti c caree r i n th e Ne w World h ad
capti vated courts and p eop les I n the formi dable
l eagu e w h ic h he h ad qui ckly formed w ith S pai n
a nd Fran ce Englan d saw h umiliation and d efeat
and m ad e a treaty of p eace b y w hi ch s h e re cog
n iz e d t h e
i nd ep end ence of th e Repub li c of th e
United S tates
I n this treaty we re laid th e deep b road an d in
d estru ctible foun dations for the great statu e we this
day d edi cate I t left to th e Am e ri can p eop le th e
working ou t of th e p roble m of s elf gove rn m e nt
Without ki ng to rule o r class to follo w th ey we re
to try the exp eri ment of bu ild ing a nation u pon th e
so ve r eignty of t h e indi vid ual and the equali ty of al l
me n before the law Th ei r only guid e an d trust
and h ope were God and Li be rty I n th e fraternal
gree ti ngs of t h is hou r sixty mi lli ons of wi tness e s
bea r testi m ony to t h ei r wi sdom and t he fore most
and freest Gove rn men t i n th e w orld is thei r m on u
m ent
T he figh t fo r lib erty i n A m e r i ca was won I ts
f u ture h ere was th reate ne d wit h b ut one d ange r
th e s l ave ry o f th e negro The sou l of Lafay ette
p u ri fied by battle and su ffe ring saw the in c o n s is t
e ncy and the pe ril an d h e r et u rne d to thi s cou n
try to p lead wi t h S tate Legislatu res an d w it h Con
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I N A U G UR A TI ON
50
OF
TH E
the chai ns of d espotism an d ca s te Eve ry gove rn
m ent o n the Co nti ne nt was a n absolute m onarchy
and no languag e can describe the po verty and
w retched ness of th e p e ople
Tax e s levie d with
out law ex haust e d th ei r property they were ar
rest e d wi thou t warran t and rotte d i n the B asti l e
without trial and th e y we re s hot at as gam e and
tortu re d wi thou t r e d ress at th e capri ce o r pleasure
of th ei r feud al lo rd s
I nto court an d cam p thi s
m essage ca m e like th e h and writing on th e wal l
at B e lshazzar s feast H e a r his word s : M ay this
i m m en s e te m ple of freedo m e v e r stand a lesson to
O ppressors
an e xam ple to th e opp ressed a san e
t u a r y for th e rights o f manki nd and m ay th e se
happy Unite d States attai n that complete splendo r
an d prospe rity w hi c h will i llustrate th e blessings
of thei r Gove rnm e nt and for age s to co me rej oice
th e departe d soul s of i ts fou nd ers ' Well m igh t
Louis X V I m o re far sigh ted than his mi nisters
e xclai m
Afte r fou rt e e n hu nd red year s of p o wer
th e ol d m onarchy i s d oom e d '
Whi le th e p rin ci pl e s of the A me r i ca n R e vo lu
tio n w ere f e rm enting i n France Lafayette t h e
h ero and favo ri te of th e hou r was a n honored
guest at royal tables an d r oyal cam ps T he p ro ud
S paniard and Great Fred eri ck of Ge rm any alike
we l co m ed hi m an d e ve ry where h e anno u nced his
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S TA T U
E
OF
LIB
ER T Y
51
.
faith i n gove rn m e nt fou nd ed on th e A m e ri can i d e a
Th e financial crisi s i n th e a ffai rs of Ki ng Loui s
o n the o ne han d and the ri sing ti d e of p op u lar
passio n o n th e oth e r co m p elled th e su m m ons of
th e Asse mbly of Notab les at Ve rsai lles All the
great o ffi cers of state the aristocracy th e title d
the royal p ri n ces we re t h e re but no rep
C le rgy
r e s e n t a tiv e
of th e people
Lafaye tte spoke fo r
th e m an d fearless of th e e ffort of th e b roth e r of
th e King to p ut h i m down h e d e m an d e d r eligiou s
tole ration equal tax es j ust an d e qu al ad m inistra
tio n of th e laws and t h e r e d u ctio n of r oyal e x
n d itu r e s
e asonable
to
fix
ed
an
d
r
li
m
i
ts
T
his
e
p
overtu rn e d th e w hole feudal fabri c whi ch had be e n
i n course o f constru ctio n fo r a th ousan d years
To make e ffe ctua l and p erm ane n t thi s tre m endou s
stri d e to ward the A m e ri can exp e ri m e nt h e para
ly z e d th e Cou rt an d Cabi ne t by th e call for a
National Asse mb ly a n asse m bly of t h e p eop l e
T h rough that Asse mbly h e carried a D e claration
of Rights fou n d e d upo n th e n atu ral liberti e s of
m an a co n cessio n o f popu lar p ri vilege neve r b e
fore secu re d i n th e m od e rn h isto ry of Eu rop e and
going as far as h e be l ie ved t h e ti m es wou ld ad mit
toward h is i d ea of a n A m eri ca n Rep ubli c h e
bui lde d upo n th e rui ns of abso l utis m a c o n s titu
t io n a l m onarchy
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OF
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L VA U G UR A TI ON
52
TH E
B u t Fre n c h d e mocracy had not b ee n trai ne d
and e d u cat e d i n the school s of the P uritan o r the
coloni st Ages of tyran ny of su pp ression r e pr e s
sion an d tortu re had d ev e loped th e tige r and
d warfed th e m an
D e mocracy had not learned
the fi rst rudi m ents of liberty self restraint an d self
govern m e nt
I t b e h eaded king an d queen i t
d r e n ch e d th e land wit h the b lood of the noblest
an d b e s t i n its i nd iscri mi nate frenzy an d m ad ness
i t spare d neithe r age n or sex virtu e nor m erit
and d rove its be n e factor b ecau se he denoun ced i ts
ex cess e s an d t r i ed to ste m the m i nto e xi le and the
d ungeon of Ol m utz T hus e n de d i n th e h orrors of
t h e Fr e n ch Re volu tion Lafayette s fi rst fight for
li berty at ho m e After fi ve y e ars of u n told su ff er
ings spu rning r e lease at the p ri ce of his allegian ce
to m onarchy holding w ith subli m e faith ami d the
m ost disheartening and d iscou raging su rrou nd ings
to the p ri n ci ples of freedom for a ll h e was re leased
by th e s word of Nap oleo n B onaparte to fi n d that
th e untam e d f e rocity of th e Revolutio n had b een
trai ned to th e servi ce of th e m ost bri llian t capti
v a tin g an d resistless of m i litary desp otism s by th e
mighty geni us of th e great Di ctator H e only w a s
n e ithe r dazzled nor dismayed and whe n h e had r e
e c t e d e very o ffer of r e cognition and honor Napo
j
leon said : Lafayette a lo n e i n Fran ce ho l ds fast to
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E OF
S TA T U
LI
BER
T Y
53
.
hi s origi nal i d ea of lib erty Th oug h t ran quil n o w
h e wi ll r eapp ea r if o cca s io n o ff e rs
Agai nst t h e
Fi rs t Consu late of B onaparte h e voted N o u n
less with guaran te es of freed o m
W he n Eu rop e
l ay helpless at th e fe e t of th e conq ue ror and i n
th e frenzy of m ilitary glory Fran ce neithe r sa w
no r felt t he chai ns h e was forging u p o n h e r La
fayette fro m hi s reti rem en t of Lagrange p l e ad ed
with th e E m p e ro r fo r republ ican p rin ciples h old
i ng u p to hi m th e r e tributi ons al way s m et e d
o ut to ty rants an d the p u re u ndying fam e of
th e i m m ortal fe w wh o patrioti cally de cid e wh e n
u p on the m alon e rests th e aw fu l verdi ct w h ethe r
they shall be th e ens l ave rs or th e savi o rs of th ei r
cou n try
Th e su n of Au sterlitz set i n blo od at Wate r l oo
t h e s word s of allie d ki ngs placed th e Bou rbon onc e
m o r e o n th e throne of Fran ce I n th e popu lar
te mp est of J u ly t h e natio n rose agai nst th e in to le r
ab l e ty ranny of th e King and calling u p o n thi s
u nfalteri ng fri e n d o f lib e rty sai d w ith one voi ce
Yo u alone can sav e Fran ce fro m d espotism o n
t h e o n e hand a nd t h e o rgies of t he Jacobi n m ob o n
the ot h e r ; take abso l ute p o we r h e m arshal ge n
e ra l d i ctato r i f yo u w il l
B ut i n assu m ing c o m
m an d of th e Nati onal Guard th e old sold i e r and
patriot an swe r e d a mi d th e hail of shot and shell
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I N A U G UR A T I ON
54
OF
TH E
Li be rty sha ll trium p h o r we a ll pe rish to ge th
er ' H e d eth roned and d rov e o ut Charl e s X
an d Fran ce co nt e nted with any d e s tiny h e migh t
accord to he r with u nqu estioning faith l e ft h e r
future i n h i s hand s H e kn e w that t h e Fre nch
p e op l e w e re not yet ready to tak e and faithfully
keep A m eri can lib erty H e be li ev e d that i n th e
s chool of consti tu tional gov e rn m en t they wou ld
rapidly learn and i n th e fullnes s of tim e adop t its
p ri nci pl e s an d h e gave th em a Ki n g wh o was t h e
p op ula r c hoi ce and su rrou nded him wi th th e r e
strai nts of chart e r an d a n Asse m bl y of t h e p e ople
An d n o w th is frien d of mankin d e xp r e ssing wi th
h is last breath a fervent p rayer that his b e lov e d
Fran c e m ight sp eedily enj oy the lib e rty and equali
ty an d th e repu b li can i nstitutions of h is adored
Ame ri ca entere d p e aceful ly i nto rest U nited i n
a com m on sorro w an d a co m m on s e nti m ent th e
p eopl e of Fran ce and th e p e ople of th e United
Stat e s wate re d h is grav e w i th th e i r tears an d
wafted his soul to God with th ei r gratitud e
T o d ay i n t he gift by th e on e an d th e acc e p t
an ce by th e oth er o f thi s colossal s tatu e the p eo
pl e of th e two cou ntri e s celebrate th e ir u ni ty i n r e
publi can i nsti tu tio ns i n govern men t fou nd ed u p on
th e Am eri can id ea and i n th ei r d evotio n to liberty
Togeth er they rej oice that i ts spirit h as p enet r ated
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S T A T UE
OF L I
BER T Y
55
.
all l and s an d is t h e h op eful future of all p eopl e s
A m eri can lib e rty h as bee n for a c e ntu ry a beaco n
light fo r th e nations Un der its tea chings and by
th e force of its exam ple th e I talians h ave exp elled
thei r p etty and arbitrary p ri n celings an d u nite d
u n d e r a parliam entary govern m ent ; th e gloo m y
d esp otism of S pai n has bee n d isp elle d by th e r e pr e
s e n ta tiv e s of t h e p e op le an d a fre e p ress ; th e great
German rac e h av e d em on strate d th ei r p o we r for
e m pi re an d thei r ability to go vern the mselves
T h e Austrian m onarch w h o w h e n a h u nd re d
years ago Washington pl e ad e d w ith hi m a cross
th e seas for th e release of Lafayette fro m th e
d ungeon of Olm ii tz repli e d that h e had n ot th e
p owe r becau s e th e safety of h i s thro ne an d h is
p ledges to hi s royal breth re n of Eu rop e com pelle d
h im to k e e p confi ned t h e o n e m an wh o r e present e d
th e e nfran chise m e n t of th e p eople of e ve ry race
an d cou ntry i s t o d ay i n the p e rso n of his su cces
sor rej oi cin g w ith hi s subj ects i n t h e li m itations
of a Constitutio n whi ch guarantees liberties an d
a Co n gress w h i c h p rote cts an d e nlarges them
Magn a Charta wo n at Ru n ny m ed e for Engli s h
m en an d d evelop ing i nto t h e p ri n ci ple s of th e
Dec l aratio n o f I nd ep e n den ce w ith th e i r descen d
ants has retu rn ed to th e m ot h e r cou ntry to bear
f ru i t i n an op e n Par l iam e nt a free p ress t he loss of
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INA U
56
G UR A T I ON
OF
TH E
royal p re rogati ve an d th e passag e of po w e r fro m
th e classes to the m asse s
T he s e nt im en t i s su bli m e w h ic h m ov e s th e
p eopl e of Fran ce and A m e ri ca the b lood of w hose
fath ers co m m ingling u pon th e battle fi e ld s of the
Revolu tion mad e possi bl e this m agnificent march
of liberty an d thei r o w n r e p ublics to com m e m
orate t h e resu lts of the past and typify the hop es
of th e fu ture i n this noble wo rk of art T h e d e
of Lafay e tt e Roch am beau and D e
s c e n d a n ts
Grasse w ho fough t for u s i n o u r first struggle
and Laboulaye H enri Marti n D e Lesseps and
oth er grand and b rilliant m en w hose eloqu en t
voice s and powerfu l sy m pathies w ere with u s i n
ou r last con cei ve d th e i dea an d i t has re cei ve d
m aj esti c form an d exp ressi o n th rough t h e genius
of Barthold i
I n all ages t h e achieve m ents of m an an d his
aspi rations hav e be e n r e p rese nte d i n sy mbols
Rac e s have d isappeared an d no r e cord re mai n s of
thei r rise o r fall b ut by t he i r m onu me nts we kno w
of th ei r h istory T h e huge m onolith s of th e As
syrians and t h e obelisks of th e Egyp tians tell
their stories of forgotte n civi lizations but th e sole
pu rp ose of thei r ere ctio n was to glorify rulers an d
p rese rve t h e boasts of conqu erors They t e ac h sad
l essons o f th e v ani ty of ambitio n th e cruelty o f
,
.
-
,
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INA U
58
G UR A
T I ON
OF
TH E
tile i n Pari s w hich i nspi red the charter i n th e
cabi n of th e M ayflowe r an d the D eclaration of I n
d ep endence fro m the Conti nental Congress
I t m eans that wi th th e abolition of p rivil e ges to
th e fe w an d th e e nfran chise m e nt of t h e i nd ivi dual
t h e e quality of all m e n befor e the law an d u ni
v e rsal su ffrage th e ballot s e cu re fro m frau d and
th e vote r fro m i nti mi dation the p r e ss fre e an d
e du cation fu rnishe d by th e state for all lib erty of
worshi p an d free spe e ch th e righ t to ri s e an d a n
equ al opportu ni ty for h ono r and fortun e th e
p rob l e m s of labor and capi tal of social r ege nera
tio n and m o r a l gro wth of p roperty an d pove r ty
will work th e m s e lves out u nde r th e benign in flu
of e nlighten e d la w m aking and law a b i di ng
e nce
l i berty wi thou t th e ai d of ki ngs an d armi es o r of
anarchi sts and bom bs
T h rough th e O b e li sk so strangely r e calling to
u s of yeste r d ay t h e past of twe nty cent u ries a
forgotte n monarc h says
I a m the Great King
the Conqu eror th e Chastise r of Nation s an d I
expect as a m onu m en t of antiquity i t conv e ys no
m eaning and tou ch e s no chord of hu m an sympa
thy B ut fo r u nn u m be red ce ntu ri e s to com e a s
Li berty le vels u p th e people to high e r stan da r d s
an d a broad e r life this statu e wi ll g r o w i n th e a d
W he n F r ank
m ir a tio n and a ffe ction of mankind
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S T A T UE
OF L I
BER T Y
59
.
li n d re w th e ligh tning fro m th e clou d s h e littl e
d reame d that i n th e e voluti on of sci e n ce h is d i s
c o v e r y wo uld i llu m i nate th e torch of Lib e rty for
Fran ce an d Am e ri ca T h e ravs fro m th is b ea con
lig hti ng thi s gate way to th e continen t w ill wel com e
th e p oor a n d th e pe rse cute d wi th th e h Op e an d
p ro m ise of ho m es an d citizen shi p I t wi ll teach
the m that th e re a r e roo m an d b rot h erhood for al l
w h o will sup port ou r in stitu tions an d ai d i n ou r
d eve l op m e n t ; b ut that th ose w h o com e to distu rb
ou r p eace an d d eth ron e o u r laws a r e aliens an d
en e m ie s forev e r I de vo utly beli eve that fro m th e
u nsee n an d th e u nkno wn t wo great souls have
com e to p articipat e i n thi s celeb ration T h e faith
i n w h i ch th ey d ied fu lfilled th e cause fo r w h i ch
they battled tri u m phant t h e p eop le they l oved i n
th e full e nj oy m en t of t h e rights for w h i c h th ey
labore d and fough t an d su ffere d th e spi ri t voi ce s
of Washington an d Lafayette j oi n i n th e g la d a c
clai m of Fran ce an d th e Uni ted State s to Li berty
Enlig h t e ning th e Wo rld
,
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,
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,
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-
,
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At t h e cl ose
o
f Mr
w h o l e a u die n c e r o se
w it h t h e
.
a nd
D e p e w s a dd r e ss
s
,
the
a n g t h e D o x o l o gy
f the
,
ban d w hich
w as v e ry e ff e cti ve a n d t h e e x e r ci s e s w e r e co n
c l u de d w i t h a b e n e di ct i o n b y t he R i gh t R e v
a
c co m p a n i m e n t
’
o
,
,
.
INA U
6o
G UR A TI ON
H e n ry C P o tt e r D D
.
,
.
OF
TH E
A s t h e P r e s ide nt
.
a nd
p a r ty e m b a rk e d fr o m t h e i s l a n d the y a r d s o f
t he m e n o f w a r w e r e a g ai n m a n n e d w h i l e o n c e
m o r e t h e gu n s t h u n de r e d fo r t h a n at i o n a l s a
l u t e w h i c h wa s r e t ur n e d fr o m a ll t he h a rb o r
b a tt e r i e s
T he e m b a rk ati o n fr o m t he i s l a n d o f t h e
v as t c r o w d t h e r e a s se m bl e d w a s h a pp i l y a e co m
h
e d w i t h b u t s l i gh t c o n fu si o n t h e a rr a n g e
li
s
p
m e n t s o f t h e c o m m itte e b e i n g e x ce ll e n t a n d
t h e y w e r e a bl y s e c o n de d by t he p o l ic e fo r c e
T he o n l y t h i n g t h at at a l l m a rr e d th e e n ti re
d i sa gr e e a bl e
o cca s i o n w as t he
s u cce s s o f t h e
w eat h e r w h ic h w as a n i n s up e ra bl e o b stac l e t o
t h e c o m pl e t i o n o f t he pr o gr a m m e t h at w a s to
t e r m in at e w it h a br i ll ia n t d is pl ay o f fi r e w o rk s
o n t h e B atte ry
B e dlo w s a n d G o v e r n o r s I s l
Th e s e w e r e w i t n e s s e d a fe w e v e n i ng s
an d s
l a t e r by a l a rg e as se m bl ag e o f m a ny t h o u s an d s
,
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LI
BER T Y
B A R T H OL D I
ST A T U
S TA T U
THE
BY
J OH N
E OF
61
.
G R E EN L EA F
E
,
VVH I T T I E R
.
land that fro m th e ru l e of ki ngs
THE
,
,
I n freeing
u s,
i tself m ad e fre e
,
,
O u r O ld World Siste r to u s brings
,
H e r sculptu red D ream of Li berty :
Unlike th e s h apes o n Egypt s san d s
’
Uplifte d by th e toi l worn slave
-
’
O n Freed o m s soi l w ith
fr e e m e n
,
’
s
h an d s
We rear the sy mbol free han d s gave
0
.
Fran c e th e beautifu l 'to the e
,
O nce m ore a d ebt of love w e o we :
I n p e ac e b en eat h thy fle u r d e lis
-
-
,
W e hai l a late r Rocham beau '
Ris e stat e ly
,
S y m bol 'h old ing
forth
T hy ligh t an d h op e to all w h o si t
I n chain s and d arkness ' B e lt th e eart h
With watch
-
fi re s
fro m thy torch uplit '
62
INA U
Rev e al
G UR A T I ON OF
t he
TH E
S TA T U
E
.
p ri m al mand ate s t i ll
Whi ch Chaos h e ard an d c e ased to be
Trac e on m id ai r
-
th
Et e rnal Wi ll
’
I n signs of fi re : Let m an b e free '
'
“
S hine
far
,
s
hine fre e a gu iding ligh t
,
To Reaso n
’
s
ways and Virtu e s ai m
A lightni ng fla s h th e w retch to
-
’
sm
,
ite
W ho shields h is lice nse w ith thy nam e '

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