orators of ancient
times, Demosthenes or Cicero, could of English. [Laughter.]

There are many things, gentlemen, that if I were the President of this
association or the President of the University, I should say and expect
to be listened to, while saying it. But I confess that I have pretty
much exhausted, as I perceive, your patience and my own capacity. I am
now living for the reputation of making short speeches, and I am only
afraid that my life will not be long enough to succeed. But I promise
you that if I get a good forum and a good audience like this I will run
a short speech even if I run it into the mud. [Applause.]

* * * * *

LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD

[Speech of William M. Evarts at the banquet given by the Chamber of
Commerce of the State of New York, June 24, 1885, to the officers of
the French national ship "Isere," which brought over the Bartholdi
statue. Charles Stewart Smith, vice-President of the Chamber, presided
at the dinner and introduced the speaker as follows: "Gentlemen, fill
your glasses for the seventh regular toast: 'Liberty Enlightening the
World, a great truth beautifully and majestically expressed by the
unique gift which our guests of to-night have brought safely to our
shores.' The gentleman who will respond to this toast needs no
introduction--Senator William M. Evarts."]

MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN:--I may be permitted at the outset,
to speak a little about the share that we have taken on this side of the
water in this great achievement which in its glorious consummation, now
receives the applause of the world.

When this great conception of friendship for America, joy at our
triumph, and their own undaunted love of liberty, liberty for France,
liberty for the United States, liberty for the world, arose, then the
French people were set aflame with a desire to bring, as it were, their
gifts of frankincense and myrrh to lay on this altar of liberty, that
its censer might never die out, but forever perfume and ennoble the air
of the world. [Applause.]

The genius of Art, the patriotism of France, the enthusiasm of its
people, accomplished by contributions drawn from more than one hundred
thousand, perhaps two hundred thousand givers, made up this statue, not
equalled in the history of the world, and not conceived in its genius or
its courage before. [Applause.]

Then it was for us to say whether we would furnish the pe