TOPICS OF THE DAY,

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7360, 12 July 1889, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY,

The unveiling of the Gordon Statue in Melbourne, the other day, waa in many respects a momentous event. As was pointed out by the Acting-Governor of Victoria on the occasion, the fact that London has given her best site fcr a statue of Gordon and that Melbourne has done the same, has furnished a striking proof of how a scattered people can be one at heart. We have not as yet Imperial federation iv name, we are not bound up by those formal and visible ties which some people would like to see forged by legislative enacftnent, but we are held by silken bauds far stronger and more enduring. We oherish the same literature, we treasure up with pride the same national traditions, and we combine to honor the same national heroes. The people of Victoria showed their appreciation of Gordon's noble character and life in the most hearty and unstinted fashion. All races and all creeds were represented in the donations. We note that special mention is made of contributions received from the Chinese. The statue waa the work of Mr Hamo Thorneycroft, who waa commissioned by the Imperial Government to execute the statue erected to General Gordon in Trafalgar square. Although all the subscriptions were voluntary, and the fund received no State aid, a surplus of J61500 remained after all expenses in connection with the statue were paid, and this will be handed over to the Gordon Institute for the training of friendless and struggling boys. More than 100,000 subscriptions were received, ranging iv amount from one penny upwards. An inscription on the pedestal states truly it was emphatically a people's work. As evidence of an appreciation of manly virtue, simple piety, and heroic self-surrender, the Memorial does honor not only to its subject, but to those who erected it.