The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-12


new haven. los 10
Hew orleans ll9S w
wampum Fon du Las county, wis........ 8 q
Xaeen Ann county o. 90 90
NE Men. county. M 90 ~
Chatham county Ga... Observation-Disclosures. $50 90
Total in twenty-five places. .s66s4 II
1t is new five years since the erection of this
monument, designed to show the nations respect for
the memory of Washington, was commenced; and
still it progresses slowly along for want of the ne
cessary means to prosecute the work with vigor
Instead Of the expense being met by appropriations
from Congress, it entirely left to private con-
tributions; and we trust that, in the direction of
these, there will not be the same laundering mis-
management and ineficiency shown as in the erec-
tion Of the Bunker Hill monument. If all the
money actually contributed for that monument,
during long series of years, had been sent direct
into the fund, it would have been almost doubly
sufficient to have completed the monument; but in
stead of that, large proportion of it was idly and
uselessy squandered in mnistering to the self con.
cet and ridiculous pride of those into whose hands
it went. Every little temperance circle, public Or
Sunday school union, literary institution and vii
lage corporation, contributed literally towards that
object. And, finally, it was finished by the ladies
of Boston Now, the Washington monument is to
be completed. Popes, Sultans, Emperors and Kings,
Strange to say have sent contributions to it, States,
societies, and individuals have forwarded blocks of
marble, gold quartz rock from California, copper
rock from Lake Superior, granite from Quincy, Mas
sachusetts, &c &C., to erect a column to "greet
the sun in its coming in honor of tho Father
of his Country, and of true republicanism. Money
is now wanted to complete this splendid testimonial.
The same sentiment which manifested itself in
antiquity in the erection of pyramids, obesks, and
colossal monuments raised to perpetus ste the memo
ry of powerful kings, warriors and patriots, or to
record great national victories and events, and
which has also made the cities of modern Europe a
classic ground, by the countless column, erected to
departed greatness is possessed of no less vitality
and force in the public mind Of this nation though
we are yet too young, and have been too much alb.
sorbed in consolidating and extending our repub-
lie, to be able to point to many of it's results.
True, besides that now in construction at
Washingt ton, and the one erected on Bunker Hill,
as a record of that early page in our Revolution
airy history of which that ground was the witness,
we have in Lexir gton and Concord, where the first
struggles Of the revolutionary war commenced,
memorials of the events and Baltimore possesses so
many similar Testimonials as to have acquired
But still they do not constitute such testimonies of
our national taste, in that respect and of our graft
tude to the great men whom the country has pro-
duced, as to enable us to point to them with any
thing like pride or glory.
We can notice, however, a fast growing improve
ment in public sentiment in this matter. The feel.
ing, that we are behi nd all other nations in our
monumental records, is becoming very generally
diused and entertained throughout the country and
gives promise that az no very distant day we will
be able to assume that proud pre- -eminence in the
realms Of national taste which is at present accord
cd to US in all that pertains to our grandeur
as q free, powerful, and enlightened people
We have now time to pause in our triumphal pro-
gress, and give to the fine arts little Of that
impulse which has been hither to entirely directed to
the more useful matters Of life. The cemeteries
about the city-ornamented as they are with the
most magnificent, costly, and elaborate monuments
to be found congreg gated in any other city of the
dead, in Europe or elsewhere-furnish evidence Of
the progress have already made in this branch Of
the fine arts, and Of the taste and liberalty which
are brought to bear upon it. In the matter Of ma
tional monuments, too, the same growing sentiment
ia manifested; and the desire is now becoming liked
should be thus fttingly commemorated; and not
long hence, few cities in the United States will be
devoid Of columns, obelisks statues, in honor Of
those whore life and services have conduced to the
glory and welfare vc the republic.
Present appearances give unmstakeable indica-
lions Of these results. Already suSscription lists
have been opened for the erection Of a monument.
in Boston, to the memory Of Daniel Webster, and
no doubt it viii be such one as will do honor to
that city, and be worthy Of the great man whose
character 1t is to commemorate 1t is also proposed
to raise funds, by dollar contributions for the erec-
ton, in the same city, Of monument to the memory
of the Hon. Robert Rsntoul, Jr; and in the city of
Cleveland, Ohio, q monument is being raised in
honor Of the late Colonel Richard n Johnson, who
distinguished himself in the war of 1872
1t has also been proposed to erect, in the CITY OF
Washington, memorial Of Christopher Columbus,
for which beautiful design has been made by
Professor Ccstol, celebrated sculptor Of Florence
Columbus is, in this design represented as uncover
ing and displaying the New World to the Old, by
the action Of his drawing aside the veil from the
American Indian, and exhibiting him to allogorical
figures, representing Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The group and pedestal are to be Of Italian MARBLE
and forty feet in height The amount necessary
to be raised is $4,000. An association of gen.
tlemen, in New York and Washington, has been
ormsd, for the purpose Of raising funds to enable