The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-05
HE UNION: WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING MAY s. 1853.

Mus OF his counfymen, he made statue and having
broken eff one OF It's hands caused the 10 be bu
rled In due time 4 happened 10 be discovered When
il was exhumed and all the antiquarians exutng
the discovery and pronouncing to be greatly supe
Tor TO any work OF modern times, but regreng the loss
OF the hand Angelo appeared among them and taking
marble hand from beneath his mantle, placed the dis
membered stump TO which II ft,ed exactly. The cha
grin OF the wise men may be imagined II salutary
lesson but not the only they received from the he
role artist. They slenced at last and Italian
uonal art sprahg INTO perfection
A brief description OF the proposed monument alluded
may not be uninteeslng 10 those who happened not 10
see the design while exhibition last session, in the IL
brary OF Congress. 1t named " Columbus unveil-
ing the New World" and thus composed;
pedestal, surrounded by figures personang the orig
ina thirteen States, surrounded by group consisting OF
General Washington, Christopher Columbus, and Ame-
Yespuc us ian anachronsm said TO have been ap-
proved by the great artists OF laly) figure OF slavery
disenthraed and another, called the remper OF Despot
ism, in the ACT of offering to Washington the rod OF kogy
On The SncRa panel Of es pedestal ns ae'
bus having left his ships, which shown in the back
ground to have reached the place he occupies
shore with the utmost speed and with look OF exula-
ton holds up blanket, which he seems 10 have re-
moved from an Indian woman, who reclnes IN slate OF
nudity before him.
il is hoped that pardon will be granted if this has been
unjustly characterized udicrous design; and also,
that ii will not be mistaken for another design OF Co.
umbus monument proposed 10 be erected IN the city OF
Washington. The latter IS somewhat differently treated
The unwilling and unveiled members OF the group &C.
cupy the summit instead OF the front panel OF IL and,
instead OF the figures OF The thirteen States on the pedes-
tall il is guarded by recumbent lions. have only
mark, OF this and all other serious Intentions to COM
menorate the discoveries of Columbus they worthy
of all honor II is fit that the nations which made those
persistent ehdeavos 10 prevent his search for the New
World should help him. since il Is found, TO nd again
lnbese references TO works by foreign artists, the pur
pose to indicate that however great their in art
they cannot justly illustrate national sentiment and
history In the other applications Of the powers OF art this
inability does not exist there we know their excellence
and 10 their competition no objection can be made-she
The question may be submitted to the judgment of cit
liens who extend their regards to the ultimate glory OF
the nation, and who value its intellectual well pc.
litcal independence, whether ought not TO have
historical works done by counlrymen, il
they might not be well done they could be by for
egners! When we obtain such works from them, are
they hired charios TO bear to The temple OF
fame To be owD, should they not be The product
OF the nations mind well illustrations of lis condi
ton! Will not the future historian in his chapter on our
intellectual achievements record such as were made in
the arts Will he not note the borrowed works in our
possession, well those produced by the nation
What is recorded of the innumerabe sculptures with
which old Rome filed They brough, there
plumber from the vanquished Greeks. And the glory
derived from their possession Nothing Would there
be any less propriey in employing foreigners 10 write
national poetry than to make our national sculpture!
i Imagine our government applying TO some foreign
princeton instance, Napoleon Tito designate subject
of his empire who, for certain sum, would undertake
10 write epic poem for US, illustrating the heroic strug
gle OF our fathers for the possession of freedom.
This is question of no trivial Importance |. con-
Germs not merely The Temporary interests OF few ci
zens devoted TO the arts but the permanent interests
the intellectual character OF the nation, now aud for.
ever.
We may buy as many such works as would fill a new
Louvre or Vatican, and they will be bought works at last
They will never be in the they should, namely
manifestations OF the national mind and soul But even
according TO that mercantile principle Of choce-buy Of
whom the best can be oblane1-some OF countrymen
could Justly claim the benefit OF preference in their favor
as well as some OF our mechanical inventors and manu-
featuring artisans. after years OF protection by patent law,
| nations OF the Old World
II is certainly high compliment TO the self sustaining
force of the literary and talent of the country tha
il has been left without the pale OF systems of pro
lection But suppose our authors had been so dlshear
ened by this Itieng discrimination in their favor tc
abandon the pursuit OF letters and the literary culture OF
the country well lis historical commentator had
been left 10 The subjects of monarchical Europe a
least, they would have made the endeavor 10 write
OF our republcanism, II not political independence As
il IS have not bad the best examples OF historical jus
ce from them, and not too many expressions OF respec
Tor our intellectual abilities OF faith IN our capacity
Tor seltgovernment. Evidently enough our dependence,
would have been entire in respect 10 Intellectual
as in respect 10 material before manufacturer
were protected by the government, and good deal more
humlaitng
Il We have considered the anaoges OF individual and
national life IN respect 10 their aspirations and induce
mens 10 exeriion and shown how they each pursue an
ideal, or theory OF purposes, seeking material posses
slons TO the ends proposed how attainment
quires the adorEmenl and commentator OF Art; and
Indicated, IN respect TO nations how they require It's aid
poses, well as to commemorate past achievements.
Let us consider some of the examples furnished BY
history which illustrate the importance OF this branch OF
nations art in respect 10 the influence II will exert
upon public sentiment well it's productions
The Greeks Embodied the IDEAS OF their mythology Ia
express the spirit OF the national mind, Minerva, OF
knowledge, personihed Athens.
The Romans invented a wolf fable for their heradiC
authority, il in derson OF the Greek spirituality
which could appfebend the derivation OF national being
from sources divine and The fable OF the vol
allied in the spirit and action OF those who adopted IL
The milk OF the wolf entered into the Roman blood SO
that they would go forth 10 Tavage the world. They
beautiful works OF Greek art TO decorate their city, and
they adopted the forms of the Greek mythology, boz
never The better amenities OF It's spirit The old faint oil
the VOLTS milk never entirely eradealed
We might expect the rape OF The sabibes the horrors
OF the gadatonal amphheatre, and the violent taking
possession OF the world, OF people who, from such
fable, would form the representation Of its national
4 spirit
4 We should also anticipate from a people who would
adopt as the guardian OF State, and the principal form on
tile great sgnei OF the national temple, the daug ber OF
Zeus, the pure emanaton OF wisdom from the divine
mind, ell the intellectual atlanments they made for
kind We should anticipate the record OF glorious
they sent forth to be sosnded through all the centuries
Of timenames glor6ed by herosm craftsmanship, sci.
ence, and art.
We should look to find deeply impressed traces of the
Greek mind 10 the efforts of the mind Of all The re-
naming agesio that not only warriors, statesmen
and philosophers and scholars poets and artists bot
IN all the humber pursuits OF civilzes lfe would par.
tcipale and in the gift OF light they made
TO the world that every Grecan height and on every
shore and island where Greek colonies were established
would be seen the beautiful though cumbling memo.
rails OF Minerals guiding spirit and finally, many
tures after the loss OF national Independence, Greece