Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-24
CITY Reforms.

thought tnaI III our lnuulclpal programme
of Saturday last, we laid out quite large
field of labor for the city fathers about to
be chosen by the people. But we entreat
them to remember the excellent practical
motto ofone of the best men that ever lived
William Carey, of India -" Expect
great things: attempt great things"
1t is the high province of the eagle to
aim at the sun. 1t is only your ''mousing
OWL" or providing bat, that is satisfied
with flying on the low grounds of selfish
and sluggish indifference. If the city Of
Washington ever comes up to its true
character and destiny-if it shall prove
itself worthy Of the exalted name it wears
on its escutcheon, it must prepare for a
career of enterprise, tact and energy in
all it's municipal regulations. There is
no reason whatever, why this metropolis
shall not be the most beautiful one in the
world; and it will be, if its citizens but
decree it.
We are anxious to wipe out the stigma
that it is only despotic governments which
are best adapted to promote a love among
the people of the beautiful in art and
science. We will not believe the proud
assertion. 1t is our opinion that truly
constitutional republic is the best adapted
of any form of government on earth to
foster pure taste among the inhabitants.
When Rome, and Greece, and Carthage
were republics they achieved some of
their greatest triumphs in the artistic
world. France, under the rule of Napo-
leon as consul, and even during the short
administration of Lamartine and his re-
publican cabinet, gave evidence of true
love of science and art, the monuments of
which are still standing in different parts
of the country. Had the same good
sense and pure patriotism been displayed
in other respects, the land of vine-covered
hills, and gay wales would be CONSOLE
dated republic at this day. The same is
equally true of all the ancient republics.
The nations that built the Pyramids were
not under tyrannical rules, although they
love the names of kings; and the works
of art that were erected by the people of
other generations are marks not of what
tyranny can do, but of what the people
can do, in spite of it.
The first resolutions passed by our ia
theirs, after they came out from their
baptisms of fire and blood in the Revolu-
ton, were designed to promote among all
our nation q love of e the ennobling arts
of peace"
"Peace hath her victories, more renowned
than war;
They are the victories of the pencil
rather than the sword of the easel rath-
er than the bayonct of the chisel. rather
than the spear; of the graver's knife,
rather than the cannon ball.
These are the glorious victories that
should inspire the good people of Wash
ington. They should unite as one man
to make this splendidly-located city like
Jerusalem of old, the joy and pride of the
whole land,-here should be our choicest
paintings,-here should tower aloft our
noblest monuments,-here should speak
in marble our perfect busts of statesmen,
warriors, scholars, DISCOVERIES and ben
efactors,-here, in short, should be the
Pattern City Of the Republic.
Let no one wonder, then, that we
strike out boldly for reform in our NUM-
cipal affairs. We aim at nothing short
of perfect Republican triumph in this
metropolis. five do not obtain it, we
shall at least have the satisfaction of
knowing, and of feeling in our own bos-
oms, that we made the attempt.
A model locomotive engine, tender. and
passenger car, with the materials for a
track, are to he presented to the Emneror