Washington sentinel., 1854-03-12

stream; Baltimore, luckless Baltimore, shall
we say, tasteless Baltimore, preferred the SOU
briquet of sthe Monumental City" to "the City
of Parks = and Baltimore, unwise Baltimore,
like Washington. so jealous of any rival beauty
to her marble monuments, stoutly and with
fatal success, resisted all efforts to give even
breathing room to the towering monument on
which stands the image of Pater Patria. Alas
poor Baltimore! she has not an oasis in all the
desert Of her brick and mortar, which OF all
the surviving resistants to the securing park
around this monument, can recall his ptctorg
of that day, and not shed tear of regret, that
defeat had not been its fate. Yet, Baltimore,
with even this great frailty, how many love
thee dearly still! The Cassandra warnings of
those days, foretelling this regret, have reached
realization Will we of the present day at
Washington, hoard up for old age and for pos
terity similar regrets and selfcondemnation
Who has ever heard of the two thousand
acres Of park in London, being cause of COM
plant by the poorest or the most avaricious? ?
It is the poorest classes in that great metropolis
that would make rebellion at any purpose Of
robbing the city Of these great treasures. Is
the extent of grounds in Paris subject Of
complaint by any one? Is the extent Of pub
lie grounds in any city in the world subject
of complaint by any human being? Is not
their crcumscribed extent in almost every city
subject of universal regret? Shall ace, there
fore, disregard this universal lesson OF all
times, and of all cities, and omit, while it is in
our power, to secure at least decent room for
the mansion of the chief Of this growing
nation.
There are two squares, one on the east and
another on the west side of Lafayette square,
of dimensions sufficient for the contemplated
buildings. These squares can, in all probabi-
lity, be purchased on reasonable terms, cer-
tainly for much less sum than has been, and
is being spent for mere ornament to the Capitol
alone; and no one will question that for orna-
ment and habitual use, the grounds secured
by the removal of all the buildings on the Pre-
sident's square, except the mansion, would be
preferred universally to all the ornaments of
oil the public buildings If, indeed, the ques-
ton were put to the vote in this District and
throughout the Union whether they would not
prefer the Capitol ITSELF to be of plain brick,
wholly destitute Of ornament, and retain these
grounds cleared from the disgrace of its build
ings, there would come up from every quarter
one unanimous amen! A failure now to secure
the ground, is failure forever. The subject
has been debated in Congress and the razing
the Treasury building to the earth, when nearly
completed failed by a single vote, and but for
personal considerations, would have passed.
The two squares above mentioned are most eli
gibly situated, giving fall scope of vision, from
great distance, of the architectural beauty of
the edi6ces which may be erected on them.
They will be light and airy, accessible from all
four sides, and by their proximity afford faci-
lity to the transaction Of business hitherto un-
known. None of these advantages would be
had in an equal degree by buildings on the
Presidents square, which now is mere tho
roughfare, shamefully SO; perpetual throng
passing and repassing through the very portico
of the mansion itself. Besides which, the pre-
sent buildings could be occupied without annoy
ance, while the new buildings are being erected
on the two squares mentioned; but to build on
the Presidents square; would cause confusion,
annoyance, and destruction to trees of very
many years growth in the grounds of the Pre-
sident's square.
For these reasons and for very many others
which might be urged, the belief is entertained
that the Presidents square should not be desc.
Grated by additional buildings.