The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-12

VAsDALIsM AT WASHINGTON - The people
were recently taken by surprise by the news
that the block of marble, sent from Rome by the
Tope for the Washington Monument, hal been
broken to pieces on the night Of the 9Th inst.
ana the fragments strcwcd along the banks OF
Potomac. But still greater establishment will.
lie aroused ly parusal of the following extract
from a journal published in this city by an
Italian refugee who rendered himself particu-
larly conspicuous in the Bedini disturbance =
[I'rom the Crusader.l
On Sunday night tile 5th of the present month, was
most just and patriotic act expressive oil
the Indignation Of true patriots at the sending OF block
OF marble for the Washington Monument by the Pope oil
Rome The idea OF sending this stone to tine United
States originated with tie Fopes Secretary of state Car
dpal Antoneili than whom ferocous villain never
went uIhung. This Antonelli is the of highway
man, and most worthy is he of such n parentage. Mr.
Lewis ass junior forwarded the precious stone with
letter in praise of tie gallows bird who first suggested
the bareiaced insult to TIE of the great patriot
The block thus sent here by pockhead bore the coat of
oi ius IL. ard OF Rome, and inscription in
latin, to the effect TINT the stone was testimonial from
the Roman aseAooi as papable rs it is wicked
and base.
number Of spirited American citizens becoming de-
teimned that this stone should never have a place
in tic monument being raised TO the memory of the
greatest patriot Of modern times, assembled together
very quietly the evening above mentioned broke the
block into fragments and strewed them along the banks
OF tie Potomac, lesson Tor intriguing dcmaSogues
and lalsh ruseyes Should his Holiness or his sate
ties deem it worth while to send duplicate OF that in
sultiDg ironca testimonial which has just been OPP
Ioruney destroyed, we trust that the fate will
meet it immediately its arrival and that it will not he
suffered to profinc American soil long has that
which few patriotic citizens have now summary dis
pose0 OF.
Sensible and rational men will be amazed at
he open expression of such sentiments as Ties
this country or this community. IA justiiica
ton of such an outrage as the destruction o.
the block of Italian marble could only come
from denizen Of that overheated atmosphere
where revolutions are Matched between shutdown
and sunrise, and the masses require the constant
prospect of bayonets to live peaceably among
themselves. No right minded American can
feel ought but shame at such an act of Vandal-
ism. The Pope may have his faults, as many of
his predecessors had theirs ; but there have been
good Popes as well as bad, and to say that we
shall not receive block of marble because it
comes from o Pope is absolutely ludicrous.
The Catholic religion is entitled to respect for
its good traits, Just as it is obnoxious to GEN.
sure for it's bad ones; SO is Professionalism who
shall strike the balance between themf Both,
in their day and generation, have rendered
good service to morality, humanity, and civil
cation. The act of the Pope in sending us the
block of marble was compliment which ought
to have been properly received and acknow-
lodged. We understand that the government
intends to offer reward for the detection of
the perpetrators of the outrage. Should any
investigation take place, we advise the govern
ment to send to the Office Of the Crusader, as
some one connected with that establishment ap-
pears to know more about the matter than the
pubic generally.