Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-03-12

Monument TO THE UNKNOWN DEAp.-The
American stone-cutter has engraved many Illus
trious names on pillars uplifted by national graf
itude. The builders have built none too high;
nor have they wrought unworthily in rearing
magnificent structures for the apoheoses of heroes
who look haughtily down from the heights Of
fame on aspiring palace and humble cottage.
Let every stone that lifts the statue OF WASHING
TON cubit nearer the clouds be blessed by all
the United people; and let every sand-grain that
may fall from his monuments be reverently car
ried to holy place in the great temple Of Liberty
by pilgrims who come up in succeeding centuries
to behold the stupendous pillar reared by sons
of the hcro's compatriots.
But, reverencing the world renowned, let not
the nation be unmindful of the brave men whose
names and fame were buried in the soldiers
shallow grave The monument of their works
aspires before the reverent gaze of nations like
frosted promontory in the sun; their flesh may
have been the banquet of turbulent wolves or
clamorous crows. Their bones may have been
jostled by the plow-share of advancing pioneers;
their histories may have failed of translation
from the tattered records of the camp, but their
arms helped to upraise the proud signal of victory,
that now faunts over the st. Lawrence and
streams out from the cliffs of Msndocino.
We have wished for capacity to persuade the
building Of a national monument to The I'm
kno,cn Dead" who bequeathed us the heritage of
Liberty Let us construct at the Republican
Il ooI, al hall hno
other inscription, and by which foreigners may
stand, in after time, and learn from tradition
that Americans, mmortalizing the illustrious by
statue and commemorative structure, were not
for getful of the humber soldier whose blood was
the first baptism of the new republic. Let it be
an indestructble landmark OF our national exis-
tence, deep founded and strong cemented, that
the antiquary of uncomputed future time may
look up, wonderingly, at the mysterious inscrip'
ton by forgotten generations Solder each par
tcle to its fellow so inseparably that after every
ruin of our magnificent Capitol shall have been
removed. men may still wonder at the marvellous
art of the builders who wrought upon that last
vestige Of their age.
Women have gone to receiver the Columbian
sepulchre; she who first of mortals, thought OF
the neglected tomb OF Palestine. has been earliest
to enter the crumbling walls of a national shrine
to uphold its tottering fragments. And, as the
angel went before, to unlock the holier portals.
Oratory stepped from the forum and with his
stnrdier arm thrust a hook among the briars and
poisonous weeds that shed their venomous tears
about the door. Even Infancy, exhorted by
mothers patriotic as the wives of Lacademons
empted his scant treasury, to replace a pebble
in the sacred walls. May not the husbands, and
brothers. and sons, Of these hero-worshiping
women go out to the fields l." made red with vic.
tory" and, taking. each, a stone consecrated by
patriot blood, Herewith form monument whose
silent presence shall declare forever, that man Of
this age, having honored tho renowned with costly
obelisk and mausolean splendor. remembered the
poor soldier whose record dropped from among
the immortal names that were not born to die"
Would that a monumental remembrance could
ascend till its capital grew gray In the chaste
embrace OF morning heralds, while night yet lin
gered at its base.