New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-27

not only now, but in che hereafter OF his
tory. The American Government - whoever
or whatever that may be-poeticaly desir Dg TO
place stone from tho tomb OF Boonaparte in, un-
der or ct the top of the Washington Monument,
sent Mr. Kimbsll-whOever no aIso may be-tO ST.
Helena to secure the coveted specimen. Dir. Kim
ball is politely received by the Commander de
Rougement who represents on that occasion only
His Sacred Majesty of France. The pair pro-
coed to the ex-tOmb Of tire ex Emperor, tae body
which once slept there having become an ex-cada-
YER also. France and America. With their respect
i've tails, arriving q! the holy hole-lOr really It is
Low nothing more-the speecb-masDg begins as
inevitably as the Iagishing after an old siege. NJ.
ROugemeht plays away frat, if We may use that
waaby expression. M Rougement says that he
is eprspturd, IS most Ffencbmcn arc upon
ether slight or solemn occasions. N.
Rougement delivers st0pe in the name
Of the Emperor-a sort of gift from
tbat august quarter to which Frenchmon, aud So
peca)y those asking for bread are tolera ,y acous
toned. The C1mmandant de Rougement expresses
the opinion that this stone after it has been hOsted
to IFS destined position in the cOnsecrated pile Will
testiiy 10 those who may visit the monuuent-that
it Will depone to all such sight seekers, that France
has preserved, among her many other sentiments,
that which she entertained for the Unite States at
time when Washington achieved a place in his
tory. Thus far the I" elegate" Of Napoleon III,
who did not, We regret to say, offer few bottoms,
hat or pocket handkerchief formerly belonging
10 the Old, original Emperor. This We are sorry
for, because the poor proprietOrs of the Washing
ton Monument might have turned that honest penny
of which they stand in such exigency by exhibiting
tie donatiTe relics in the only part of their structure
which ia likely ever to be finished, by which we
mean the basement 1t would be in strict keeping
with the patch-w ork style Of the erection, to Opea
something like an Old clothes or rag aud bottle shop
ca the premises.
THUS RoUgement, TO whom aus TeEiBg spske the
Minister or Secretary Of the Monument Depart
mert of the United States; the lstser-writer says
that be paavered en- sa Quai'tc damfricaiH AS
matter of national pride, We soemny question the
exactitude of this statement; for having scrupu-
lousy examined the report of Mr. Kimballs Speech
we are :erated 10 6nd 40 alusiou whatever 30
public bird-a creature We quite d0at upon, and
ore we shall stand By, in defense of its plamage,
yoce and general good looks, until its scream has
subsidized 10 sob ard lis hob to silence TINS
acquihne bull 90 speak ornithO-z oOioglcaly)
was the less toersble because there is standing
difference between France and Columbia respecting
the owDerrbip Of the lovely soarer This, then,
the very time for tho Minister OF the United
States to have advanced and indicated our proten
sions to tie undivided ownership of the fierce
&c gray bird" We are mortified 10 say that the
opportunity vas neglected 1t lie possible that EN-
bassadOr Kimball did not know the French word
for eagle. If 80, what was he doing upon an occa
ZION delicate and fraught with the interests of
two principal Powers, without French dictionary |
in bis pocket But we would not do Mr. Kimbsll |
Injustice. We have not the whole of his emission,
and it is just possible that there may have been SO
much Of the eagle as his tail in the tail of the
speech, OF, perchance, claw in the conclusion.
Ii So Mr. Kimball had better drop US line, stating
Tue fact succinctly.
Saving this omission, we are tolerably well |
pleased with Mr. Kimball's oratorious performance.
He observed that Future Ages, while contempla- |
ting the Washington Monument, would be psrtcu- |
ary struck by the sacred stone from st Helena. |
He remarked also, that the stone would speak in |
solemn ard silent language of the affection of |
france and Columb a, whose names, Joined upon |
hat column, time could never obliterate. The |
unity Of James Buchanan and Louis Napoleon he |
compared to chain of gold He expressed his |
private opinion that the Monument would last
% until the consummation of all things" and having
arrived at this convenient and appropriate stopping
place. he stopped. Now, having no considerable
skill as prophet, we are too modest to criticize
)vermuch Mr. Kimbalrs patriotic preachment
But we do confidently assert that if the Monument
8 never built, Future Ages must be miraculously
harp-sIgbted to see II. We Own, as Future Ages
nave never done US any harm, our personal wish
hat they may be spared the excruciatiOn of lis
enipg to the silent and solemn language of
he Stone, which would, of course, talk only
French-that they may be spared too the
anguish of gazing at the Monument in an unfinished
and especially in finished condition. Half of it
n ght be tolerated but the whole of it we trem-
Die at the terrible torment Future Ages will be
ough, we suppose, but Future Ages will not be
able to bear everythiDg and it is far to presume
that the Whole will be more hideous
han any of its parts. The tendency of most of the
structures of this age and country is to tumble
lown and we do Lot see if there be an overriding
Providence in these distressing events, why the
Washington Monument should be spared. If tits
o fell, it should fall now and crush those who are
guilty Of its erectiOn; nor have We "a right to put
II peril the limbs aud the lives of Future Ages.