The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-23
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS-L LNDE
PENDENOE SQUARE,

PreSS VIII appear.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS- INDIE
PENDENOE SQUARE.
TIE State Senate yesterday, by vote of 28
ayes to uay, passed the House bill to autho-
rize the people of Philadelphia to fix upon
site for the public buildings in October next,
but with proviso that Independence Square
shall not be voted for. The Senate also
passed, by q vote of 26 ayes to 3 nays, the
House bill prohibiting the erection of the
public buildings in Independence Square.
There will undoubtedly be great pressure
brought to bear upon the Governor by pro-
perty holders in the neighborhood of Inde-
pendenoe Square to induce him to withhold
his signature from these bills, but it is sim
cerely to be hoped that he will have the firm
ness and courage to do his obvious duty in
the matter by giving his assent forthwith,
and thereby extend to Independence Square
all the protection that can be afforded
by the laws of the State. We have
hitherto advocated the plan proposed
for submitting this whole matter to
a vote of the citizens of Philadelphia, conf
dent that q very large majority would be
found opposed in a most decided manner to
the desecration of the square and Indepen-
dence Hall by having them obstructed and
overshadowed by mass of new and snowy
buildings especially as there is at least one
place better adapted in every way for the
purposes of the city. We are, however,
much better satisfied with the action of the
Legislature in removing Independence Square
altogether out of the field of controversy.
TLo ,>oo,Ia of Dbiladalphia ara NOT +bo
only ones who have right to be consulted
on this subject, and it might happen that
there would be enough voters in October next
who would be unable to appreciate the i'm
portanee, from purely patriotic standpoint,
of the question submitted for their action, to
sanction the contemplated incumbrance of
Independence Square, in spite of all the argu-
ments that could be urged against it. We do
not think any such result would ensue within
the range of ordinary probabilities, but for
the sake of the argument we may presume it
to be possible. The question therefore ought
not to be left entirely to the decision of the
people of Philadelphia. Independence Hall
is national edifce and Independence Square
is national ground. Not merely Philadel-
phians but the people of the State of Penn
sylvania and the whole United States are
interested in preserving such monu-
ment as Independence Hall inviolable,
and the erection of the proposed pile of pub
lie buildings upon the square would be an
outrage upon the whole American people that
would deservedly disgrace Philadelphia. II
there were no other available spot upon
which to locate the municipal buildings that
we undoubtedly 30 badly need, there might be
a shadow Of an excuse for the appropriation
of this sacred ground. But in the -four
squares at the intersection of Broad and
Market streets we have more than enough
ground for all our acknowledgement, too
that from the very foundation of the city wa'
set apart for this very purpose This location
is rapidly becoming the business centre o
the city, and with the four squares thrown intC
one, and broad roadway around them
Philadelphia will have a site for her publ,
buildings that will be imposing, appropriate
and in all respects unsurpassed by any othel
city in the United States.
The whole opposition to the project for thu
location of the municipal buildings at Penn
Square comes from property owners in the
neighborhood Of Independence Square.
IL Woit iOI sho NoNernor 10 conbluer tnaJ hl
the newspapers that have been advocating il
season and out of season the independence
Square project have their offices in that vi
cinity, while The EVENING TELEGRAPH anC
the other journals located about Third street
and removed from both the rival sites, hav,
earnestly protested against the proposet
desecration. We are able to decide in thi
matter impartially and disinterestedly, an
we claim that our opinions are entitled b
greater weight than those of our contempt
raries who cannot conceal their anxiety t
accomplish personal advantage.
Independently of every other considers
tion, it should be borne in mind that Ind'
pendence Square is too small to accommc
date structure of the necessary size, 30 Q
to give proper effect 10 its architecturI