Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-05

mind a. was the pillar of the cloud by day and
pillar Of fire by night to his chosen people Of
old, as they travefeed the wilderness that event
well give utterance here to-day in reverence
and humility to the language Of holy writ, "For
He 10 good, for His mercy endureth forever
The Oldest Inhabitants" Of the District of
as they believe, in appropriate manner this an
niversary Of their country's freedom-yes, en-
phatically now, the Freedom Of their whole
eau sSe IN aats IN ysmcerty snd in i ;oy
sJehovah hath uiumphed, his people are free. I"
They have come TO celebrate, and TO leave a
memorial Of their patriotism by presenting to
the Washington Monument Association block
OF marble, properly Inscribed, to be placed in
their monument. I only wish IT were In our
power to present 4 sufficient number, with the
funds adequate to lay them, to finish the monu-
ment.
When stood at the foundation Of the Wash
iDgton MOnumenttw years ago this day,
and, as Grand Master of Masons, performed the
appropriate Masonic ceremonies of laying the
cornerstone; when, surrounded by the Presi-
dent and Vice President. heads of Departments
goodly number of members Of the Senate and
House of Representatives, a splendid military
display, thousands of American citizens, and q
very full representation Of the Masonic frater-
nifty, from quite number of the States Of the
Observation-Disclosures, Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Virginia being most prominent-when
after listening TO the most eloquent and appro-
pirate Grafton OF the Hon. Robert G. winthrop
i, as my duty required, addressed a few words
to the multitude, and among other things said
1--WE commence here, great, a patriotic, a
glorious work; when 1t shall have been COM
pleted, who that shall visit this city. but will
come tOsthe spot, and while cOntem plating the
monument OF a nations affections, but will feel
his bosom warm, and his heart expand with the
holy fire of patriotism? His thoughts will not
recur to him alone whose name il shall bear. but
also to that galaxy of great names, who not only
pledged everything, but risked everything, that
we might stand here, this day, in the proud posi-
ton which we occupy before the world. Is
there, then, single individual among the mil
lions who hail this as their common country
who, possessing the ability, will refuse the
protfeTed honor of being permitted to contribute
trust not one!"
When 1 said this, on the 4th OF July, 1913, lit
tie did suppose that so many years would pass
would, i'm all its majestic proportions, stand
completed.
And permit me now to express the Opinion
emphatically to express it-that it is not credta-
BILE to the patriotism OF the American people,
that a national monument to Washington should
be commenced here, in the city bearing his i'm
mortal name, on the banks of the broad and
beautiful Potomac, which he loved SO well, and
after more than twenty years be left, as the
Washington National Monume now stands.
having the appearance OF broken shaft! as if
il stood as a melancholy me mortal, to mark the
grave Of buried American patriotism.
If it is to remain thus, let us festoon upon it's
top the folded mantle, and inscribe upon the
unfinished shaft the ridiculous epitaph which
some fond parent cansed to be engraved on the
tombstone of his deceased infant:
If am so quickly done for,
wonder what was begun for"
us'eiIy Will surely WONDER why, after so
much display of intention, pride, If nothing else
, nouIo NOT nave urged ON the work TO compile
uGn u. ~. ,,o, ., "
citizens, and with renewed energy s.push on the
Oh frn,,, III a,.r ';t.a az, Us nntenueu height,
- 70 o,,n tSS,.a,;n n1 s'.sie sIAI wnich
whose narnr sta, az vi enat greAt man
others in the hearts OF the Smerican nso"e all
Of ,n 80 y. .ne 81 ,.i, PeoPe
mater .snsrsnnai w ,ha anu e.iiu cohsuer !.
soIaro, -. .h. , ~ my .,' anu IeCoru
niversarv of Amarican NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. .,. S
tionai Monrmant ~ ,ha .I. 'nS Ha
Wash;noton .hnU he co,n,Ia ineory vi ueorge
Snth;s - ; ; oG I'm III np.sceu
Tbev 1 70 ipi 70 10 tne people.
and II ;s ~ hn dnaa fnng snet' oS aoae,
sn ~ ~ Is cer'aih u nc oone' lures OF "Ihats
81 NJ Tr;.,as M. .
nnn; vnn ,oanIar s,h o 70 ngre 'o-uay 10 nnict
n ,,o niseofy St lne wa, Oh the revolution; how
HuI p'xve IAthers loaght, now they succeeded;
tbev e1nergsd sron, .t Upon .nelr banners, now
'eE.sbadoEed the ,.nd 81 psa.v OF war tnat
E, .ne ianu, IN glory ana In tri-
q IA Pth ~" my III meu, nrs. CohIederacy,
anu NJ snSn Na.om now lnat nation went on Tor
Tbat IN IN ha ham pIosPerlty, &c, &c, &c:
s wlcetu tsie' ~ wouid De . tale told
ior 'no shousa1oth ome, ana 10 Wnich L doubt
"a IL 4 oou u nnu, ~ al this assemolage, nail
o1%en a..SntlVe nstehers.
came mere, manly, 10 aid In the presenta-
Son ~ ,ne Wasnington Nac,ohai monument
oociety Oh the stone ~nich "Ihe Oldest lnhab,
iIahts OF tne Disrlct VI OoiuInpla nave caused
10 De pIePared as their onerlhg 70 the monu-
meht; III seems 10 me, however, 10 De hitting
occasion on whlch 70 cohgratulate me choie conn
!, on the remaIkaDe state Oh national affairs az
uIs present moment
Mnat nVing oeing would nave ever dreamed,
riH or seven years ago, that at a time no farther
advanced IMAM thls, peace, harmony and Kind
ieeing Coulu, ny possibility, reign throughout
the landE
had any one at that time prophecided that the
North ana the south would again be combined
IN common pond OIL unlOn-ln common desire
10 see the GEAR old nag wave In harmony and
peace over the entire land, from the Bay Of
r uhdy TO the MO DEL Norte-from the Capes OF
' lrglnia 10 the Golden cate OF the Pacific, in
less IMAM generation, ne would nave been
IA la ughed Az, ana sconea as a iaise prophet,
WIZ M o this IN SaH e. 1IEt ,s-o .,
more than tive Years after ths last 1nn Of the
war of the RebeIIionw VAS fired Ee witpes s
the astonishing fact of a country. in which the
and most gallant fight the world ever
saw, took place; where father was arrayed
against son, brother against brother, and house
hold against household, again united again
the common breath of Brotherhood:
again looking unitedly and hopefully to the
future; again raising their PRAYERS together to