The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-01-21

body Of men q convention. The OBJ
jections which are offered against the
removal Of the National Capitol could
not apply to National Park which is
yet 10 be brought into existence. II
may be said that the whole west is q
grand park affording great inducements
to tourists but if we encourage this
style of argument we shall never ad-
vance very rapidly in what is called
civilization. The advantage Of having
what are technically termed parks, is
seen in all great cities and some great
States. If it be desirable TO have a
city park, or state park, can it be less
desirable to have a National Park
Let but Congress determine the loca-
ton and the road to the remainder Is
clear as MONDAY. 1t is not proposed
that the government shall do more than
designate o location for the Park be-
fore the whole country is claimed by
railroad corporations. Voluntary con-
tributions from the people, as individ-
uals, could be tried in order 10 adorn
the Park and keep it In good condition.
Who that knows the American people
can doubt that such plan would be
richly successful? Certainly an asso
citation of citizens could at any time
purchase three thousand acres of land
and present it to the government for o
Park. Congress could not refuse to
accept the land undersuch circumstan.
ces nor is it reasonable to suppose that
our representatives would be foolish
enough to accept dozen tracts of land
for the same purpose and vote to have
dozen National Parks. The state that
{ first made the offer, might reap a spec
ial advantage. But the proverbisl gen
crosby, patriotism, and good taste
of Americans can form but a poor ex-
q cuse for insction on the part Of any one
Z in authority.
8 Few people seem to realize the vasl
amount of grandeur lost to art of each
/ variety by the enormous competition
?, in motion almost everywhere but the
a fact is transparent nevertheless. This
IS competition" might indeed be increas
e ed by the National Park enterprise, bu
n the new channel would save from dealt
N many beauties that not only deserve t.
:. live but are worthy high place in ou
g esteem. Local pride. want of apprecia
I. ton or absolute ignorance, poverty anC
It various other hindrances would no long
u er stop certain wheels OF progress NJ
4 chicanery, nor indifference, could pre-.
D, vent the proper exhibition of man
! gems of art and science when they wer
II offered as gifts from individuals to
8, National Park. Museums Of art, hall
1t OF statuary, gardens of zoology AM
: orthodoxy would meet with fewer re
'e strictions here than elsewhere, Will
st standards Of science, art, agriculture
+ and mechanism could be more readil,
'e and permanently established. An,
al who doubts that National Park in tn
= United States would soon become
e worlds park I? The comparative insts
te bility of monarchical governments i
s. daily receiving fresh demonstration
n The recent dismantling-of Paris, b,
Es7@af, is SAD d lesson to men Of cultur
e @erywhere. Scientists, philosophers
4 inventors and professional men Of th
1t old world are looking to the new as tn
1t most fitting recepticle and best field 70
a their treasures. Then repeating tn
:, words of the Philadelphia Press) Gle
a US have National Park by all means.
4 But suppose the whole expense of tn
Q undertaking should be borne by tn
G government the question arises hav
Is we the money to pay for it? Thi
y question Was anticipated by the Cleve
d land Leader which answered it il
- Yankee fashion by referring to tn
= purchase of Alaska at cost of sever
If millions of dollars in gold, and at
!, time when we we're heavily in debt an,
9 had large war on our hands. Ever
e if we never have National Park vii
d the nation ever be out of debt? Ha
8 it ever been out of debtH If we hav,
d not the cash we have abundant secu-
rity and are practically rich enough t,
! indulge in much more expensive luxu
> ries than National Park. The cues
ton of taxation next arises If we hat
to pay cash for the Park and. all it
: equipments, tax Of five dollars g;
e head" would give US about tive humid
6 red millions of dollars for the purpose
I and this sum should be sufficient to Civ,
! us respectable Park. Is there an,
person who would object to that tax O
FIVE dollars which never could be levied
/ more than once To keep such p RI
] in good condition would cost about s
million of dollars year, or twenty five
cents "a head" If all this was money
l "clean ont Of pocket" we could vel
afford the outlay. But this ia very fal
from being the case For every dollar
expended in this manner we could
scarcely fail to receive at least fifty dol
lars In return. There never Was q hat