National Republican., 1873-02-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The wa.LInr,sn NIsn.ncp,.

EpIrOR REPUBLICAN: Whenever an individual
asks questions In the public papers touching lm-
poTtant public matters, and dlctatorially an
swers them himself, his conclusions are not very
apt to bo either exempt from error or arrant
presumption. Il Is not given to any one indl-
yidual TO know everything, or to monOpollze
the triple functions Of Judge, jury and execu-
TONER Even our saviour chose twelve dIsci-
pies to bear witness to the truth Of the sublime
precepts he taught and the wondrOus miracles
he performed.
Nevertheless an Astute contributor over the
signature OF M" In morning paper OF the list
instant, solitary and alone, attempts TO veto the
completion Of the Washington Monument unless
his own peculiar dctum Ia compiled with, and
fact that .'we have the partly finished work On
our hand" lie sets out a. follows
| 'THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
orS,pa p.S e'sT md p Il oaSRt newer TO 10 be-, Thai
| plan is not In consonance with tho spirit OF the
age, with the genius Of the American people,
| nor with the character OF the man II was de-
signed to honor. II he could have been con-
| suited does any one doubt that he would have
promptly repudlAted such an exhibition OF colOs-
| sal extrayaganceT lie would have said, 'Let my
name be called 10 remembrance In future ages
| by those things that shall benent mankind, and
| not through the withdrawal from active useful
ness Of SO large an amount OF the means Of hu-
"Is not this great republic In fact his appro-
pirate monument None other Is necessary.
stitatlon, which l. is vital principle, in ia
spirit and Its purity forever. Guard with JeAl-
Is vigilance every avenue through which the
arch enemy OF our benign institutions may, un-
der his most speclous DISCUSSES, attempt an en-.
trance TO effect their overthrow. Do these II
you would confer the most appropriate honor
upon the name and fame Of Washington"
/. The unsOphistlcated public would like TO
know where he obtained the negative answer 10
his question: Many OF the states furnished
ready y-dressed blocks OF marble, with appropriate
inscriptions chiseled thereon. We're the people
OF said States either fools or knaves, pretending
honOrs they did not feel, or contributing theif
"mites" as evidence that they were deficient In
the attributes Of decent respect TO Idter Tutri9
As he allows ''no monument Ii necessary" why
don't he propose TO have the present "unhnlshed
work" rALed entirely, and locate his perpetual
luminAry upon the head OF the Goddess OF Lib
eTty, which surmounts the dome Of the Capitol
y. While II Is contrary TO the general ntness OF
things TO consult the living about the style and
dimensions Of their tOmbs, Il Is equally absurd q
higge touching the item Of cost after their death
provided the rule OF equivalents, past and pres
ent, Is left free TO combat error; AMI certainly
there Is no danger WashlngtOn's monument will
reach an altitude exceeding his own fAr-seelnl
perceptions OF duty while living, or cease TO bt
emblematic OF his character now that ne In NJ
, more The idea, as "M" states II, involves 4
paradox, aud he Ia morally bound to attempt NJ
explanation thereof.
s. Whatever may he the number OF square feet
OF marble, 40, required TO complete said monu
ment, as "Originally designed" no dminution Ia
the "means OF human happiness, or even OF ac.
tive usefulness" will result therefrom-seeing
that II Is not proposed TO locate golden cal
thereon, after the fashion Of the heathens, Ol
TO lavish any perceptible amount OF either th'
''preCious stones" or "metals" In Us cOnstrlc
tlon; and as for the marble and granite, they arr
i not at all convenient for circulating mediums
hence gudntunl sugicn Of said raw materials will
he left wheTewith to construct all "the bridgei
, across the Potomac" "uniyersitles," &c,, tha
the present and succeeding generations ina,
, demand.
1. 1t Is not very clear to ordinary intelleots
! nor does II seem compatible with common sense
that rearing national monuments IL plsitOTid u
the lllustrious dead IL to be taken as evidence O.
yitlAted public sentiment and how can such
an evidence OF public honor and gratitude
he viewed US a proof that the COnstitu
} llOn and the laws OF the land are helI
In light estimation The exact reYersi
appears to be indicated thereby, for the generoa
heart adds dignity to every act In the memory O
the dead rs well AZ the living, and nothing mis-
becomes 1t. Spread-eAge logic Is at 4 discoun
on this subject; Arguments, like the monumen
itself, should rest upon It's own bottom:
"But we have the partly finished work on ou
. hand, and what shall now be done with ~ Built
IL no higher. Let II In that respect stand Just a
1t has stood for near score of years. Adorn y
summit with an appropriate entablAture and "
base with tasteful nnlsh and surroundings, AM
upon It's top provide for the constantly buTnlnI