National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-24
NATIONAL GLORY AND SHAME

NATIONAL GLORY AND SHANE
Forty-one years ago voluntary society
Of Washington conceived the idea of erect
ing a monument to the Father of his
Country in the District of Columbia by
contributions from individuals limited in
amount to one dollar each. 1t was sup
posed that the OVERLOOKING patriotism of
the people would seek qualification in such
donations TO the amount estimated TO DE
necessary 70 the completion Of the work.
The design was to allow every citizen, head
of family or otherwise, to have an oppor-
tunity to participate in this free-will offering
Of a grateful people. The amount esti-
mated to be needed to complete the monu-
ment upon the plan devised and adopted,
comprising obelisk and pantheon, was less
than one and quarter millions of dollars.
1t was imagined that there would be found
in this broad land that number of citizens
who would gladly contribute one dollar
each toward this patriotic object. But the
result was an apt and truthful illustration
of the old saw, that what is everybody g
business is nObOdy's business" Although
Chief Justice Marshall was its first presi-
deat and the society appointed agents in
all parts of the country, and much enthu-
siasm was aroused among societies and Sun
day schools, yet twelve years later, in 1S45,
only S2S, 900 had been contributed. The
restriction as to the amount Of single dOna-
nations was then taken of, and the above
contributions having been judiciously in
vested at interest, the aggregate accumula-
tons reached S62, $50, and the work OF
building the present shaft was then CON-
menced. The cornerstone was laid in
184S, upon the Fourth of July, amid the
most sanguine expectations of all those
present that the funds would be readily
forthcoming to insure its speedy completion.
Each State and several of the Territories,
large number Of societies and corpora
tons, various Indian tribes and foreign na,
tons, to the uttermost parts Of the earth,
have contributed memorial blocks to testify
their admiration Of the character of Wash
ington. During five years from 184S Il
1858 $3.50, 900 were raised and expended
upon the noble work, and yet the shaft wa
not half finished, Since that period the
labors have ceased. Has our patriotism
grown cold? For twenty-one long year
scarcely a blow has been struck upon thi
monumental pile. During that period
Washington has been visited by at least tel
thousand bridal pairs who have blusheC
to be informed that yonder neglected pilt
was the evidence Of a nations gratitude Il
the founder of her liberties. Millions o
soldiers who have since laid down theil
lives for the preservation and perpetuntio1
of those liberties have felt their cheeks
mantle with shame when they first behelt
the forlorn condition of that splendid shat
and pantheon, the beautiful engravings o
which they had often seen, and which theJ
had fOndly believed to be an efectuatet
reality.
The Englishmsn Smithson has q splendid
monumental pile upon neighboring squar
erected from his own bequest as a token o
his faith in, and admiration for, the institu
tons founded by the great Washington
While the Hberality of the stranger and hi
testimonial in favor of our form of govern
ment are gratifying to our national pride
the contrast which the temple of sciene,
presents to the shabby memorial Of Ameri
can patriots to the courage, genius AM
Craftsmanship Of their patsr patria is Lu
Hating and self abasing to the last degree.
Werejoice that there Is now good promis