National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-03
HOW no FIYISH THE ROVUNENT

R0W TO FINISH THE MONUMENT.
The Hon. Mr. Packard, who succeeded
Mr.. Colfax in the House Of Representatives,
makes in his paper, the Lsporte Chronicle,
the following suggestions in furtherance OF
the effort to raise funds to finish the Wash
ington national monument the non-com-
pletion of which has been for 80 many
years disgrace to the country: "How to
finish the Washington monument Is one
"of the problems which yex mems brains,
land yet which sometimes seems almost
beyond the power of solution. But we
"believe it can be solved, and we here con-
tribute our assistance to that end. We
"believe that the moneyfo for the completion
"of the Washington monument can be
raised, and all raised in one day. Let US
"see. There are not far from 4O,OOO,OOO
"of people in the United States. With
proper inducements and encouragement,
lone fifth of this number would contribute
something. This would give us 5000, 900
contributors, who, if they gave but one
sixteenth of dollar each on an average,
would furnish the monument association
" with $500, 900. All that is necessary is to
bring the subject to the attention Of the
" contributors, and how shall this be done
LET the monument association fix day
" for the great contribution to be made-ssy
the next anniversary of Washington's
birthday. Then let due notice be given
through the newspapers that on that day
" everybody will have the privilege Of con-
tributing something from one cent up to
lone dollar, no one to give more than one
dollar nor less than one cent. Let place
"be fixed to deposit contribuhons-thep post
office would generally be advissble-and
"let every arrangement necessary be made.
" Urge all pastors of churches to sllude to
ait on the Sunday preceding the 22d of
" February, and commend it earnestly to
" their congregations; urge all Masonic,
"Odd Fellow, and other lodges to hold
meetings on that day and take collec-
ton, to be afterwards deposited in the
regular contribution box. We throw out
"these sentences as mere hints or sug-
"gestions. A thousand avenues would open
" for urging the people to the work, and We
really believe this plan would be success
full. Let it be written up and talked up
"three months previously. Get Sabbath
" schools to work it up, encourage children
" to save pennies for the great day. Ex-
"hort, preach and pray. Arouse enthu-
& siasm, stiffen up the sinews, quicken the
blood, until this American people shall
" remove the stain of an unfinished mouu-
"ment to the Father Of his Country. The
people can be so wrought up to the
" majesty and patriotism Of the work that
ait shall seem a sacred duty to rear high
"this shaft, an excrescence now on the
" landscape and a stigma on the good name
"of the American nation"
The newspapers of the country could
give material assistance in the work, and
we are certain they would be glad TO do so,
if the subject was properly presented to
them. What is needed Is organization, and
to that end we would suggest to the society
to enlist the cooperation of all the editors
III IAlC CONhll HGS q NOAAAAlAbsCC Va OuANO49
be appointed in each State and Territory,
with power to add to its numbers until
every paper in the State is represented
Each newspaper could then write the whole
subject up, and revive subscriptions, print
the names of subscribers and forward the
TO the society in Washington.
a hundred dollars from each one Of the five
or six thousand newspapers in the country
would be all that would be required. Some
offices would not probably raise as much,
while others would collect thousands. > If
the society could only enlist men like Mr..
Bennett in New York, Mr.. Childs in Phila-
delphia, Mr. Abel in Baltimore, Mr.. White
in Chicago, Mr. Halstead m Cincinnati, Mr..
Bowles in Springfield, Mr. Watterson in
Louisville, &c, &c, the movement would
be a success; all the money would be sub
scribed In less than year, and the monu-
ment finished by Centennial day. What
does the society say2