National Republican., 1874-06-05

pHLTIOC1
should not be forgotten, and shall do them the
POOR honor Of connecting them with what hope
We intend to be the last and successful effort q
complete what
THEY SO NoBLY BEGAN.
They were VIM. Brent, Daniel Brent, james
he3rney, George Watterson, Joseph Gales, 10
Seph Gales, jr., Peter Force VIM. W.. Seaton,
John Mcclellan, Pishey Thompson and Thomas
Chiei Justice Marshall was its first president
and at his death Madison was chosen, since whose
death the successive Presidents OF the Onlteo
States have held the position.
| 1t was first determined to limit the subscription
OF any person to one dollar, but this restric
In 1885 the subscriptions had reached s2s 900; iu
lSa7 they had reached $4,000
T On the 3Ist Of January, ls4s Congress passed Q
resoIu;ian authorizing the society to erect the
monument upon one oil the reservations OF the
Government.
laid in the presence of persons from all parts Of
the country and amid the prayers and plaudits oil
the whole people, and by ls5t the funds Of the 50;
the height Of one hundred and seventy feet, at Q
cost Of $3.50 since which only four feet have
The society appealed to Congress for aid as
subscriptions had ceased, and o committee of the
House reported bill sppropriating 1000, but
session Of the organization thus preventing action,
anu anu held IL antE the latter part Of 1865 when
| Congress Incorporated the society and confirmed
its title to the reservation; but after appealing
TO the country In every way it could suggest, the
society frankly avows its belief that if the monu
ment is to be completed by the Centennial Oon-
| Rress must provide the means.
This brings US face to face with our duty
The COMMITTEES in recommending that Congress
| should promptly accept the trust rendered have
not been unmindful Of public sentiment as to the
| duty TO econoniEe expenditures In every branch
OF Government, but the committee thought there
| was that which wtthholdeth yet impoverisheth
| in this case. We did not believe that the en-
| lightened public sentiment OF the country would
sustain US In refusing reasonable sppropria:
We hol
no attempt had ever been made to erect q monu-
ment We could not honorably escape the duty i'm
finished monument started by the people which
from lack Of administrative machinery to reach
contributors must utterly fail. unless the Repre-
sentatives OF the people come to their assistance,
and We must either refuse or make
THE NECESSARY APPROPRIATION.
Every question as to cost, stability of shaft and
appearance when completed is answered in the
report.
In brief, It is found not advisable to complete
the obelisk to the height originally Intended 1850
feet) but to reduce 1t to the height OF about 40
feet 1t is found also that the pantheon or colon
naded structure at the base may be dispensed
with, and thus make not only less expensive
monument, but Q shan more graceful, in better
For the pantheon Is substituted a terrace with
massive steps and balustrade, forming admirable
pedestals for future statues. The obelisk will
obellsk, $3lO, O,6S5.92. With the funds now in the
hands OF the society IN appropriation of $780, 900
will nnish the monument, and Of this s75,o00 will
1t is found that the work will require five hun
dred and thirty-seven days, so that . delay till
next session Is fatal
this has been criticised, but the criticism has been
based not upon the effect produced by o shapely
and graceful obelisk unadorned, but by confusing
this pure and simple style Of Egyptian architec-
ture with the Greeian pantheon or colonaded
building surrounding its base. But this is now
eRdsd By the committee and terrace Of DrOper
proportions substituted in its stead.
II the question were entirely new one, and we
character Of monument should be erected to the
memory Of Washington, It may be that something
more al -istie and ornamental would be approved;
from the remotest boundaries Of the Union, have
subscribed to the monument upon the present de-
sign, and have expended over quarter of mil |
lion dollars in rearing 1t to its present height
This committee felt that this consideration alone,
admitting no others, would eonstrain them to ad-
structure and open the question anew as to the |
design Of monument. 1t was felt that the mo- |
ment this was done the whole army Of empires |
upon every plan devised, and that great dificuIty
would result in determining upon any plan.
Some gentlemen here may remember that some |
at Hamilton square, in New York, advertised for
plans ana i9rty or MY were sent in and exhibited
St the Art Union. M. Varnup tells Us in his
absurd group Of lighthouses, pyramids and non |
descript STRUCTURES never were got together; one |
ab6ut a5@ s1 2'Fs copy 0ftas Psr'hen0n to cost
But, Mr. Speaker, there IS something in this
SIMPLE, MAJESTIC oBELIsK
to my mind ominentiy proper as commemorative
Of the character Of Washh sto6, aside from the
ast that nT.a the saE s: PSs51S # t.
PufS S I'll dssi1 NOT SfSH
spnot e bs MSssS mo4e g than sSfGnS S & sSg5s g mt
S : Ell s thsS aaSP SEfi Sss
2 iRe world, It cannot excel them BY SO much az
PS f$sssss f issGs iS' Saqsl S2s to VIEW :Rsta
fa RP'1Pa %ss sFd 81 msGn Sm hS SsRo fs:t Ss
himself as the spot for a monument TO the 11ieri-
can Revolution which In lT95 was proposed should
be erected at the permanent scat Of Government;
and afterward 1t was marked on Major L Enfants
map Of Washington city Is the site for the s9uss
the Continental Congress, which map was ex-
amined and approved by Washington himself;
besides ts elevation Is but little below the tounds
There is another consideration, Mr.. Speaker,
which will address itself to the minds Of some
honor or sentiment involved In 1853 Con gross
confirmed to the monument association their
title to reservation No. 8, where the monument
had been decided 20 them oy President Polk In
lS4s Tho deed gave to this society this ressrya-
ton "tO use possess and enjoy, quietly and peace
purposes Of the society. This reservation terms
an important link In the Gordon Of reservations
live Mansion 1t is worth many times in value
he amount required to complete the monument
The society have expressed Willingness to re-
convey this reservation TO the United States If
his appropriation Is made and tho monument
completed. As question based entirely upon
business principles, and laying aside all Others
MS alone should impel members to vote for the
The United States are to-day trespassers IN
establishing Propagating garden on one portion
evoke the deed made to the society and refuse TO
AIRY out the trust coupled with the former deed
l submit, then, to gentlemen with whom con-
PATRIoTIsN AND NATIONAL HONOR
TiIl not avail, that here is q motive worthy the
most economical, and which can be defended upon
usiness principles, however exacting.
But Mr.. Speaker, ! am inpelled almost to
1ch o consideration. II cannot be that pstriot-
sm and national gratitude are dead IN this land.
/ cannot be that the name and fame of Wash
Ve 80 near TO him, his own countrymen, must ,
lone refuse to do him honor.
ErGkine wrote to Washington himself:
~ have o large acquaintance among the most
'9luable and excellent classes OF men; but you
re the only being for whom ever felt an awful
everence"
Said Fox of him in the British House Of Com
mons in 1874:
"IIlustrious man! deriving honor less from the
plendor Of his situation than from the dignity Of
lis mind. Before him all borrowed greatness
inks into insignincnnce, and all the potentates
Europe become little and contemplate"
Napoleon proclaimed, on hearing Of the event:
Nv ashlngton is dead! This great man fought
Iganst tyranny; he established the liberty of his
ountry. His memory will be always dear to the
French people, as 1t will be to all freemen Of the
wo worlds"
Said Lord Brougham:
sit will be the duty Of the historian and the
age in all ages to let no occasion pass of com
nenorating this illuitrious man; and until time
hall be no more will q test of the progress which
'ur race has made In wisdom and virtue be de-
lived from the yeneration paid TO the immortal
lame Of Washington"
Said Lamartine: II
"Enace henccforth the name OF Machinyel ,
!, No ~ worhinr,,n yrha, a 81 sas SI ~ -