National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-17
THE BURIAL OF TRE PRESIDENTS.

AM oS32nA VIZ 4A21 h1o306n4o'
The idea is new one, and originally
given to the world by a correspondent of
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, that it would
be a becoming thing to have q tomb, maui
soleum or temple built for the interment of
the Presidents of the United Ststes. The
idea seems to haveawakened much thought
and interest, and, in very short time, it
has gained immensely in public favor.
There are only two places in the country
where such temple could be appropriately
constructed, the first being at the nations
Capital, the other at Mount Vernon. The
fulfllment of an idea like this, although 80
grand and patriotic, Is surrounded at the
outset by the gravest difficulties, the chief
of which lies in the possible and probable
refusal of some of the descendants and
some of the States in whose custody the re-
mains of the Presidents now are to give
them up. The next difficulty would be in
securing an appropriation large enough to
properly carry out the idea on scale Of
grandeur and beauty commensurate with
the wealth and power of the country, and
then would follow the minor difficulties of
the plans and details. By those of good
Judgment, however, it is believed that all
these could be gradually .surmounted, and
that within the next three or five years the
plan might be consummated. An American
temple for the repose of the honored dead
of the Republic is in strict accord with the
spirit of freedom and justice. Such tenn
pie should be made enduring as the ages,
for it is to be hoped that there will be no
end to the line of Presidents, and no dis
solution of our form of Government;
and, truly both the line and
form will continue as long as
reverence, gratitude and patriotism hold
their thrones in American hearts. Wash
ington, Jefferson. Madison, Monroe and
Tyler have their tombs in the State of Vir-
ginis. Andrew Jackson, james K. Polk
and Andrew johnson repose in. the State of
Tennessee. John Adams and John Quincy
Adams have their monumental tablets in
the State OF Massachusetts,. Martin Van
Buren, and Willard Fillmore are buried in
New York, William Henry Harrison's
grave is in Ohio, Zachary Tsylor's in Ken
lucky, Franklin Pierce finds his repose in
New Hampshire. James Buchanan rests in
Pennsylvania, and Abraham Lincoln in ILL
nois. Mount Vernon, Quincy, Monticello,
Montpelier, the Hermitage, Undertook,
Concord, Nashville, Wheatland and Spring
field are all prominent shrines and are
yearly visited by thousands of American
citizens in pious pilgrimage; but the graves
of some Of our Presidents have not received
that attention which affection and duty re-
quire, and which true pride ought to insist
upon. If the remains were all gathered to-
gether in one place, in some grand and suit
able structure, in an emblematic, memorial
mausoleum, with its patriotic affairs, its
chapels, shrines and decorations, its "storied
windows" its statues and heroic insignia of
our country's magnificent power and gran
deur, patriotism would be exalted, dignity
lifted up, affection intensified and glory
crowned with perpetual remembrance.
Love for the Republic is propitiated by love
for those who have sustained it as its
Chief Magistrates, and for all who have
ministered to its growth, and as the re-
volving years glide on each one ought to
be marked by an increased reverence for
the past, by more enduring, more con-
spicuous regard for the great events in our
history and for the great men by whose
hands they were wrought. In such events
and in such men we recognize the sources
of all our progress and strength, and when
we fail in their proper commemoration we
lose something Of that national pride
wherein the bond of union is cemented.
Thiv subject is one of vital importance
now, and we hope it will receive the at
tention it merits. We refrain, at this time,
from entering field rich in illustration of
this idea and crowded with the monu-
mental patriotism Of older nations. Amer
lean fountains of inspiration are quite suf-
ficient for the present concerning subject
appealing SO directly to the American
heart 7- ~7