Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-08
~rRnrRNHIAL. pArRIorIsM.

CENTENNIAL PATRIOTISM.
Steps are about to be taken to thor
oughly repair the home Of Washington,
at Mount Vernon, before the arrival Of
visitors to the Centennial. This is very
we'll, but what about his unfinished mon
ument at Washington City2 That will
be a beautiful thing to point out to for
eigners who come over next summer 10
admire our institutions. We must learn
more reverence for the fathers of the
country before we demand too much
homage from the bsnighted subjects Of
Great Britain, France, Belgium Ger
many, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and the
other little countries over there that will
send over this year to see what progress
we have made in the science Of govern
ment, as well as in mechanism, art, book
making, bookkeeping, etc. The intelli.
gent Frenchman, for instance, will be
rather surprised, we imagine, if he comes
over in time, to see the dilspidsted con-
dition of Mount Vernon and the half-6n-
ished monument to the Father Of his
Country at Washington. he will be
likely to conclude hat this is q money.
making country, where each generation
takes care Of itself. regardless Of the past
or the future. He will be apt to think
that while Lafayette was q type of the
FreRchmau Of the present day, Washing.
ton to have been worthy Of his confidence
and admiration, must have been Of supe-
rior mold to any Of the people that came
after him. The ERglishman will say that
these people have already forgotten their
own history ard heroes. The sturdy
German, with the picture of Frederick
the Great and the present Kaiser 10. his
heart, will pause at that monument and
wonder what kind Of people these Auer-
leans are anyhow to neglect the memory
of such great men as Washington, Baron
Steuben, and Baron De Kslb who fell in
battle. The learned Polander. in his
furs, will be puzzled to account for the
~infatuation Of Kosciusco in fighting to
secure the liberties OF q people who not
only neglect to do his memory proper
honor but actually 90 along a century
without completing q cheap monument
started in memory CT one who was said
to be first in war, first in peace, and first
in the hearts of his countrymen. And
so on through the list that we might
make out. At Philadelphia some relics
Of the Revolution will be exhibited in
cases, but the principal features Of the
exhibition will more largely advertise our
manufactures, inventions, productions
and resources than any particular rev.
erence for the men or the principles OF
the Revolution ostensibly celebrated.
Sentiment will be made subservient or
entirely sacrificed to utility. This is an
age of practical ideas. When any propo-
sition is submitted the first question
asked is, Will it psy2" If not, it is
considered unworthy Of consideration.
We are a people Of materislistic ideas,
paying respect to the man with the big
bank account, no matter. how acquired,
bowling to the person who wears diG-
monds or rides in a fine carriage, and
looking up to the owner Of business
y blocks, railroad stocks and mining shares
without asking to see his social creden-
tiaIs or bis family tree. With all our
republican fervor we ape after the fash
ions Of imperial courts, 20 wild over a
scion Of a royal family, aud by infer
ence scorn the supplemented ways
Of our old-fashioned Wing snces-
tors. Nevertheless this is a great
country. We are a live people, aud the
Centennial will be a big thing as a dis
play Of what we have to sell or have i'm
ported from abroad. 1t is a question Of
dollars and cents, just as the war was
The managers understand this, and will
carefully calculate the net profits, while
patriotic multitudes will swing around
Liberty Hal and imagine that all the
display centers around and is done in
honor OF the Fourth Of July. The board
ing-house keepers know better. The
shop-keepers, hotels and railroads who
expect to make fortunes out Of it take a
different view. Those who have goods
and wares, lands, mines and chsttels to
sell are no. studying about theories Of
government, statues Of the great dead OF
unfinished monuments, Their motto il
get money-honestly II possible, but gel
money; and hat is just where all thil
patriotic glow begins and ends.
THE Nashville Mail after o%uotiu0 IN,