Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-11-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Memorial CeremonIes-The Thomas
Statue UnveiIed-HOnOrs 90 the Man
On Horsebaek.
From our Regular Correspondent

on Horseback.
From our Regular Correspondent
This has been a week of unusual memo
rial festivity even for Washington. There
are SIX colossal equestrian statues of Gen
erals in bronze about the streets and parks
of our young capital, but neither Wash
ingtOn, jackson, Scott, Greene nor Nc
Pherson received, at the time of the erec-
ton of their durable efigies, such an i'm
posing ovation as has been given this week
to the bronze representation of General
Thomas and his horse. The unveiling eere-
monies, both as a street pageant and in
every other detail, were eminently success
full. Seldom, even at a Presidential in
auguration, has the city been so thronged
with visitors. The many volunteer organ
izations from other cities have given the
streets a martial appearance, carrying the
mind back, not very pleasantly, to the Pc
riOd before the cruel war was over.
1t is now contemplated to erect a monu-
ment to General Hooker, and steps have
already been taken in that direction. At
a meeting Of the Society of the Army of
LAAC SAAA AAA4Is OCuCA6l AaAA0LAg VI ~"
York, annougced that a movement To erect
an equestrian statue to General Hooker
was in contemplation, and that be was in
receipt Of a letter from California to the
effect that that State would turn out its
golden ignOts 10 promote the movement.
Just before his death General Hooker, who
was very wealthy man, made an offer of
$1S, 900 for q duplicate of the Thomas
- ColA1o-.9 EInrr,a or VT
What an immense number of statues will
we have when all the generals who fought
in the late war, with no less distinction
than these, have been honOred. We are
honoring the warrior out of all proportion.
The annals of our brief history have been
the annals Of peace, but the stranger who
would attempt to read our history in the
monuments of our Capital, would come to
the conclusion that we we're a more war
like people than the Romans, or than the
French during the Napoleonic era. JEFF
fersOn, the author Of the Constitution, has
but one little statue-it might better be
called a statuette-and that was presented
by French Admiral. Washington and
Lincoln have both been eaTicatured in mar
bic JacksOn's civic services have been ig-
nOred, he too is represented as warrior OF
al uuAIdCLdDl6 uOISts rev, II any VI TIE
statesmen who have made our history in
those features that will make US, in the re
mote ruture. historically great, have been
honored. This is the way it has always
been. The glory of the field has ever been
greater than the glory of the Cabinet or
Senate. We are doing no worse than the
nations who have gone before us. Alas!
we are doing no better. Our praise is that
we are good mimies. We are seizing every
opportunity to perpetuate the sentiments,
and passions and memories that have made
other continents fields of blood. Art is
instructive. Monuments are educators.
We have been prating about eras of peace,
and the progress of the nineteenth century.
Can we do no better than transplant IN
this virgin continent the ideas of conquest
that have battle-pocked Europe? Give the
soldier his due, but let US not be hysterical
in our honOrs, nor ignore the heroes of peace.
Washington, Nov. oath, 1879.