The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-08
MoDONoGH's GRAVE DECORATED.

@ Here ID u TeIFeSuIUg pIOOl tuHt UMes h1
east, OF the manifestations Of gratitude solic-
tied by old John MeDonogh Of the legatees
Of his remarkable will has at last been given !:
John MeDonogh. the foun der Of the farm
school in Maryland which bears his name. left
should Visit IL Bis grave and out flowers apoa it
d tokan that ha was not forgotten. The core
mony, was performed by ne lads On Deeora.Ipn
Day this year. and a very beautiful and touch
Ing ceremony 1t was.
Doubtless II this venerable millionaire had
been buried In this city his sentimental re-
quest would have been carried out by the
beneneiaries Of his requests, Il any such
could have been found. But, alas! where are
they2
The cranky and eccentric old miser sub
iected this city for many years to great
burdens by his prolonged existence, and when
he died his wonderfully complicated and
eeotistical will compelled his legatees to
incur a litigation to have its provisions re-
duced within the scope Of legal dispositions
80 costly as to swallow up nearly hall
or the whole value OF the property be-
uueathed. When at last his pet conditions
and restrictions upon his requests were set
aside by the courts as In conflict with the law
Al0 HIS IMpUSSkUkC IL GACSNgAOA3 Lie aAoA
property had been 30 wasted and deprecated
as to leave to the city, ct least, q miserably
small p~ittance. Of which q beggarly account
has ever been rendered by the successive adj
ministratlons OF our city. And all Of what ID
recognized as having any existence, as part
and parcel OF the McDonogh fund, consists OF
a credit on the books Of the city treasury or
In Premium Bonds, the value Of which can be
determined by reference to the market rates
Of such credits and securities. We believe
that during the administration OF Mayor
Witt q portion of this fund was hunted up
and applied to the erection OF a very credita-
BILE school-hou se for our public schools.
A much larger sum-, which had aecumu-
lated In the city treasury from the sales OF
the city's share Of the estate just before the
breaking out Of the war, was, under the ex-
igencies OF the city when threatened by the
Federal forces, expended In the construction
OF the earthwork defenses, so foolishly de-
signed and improvidently executed above,
below and In the rear Of the city. Butler, on
his occupation OF the city, undertook to en-
force the claims Of the certui qui trust OF this
fund BY sending to the late aldermen OF the
city q polite, amicable demand to refund this
sum to him, In default OF which they would
prepare to proceed, as prisoners, with ball
and chain, for their natural lives, to Fort st.
Philip.
Even this fierce threat, however, could moi
extract these several hundred thousand dol.
lars from aldermen whose private means had
been depleted as we'll as the city treasury by
the necessities OF the unfortunate position Of
our beleaguered city.
The penalty OF their default was duly In
1icted, and the members Of the finance com
, mittee were compelled to pass the remainder
Of the period Of the continuance Of the wa
Id the commodious and luxurious classmates
!, OF Fort Pickens and Fort st. Philip.
These and other Incidents, as well as tn
y remembrance of the characteristics OF Nc
Donogh, have not impressed our people 0
, their descendants with any lively sense Q
;, gratitude or generation for the old million
aire, who sought to mitigate the rugge
, features OF q life unrelieved by q single act q
. generosity or practical benevolence by a will
) In which egotism, q supreme vanity and
!, profound contempt for the whole human rae
appear to have had q larger influence tina
a any real philanthropy or sympathy for hi
felloW-men.