National Republican., 1880-03-03
OUR UNFINISHED WORK.
An Appeal for the Completion of the
Monument.
Its Present Condition n Standing Reproach
Change of Location and Designs op-
posed The Original Design
Should be Carried Out, and
Overtop all Others
The Work Done.
The Washington Monument.
WASHINGTON, March 2, 1880.


WASHINGTON, March 2, 1880.
TO The Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR; 1t is "a big thing" It is an incom.
pletc thing; these are indsputable facts.
Washington was great man, grand man;
one of the greatest and grandest, II not tho
greatest and grandcst Of all recorded IN pro.
fame history. He rendered inestimable ser.
vice to the cause Of liberty throughout the
world and was the military leader In tho
grand struggle which achieved the indepen.
dcncc of the thirteen colonics-now the fore.
most Nation of the earth. These are also indis.
putabIc facts. Various efforts have been
made to do honor TO his name, life
and services. Almost innumerabe paintings,
statues aud monuments exist to perpetuate his
memory. Among tho grandcst, if not abso-
lutely the grandest monument yet finished, Is
the ono by Greenough of heroic size, seated in
tho curule chair IN Roman costume, which
now stands IN the eastern facade of the Capitol
In bis left hand he holds his sword
with hlt reversed, and pointing in a down.
ward direction typical of submission, aud
commemorating his then unparalleled act
of delivering up his sword aud supreme com.
mand to Congress, at the same time pointing
with upifted right arm and index finger to
the Supreme Power to tho Lord of Lords aud
King Of Kings, while around the base of the
monument are the grand words Of Lees grand
oration, First in war, first in peace and first
in the hearts of his countrymen." These aro
also indisputable facts. And yet the great and
grand services of Washington demanded, in the
eternal fitness of things, something greater
and grander, they deserved aud demanded a
standing memorial "to be seen of all meu;" and
hence a by-gono generation grandly conceived
and partly built the Washington monument;
and it has been Il standing" reproach
to the American people for 10 these
many years. until n recent Congress- after
mature delberation, decided that it should be
| I'd dad l,.k Ia
foundation could be so strengthened as to bear
the completed structure. An appropriation
| was made for that purpose, surveys were made,
and the work of strengthening the foundation
| is in progress under the charge Of Captain q.
| w. Davis, U. S. A., aided by competent assist
ants. These arc also indisputabe facts. Now.
gentle and patient reader (as all are who have
followed thus far, will you kindly follow
if leave indisputable facts for awhile and in
dulge in u few discursive thoughts and state
mcuts upon the general subject. 1t is not an
indisputable fact that the monument will be
ompleted-whle l, for one, think it should
be made 80. There are many objectors to its
completion, at least on the present site aud
original plan; nuumberable have beeu the
pointed and spoken objections and detractOns.
| Tho wittcisms and contemptuous squbs.
which have appeared in the press from time to
time, would long ago have hurled its massive
stones into the river, had they not been tho
emanations Of thOughtlessness and uneducated
taste. Various have been the proposed
changes in location and design. Among the
most noted new plans or designs is Mr..
Searlos, and the one on the wall of Captain
Davis Office in the old Navy Department.
The latter is grand and yet beautiful; it is for
completion on the present site, and altered de-
sign; in effect, II is to take the incomplete
shaft ornament the base, and crown Ii with
colossal heroic statue of Washington in mill
tary dress, and IL really Is so beautiful in de-
II. 4
for its adoption; but after long study of tho
subject ! think that the original plan aud de-
| sign is best, except that would favor carry
ing up the shaft to 900 feet if it is concluded
| that the foundation will bear it, aud at all
events to n height that will overtop all monu-
ments OF buildings of the earth, rs does tho
name of Washington that of all others on the
pages of profane history, and in the hearts of
not only his cOuntrymen, but in those of all
lovers of liberty throughout the world. The
design is appropriate to the character OF tho
man. lie was one of those plain, simple yet
grand and massive men, as Napoleon said of
those he estimated highest-"square at the
base" Undoubtedly Washingtous graudcst
monument should be located at tho National
Capital, at this grand aud beautiful city Of
Washington, which is in itself the grandest
monument of earth; its name, its plan, ita
site are his And MS to the standing monu'
ment, notwithstanding the objections which
have been made to its actual loca ion, yet te
my mind II seems admirably chosen, for II
stands in the focus of basin, within whose
surrounding hills millions in the not very
distant future will have their abode,
aud when carried up to its proposed
height, if not to the possible 1000, it will
yot overtop those hills, so rs to be visible TO
| still other millions that will occupy the SUR
rounding country; and If my proposition finds
| favor, ii it shall be made as Washmgtou's
| life is in our National history, "our pillar
I,e ,,l 1u,s Mill if HVn hNF
night" which can easily be done by the cleo
| trio light at night, aud II smoking torch during
| the day, placed on the summit in the shape
of u live.pointed star, which is known to have
been Il lavOrite emblem with Warrington
then IL will shine forth our guiding star to
direct the National ship Of state safely
! through tho untold years, IL yet will travel
over the ocean of time to the haven of Ameri-
can unity-whiCh was deemed by him to be
the aim and object OF the National Govern
ment and the only port of safety Don't take
my word for t-read his farewell address
once more and see for yourselves. Let me
add that | suggest in addition to the electric
! light ut night aud smoking torch by day
which will be Of intstimable daily service to
! the great and yearly increasing navigation of
of tho great Potomac river to estab-
lish on the summit IA signal station, which,
! under the direction Of the Chief Signal officer,
may be Of great service In Il meteorological
| point OF view, aud in possible case OF war do
nestle or foreign, when ordinary means Of
communication might be destroyed an In
valuable means of conveying and receiving
messages from and to very distant points. so
that the Washington Monument may become
not only our ideal National PhaTos to guide the
ideal ship Of state, but an actual tangible,
practically useful lighthouse and signal sta
tion, to pay for the cost of its construction by
actual use to a great commerce and for great
scieuce--the idea so dear to the hearts OF the
peoplo of this shall | say, too proSalo and
| utilitariau ago Let 1t be hnished-grand aud
yot beautiful--in its severe simplicity.
! The Recall of PinohbnclIs Nomination.
Probably among the most wicked things
| that have been imputed to the President in
| the history Of his Administration, is that he
recalled the nomination Of Mr.. PnchbaelS for
I a. H.. /. Ia Ia.