Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-02
ABOUT MONUMENTS.


III The Head Willingness of Fu1der to Erect
q Monument to q Distinguished Re1djhster
ichera Dedd-T1e origin Of The '.Anae1'acan
Edglen-Tbe WeStna0retnnd Od6-ThTteen
More Monuments Proposed.
Correspondence OF The Sdr.1
FACoUIER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, VA.
As rule a live paper cannot live upon the
dead past but occasionally an exception Is
made when bronze and marble assume monu-
mental form, reminding a nation of the deeds
of heroes who have lived, loved, hated and died
like men who make up history. Now, DO not
expect this letter viii be the means OF erecting
q monument to my memory, but simply 20 tell
what Il know about monuments" and 10 say
this is a most opportune period for those VINO
have monumental aspirations to put 10
bid The mania is at fever heat, apd
few questions asked as 10 the htne55 or
time or place: consequently the WORK goes on
recently when at Old Point, / met part OF the
Joint select committee appointed Dy Inc speaker
OF the House last December, and similar CON-
mittee appointed by the Senate, Accompanied
by Governor Halliday, or Virginia, who visited
Yorktown ia view of making necessary arr range
fpenIs Tor celebration OF the centennial ami
yersaTy OF the surrender OF CORVALLIS OCTOBER
10. 1881, and OF selecting site for the mona
ment, for which an appropriation or siOo.Jb
was mace last SESSION, 10 De erected IN memory
OF the event. Senator Johnson, chairman OF
the committee also Mr.. G00de and Davis or the
House. with other distinguished guests, 10 i1i
TIE trip 10 Yorktown upon the steam yatht
Monroe. that was placed at Jheir DIS 9o5lt
by the commander Ct the fort. a salute WIS
fred In their honor both upon leaving AMI re-
turning. could but think what different re-
ception would have been awarded tn governor
OF Virginia ard his party during the DAYS Wnen
Virginia was an open grave and heroes building
their own monuments. yorktown is deSoate
place / do not wonder CORVALLIS Surrendered.
The most cheerful looking spot to be seen Is the
national cemetery. And the monument will be
the only attraction, and, as only Few
feel interest In events OF hundred
sg3 ie eap % of aG' t6e s0' state Moad
have been Infinitely more fitting than the
place OF surrender. The old CHURCH. that
was said 10 be the oldest In America. was de-
stT0yed beyond hope OF resurrection during the
late war. One old landmark Is still standing;
the Nelson Mansion, the residence OF Gov. Mel
son, of colonial fame, afterwards the head
quarters OF CORVALLIS, and later the heal
quarters OF Washington. This place seemed to
recommend itself TO me as suitable and emit
nently apEopo for the projected shaft, but ! am
not on the committee; but, womannke, offered
an opinion The matter IS 10 the hands OF the
Secretary OF the War and congressional
committee and WIN soon De dstermlned
selected / did, however, suggest that
during this run on monuments that
suitable one should be erected TO the memory
of John Tyler, son o. the sacred SOFIA Pre5i-
dent OF the United states. who sleeps 10 an IN
marked grave at Hampton. The grave OF a
Chief magistrate OF America should not be
nameless. Nor do | think the memory OF JEFF
fersOn has been sufficiently honored in bronze
and marble when we contemplate the three
great benefactiOnS he has conferred upon nts
country men. The Declaration OF Independence,
the democratic party and University OF VIZ
ginia. / would suggest he should
have grand monument erected In the
capital city by the democracy of America
Let each man and woman VINO reveres The name
OF the grand Old sage or Monticello contribute
for the laudabe enterprise. l am firm be-
Lever In boarding with religious care the ar
chlves OF national renOwn, and OF perpetustlng
noble deeds and memorable words of our great
men. Such relics create veneration and fncite
ambition Ia The rising generation. Upon our
tT1p when d1Sc0urSlng this subject with much
enthusiasm, one of our party. pronounced an
tquarian, made the important revelation that
the mos: Interesting relic he had ever discovered
was WidoW, but The widow aid not desire to De
enshrined CT have monument erected upon the
opinion OF one man. Another OF our party ex-
pressed perfect Willingness TO erect monu-
meDt at his own expense in memory OF a
newly-elected readjuSter II he would die a
natural death. do not know as the rea1iust-
ers death would be matter OF rejoicing In
heaven, but 1t would be to his opponents. OF
course mean political death. IL Is claimed
the Senator-elect has no conscience My reply
was that conscience was an unparliamentary
Word, and was not supposed to be used by pol
NfciaDS, as the quality was obsolete and not
necessary In an election OF the present day. 1t
Is no longer question even In the presidential
contest who Will be elected, but who win be In
augurated. IL is true, am a little old style,
but Ike good men, honorably elected to fiIi
the offices OF state and hope we may return 10
are playing the hit or miss game now, and it Is
dangerous experiment with nation or indlyIi-
uals- When Visiting Yorktown, / expressed
wish TO take In SpottSy lyania Court House the
scene Of the Last Surrender" when c5ated-
crate guns we're silenced forever, but could not
enthuse my escorts. No doubt hundred years
hence the place will be regarded with patriotic
Ierfor, AID national monument mark the
spot.
Posterity Will make no distinction between
friends ard enemies, between victor and van
pushed. Death and time Will neutralIze the
whole and Americans rejoice In the name and
fame OF the 10th century. The next century
present. Many claim In these modern days OF
progressive civilization that tradition Is much
weaker than written or printed record of facts
ana ana events. we are apt to express surprise
TIE primitive sense Of the word We derive all
from tradition. The church has her traditions
and state Is not behind. Consider how few
are the links In the great cable which Connects
tne present with the past, only through the
cnaln OF memory and the bolts of cfrcuIn-
stances. Recently visited the birthplace of
WaSn1ngt0n and was made to realize how de-
pendent We are upon unSritten history for the
early events OF his life. Now, am to give Won
a Mestmoreland tradition, and II any oae can
give better version or tie American eagle
than the following l viii surrender the IaUSel
crown that was awarded me for tracing our q
monument to the American eagle. Upon The
Washington place In WeStmoreland county.
which was formerly called Beautiful West
moreland,T upon the banks OF the grand old
fOtOIDac, STANDS q mammoth Oak OF great
height, q feet II circumference and Ia diaIns-
ter, and IN tae top branches is seen q hue
eagles nest whose fame has passed dogn from
Iatner TO son. and the grand old oak REGARDED
as d monument or spared mercy.
" W OOdInan, NOodman spare that tree 4" has
echoed IN the past and viii re-echo in the
futuTe, and 1t Is 10 be hoped the old land MARI
VIII lot Gle from natural cause or TELL blow.
"but live forever" "'
lt Is said young George was devoted to the
eagles VINO came then, as now, each wear TO
Ihls apode 10 rear their young. No doubt
roman history awakened an admiration for the
eagle, causing him 70 regard its great strength
anu lOlty lights as a true emblem OF liberty
ana made marked impression upon the
tnougntful boy who roaneu with compass and
telescope through the forests of WestnoreIanf
making the acquaintance OF every tree. witch
II Is said he loved. but none 50 deyotelly "a the
old oak deeply rooted into the sacred soil of MS
native heath and the home OF the proud bird
WON lie Delighted 10 honor. It IS said his
interest continued undated 10 the date OF his
Death III The eagles nest, and that he loved the
pIc OF America with singular devotion our
GngLSh cousins once believed the American
crest was turkey, but they soon found it
was DOT groyeling bird but one
That scars high and whose kew note
Is victory, and commands respect for with
wings OF ambition and courage the undefeatei
bird OF America knows no fear. II Is said and
why should Ii lot be true? that the love OF the
WeStmOIelaLd eagle suggested to Washington
the emblem OF Liberty, and that from the