Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-08-12
Where Great Men Lie Buried.

where the tree falls, there let it lie." This
is the trde sentiment with which to regard the
resting place of the illustrious dead. Ii the
principle iuvolVd 10 the proposal to transfer
PeDn's remaios to America wero oncs to 6nd
general favor there is 20 saying what it might
lead to- The contest over tho birthplace of
Homer would be nothing to the struggles that
might arise over the mortal remaios of the
world undyng heroes. Bat for Shakspoaro's
curse, who can say where his bones would now
be laid, aud yet who could really wish that bis
resting place should be othor than that which
be chose himself 10 the quiet church beside the
Avon? Dante still sleeps at Ravenna, though
Florence-parv FIorentia mater amore, ss
his epltaph bitterly calls hor-mght almost
be excused her passionate Longing for his re
mains if it we're not for the souoder sentiment
which torbids the violation of his tomb. Co.
umbus, after several migrations. lies buried in
Havana. and Spain might strive with America
10 the Vuleer contest for bis dust. There ere,
it is true. one or two notable instances which
make the other way. But tbs SCOPE lately
enacted at Rome is hardly az encouragement to
those who would traffic in dead mems bones,
nor can We thipk that the transfer of Napoleon
remains from Ss, Helena to Paris VAS pre-
cadent which healthy sentiment would have
any strong desire to follow. The eaudy and
rococo mausoleum at the Iuvalids, with its
tricks of colored light and dsrkeued passages,
is. after ali, but poor exchange for the simple
ouu brous pile may gratity Partisan taste,
but /. sorts i'll With the truar sentiment, as
broad as humanity itself, which beongs 10
the original resting place of any man when tho
world has reokonod among the great ones. Iu
truth, the place where the greas man is frs.
laid i5 as mcoh part of his history as aoy-
thing else which concerns him. To take the
ramalos of Penn to Amsric,. there to be lsid
uader pile of modern msguifc,no would bo
simply to add monslrous falsehood to his real
and comma history. Ho au Ecg!ishman
and be rests 10 EGG ish g,ound, He cnose his
resting place for himself, and there ho is sur
rounded by bis two wives and by five Of his
children. TO divide thoss whom death he's
thus united after uesrly two centuries of peace
uE rest would surely be litls short of sacrlege.
Moreover. William Penus history really belongs
to Engand even more than it does TO America.
lu Eoglsud be lived and died, and to what he
did ADD suffered 10 Eoglsud belongs whatever
OF 81 lory or of obloquy attaches 10 bis name. 1t
was 10 England that the sect to which tc SO
ardently attached himself had it's rise, and the |
controversies 10 which no took s, large share |
were OF wholly naive RroHsh. II was 10 Ens.
land, too that the Grea. dispute as TO the up
IlGhtnoss of his character and the implicitly of |
bis motives arose-a dispute which is SAID to |
hsve emblttered the last days of Macsuay. |
WIN what jus'los can such mao be claimed |
tIr PenDsylyaoia or even for America? If he |
had died 10 America and been buried there no |
doubt his remains would have been Justly held |
10 honor, aud 90 one would have gru1ged Penn
sYsanls their possession. Bos Pouu lies |
turled 10 Eoglaod. aud We canaot doubt that
the truer aud sauodsr sentmeu. of Americ. |
will repubiste the u1halowed proposal to dis. !
utb the tranquility of bis rave.-London |
Times,