National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-26

! to the end, from January, 1852, to April, l5o5
| during three years and three months of continu
GUS triumph and honor You know his deeds and
| his fame His place is first among the nava
heroes of history. His is no second name in thu
rollcall of the sea kings of the world Nelson died
/ in the arms of victory, and was buried amid the
| sobs of the English nation in Westminster Abbey
but there is q loftier niche in the temple of fame
| for the American Admiral than for the British
Peer To beat the French at sea was an easier task
three quarters of century ago than to reduce bat
| teries and capture ships manned by Americans
| and defended by all the Improvements Of modern
| warfare. In other countries Farraguk would have
/ been decorated with honOrs and worn the title
| of duke or earl with the income of prince
We gave him the highest rank known to
| his profession, and have deereed him statue in
the Capital There is q simplicity and strength i'll
such honors, recalling the days OF Republican
Rome, and far beyond the significance of star or
garter, or cross of the Legion Of Honor. This
figure of bronze, so faithful in likeness and so
familiar in features to those who knew and loved
him best, is the tribute of the American people.
1t is also of American origin and workmanship.
Who but an American artist should have modelled
the great American Admiral? Nor does it lessen
the pride of this great demonstration to remember
that this statue will commemorate for all time to
come genius, the courage, and the educated skill
of
AN AMERICAN WOMAN,
as well as the manly virtues and undying fame OF
an American hero. 1t is the just compensation
of the artist for years ofanxous toll to witness her
work received and displayed as a work of fidelity
to art and worthy the proud character it is de-
signed to perpetuste This day will also be mem
orable in American history. A hundred years
have passed away since our independence was
achieved. The American navy, in five different
wars has studded the history of the Republic with
the most brilliant illustrations of patriotism genius
and yalOr. It's officers and seamen have dwarfed
the naval victories of other nations and ages, and
made them look tame and commonplace by COM
parson, and yet we are looking now upon the first
statue ever erected to naval character by the
Government of the United States! The army is
full of such hOnorS and merits all it has received
but the navy has been unjustly pushed aside. A
peoples gratitude to their national benefactors is
to be found recorded in bronze and marble rather
than in written books. Monuments towering to
the sky from every battlefield of freedom, statues
of the wise in council, and the brave in action,
standing in all the cities of the Union, would be
more faithful expression Of the popular heart, and
do more to cherish patriotic memories and love of
country than the pens of the most gifted historians
There is a vast work in this direction, and as
the Government grows older it will go on.
Farragut leads the way for the navy. Others
will soon follow. The face and form of
the commander of the Bon HOmme Richard will
soon or late stand in the Capital for the navy Of
the Revolution; Lawrence, Porter, Decatur Perry,
and others will arise in marble and in brass to
represent the second war for American indie
pendence, while those who fought upon the waters
for the flag of the Union twenty years ago will be
embalmed by the seulptor's art for the reverence
of grateful posterity. speak not now of honors
for the living. Their time will come, alas all
tOr- hut TOT ia
yond the reach of the accidents of time is due the
Governments decree of
MONUMENTAL HoNORs.
And now soon these assembled thousands will
disappear from this cOnsecrated spot, and Farra-
gut will be left alone he stands revealed by the
magic power of art. But others will come to look
upon his commanding presence in the days,
and in the years, and in the far distant
centuries of the future. The American youth
will here resort to behold one whose boyhood was
the bright heroic dawn of a life so useful and so
inspiring to noble deeds. Old age will pause and
linger here in rapt admiration of one who, with
the weight of three-score years and more upon
him, crowded the evening of his life so
full of glory in the defense of his country.
Presidents, lawmakers, heads of Depart
ments, and public officials of every grade
will visit this spot as long as American patriotism
endureS to reverence one whose life was dedicated
to public duty in his childhood, and who left the
world with no blemish upon any part of his long
career The soldier and the sailor will come to gaze
upon the face of the bravest of the brave, and to
drink in lessons of courage and fidelity for future
wars, if they should Unhappily befall US. The
American citizen of every calling and of every
section as long as the Republic exists. will here
dwell with emotions of pride upon a character too
great for divided love among his countrymen
May every portion OF the American Union salute
this statue with equal honor, and may that Union
stand in justice, peace, fraternity, and equality
while brass and marble endured