The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-10-22


While other cities with not half the
natural or artificial advantages Of Washing
ton for making grand public displays have
been and are still proposing to hold ami
vrsaries aud celebrations of all sorts, TO
the great profit aud enjoyment Of their iu-
haMauis, Washington las been obliged to
stand back and lool, ON, merely contributing
her quota to tho attendance, or capturing
an occasional pri 1c, like that from the
Oriolo. Our citizens are beginning to inquire
how long this must i've so, aud It is both
duty AMI a pleasure to point out an ap.
preaching occasion when the graudcst of
civic ittes win be in order. 1t Is announced
that the capstone " the Washington monu-
mout will I've posed in its dizzy height some
time iu 1854 in the absence Of accident to
prevent or delay this result. Thus will lie
finished at last that uncqualed shaft which
is intended 10y its prominence to mark the
overtowering virtues and merits of the
Father of our Country. Such day cannot
pass without Observance, and it is for our
citizens to take hold and make it all that it
ought to he and all that it can be made.
To have produced one such character as
George Washington is more to the true glory
of America than all our miles of territory
millions of population, billions of wealth.
and other material boasts. But for him as
the initial rallying point these might never
have been, or at best belonged to a nation
of li,rNntont.l slov,s n,auor auJ ,,,or,
philosophic investigation, like that OF Ban
croft in his recent history of the Constitu.
tion, only adds TO the estimate of the i'm
mensity of the services rendered hy Wash
ington. He may be made out less of Sun
day.school saint, but always more of a true
hero. The more one takes away from
| him, the grander he is"
The city which bears his name, and owes
its existence and beauty to his wisdom,
should emphatically delight to honor his
memory. To do this properly it will be nee
essary to begin preparations almost at
| once, since, so far as we know, nothing has
yet been done since the approximate time
| for the completion of the monument was
hH>'''' N'iHHilttttS oll'ulh 'c lOliiu', WI
respondence initiated, and cooperation in
| vited from all quarters in some definite aud
| sensible scheme. The usual features will,
| OF course, be appropriats on this OCCASION
great civic and military parade to the
monument, with addresses and music there
street pageant in the evening, with his.
| torical tableauN suited to the patriotic
feelings of the day-illustration of Valley
Forge, Yorktown, Annapolis, and other
scenes, to be followed possibly by a ball oil
reception, provided suitable building bt
erected here in the mean time. A regatta OF
the river an exposition of the art and in
dustrial progress of the country, and other
| special features might prolong the event tC
several days, during which the city would
be thronged with visitors. 1t is extremely
| probable that if the matter he taken in hant
promptly, and by persons of energy and in
iluence, this celebration will eclipse ant
outvie in real briliancy and dignity not
only the Oriole, but even the Boston Sesqui
Centennial, the Philadelphia Bi- Centennial
and other local and limited affairs. Ever
the nations of Europe, and certainly of Soutl
America, might delight to do honor to tn
memory of Washington in the city h
founded.