Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-21

4 Plea for Fitting Burial Places for
the 8Biusfri0us Dead.
Waldo Messaros. in the Philadelphia Call

waldo Measures. in the Philadelphia Call
While reading the sensational report Of the
removal of Abraham IincoIn's body from its
resting-place in Springfield. Illinois. the grand
pile of Westminster Abbey rose before me- re-
called many a stroll among its stored graves.
And I felt that thrill which mortals feel so
seldom IN this life and which have only expe-
riencel four times In thirty years-Cnce when
stool with my grandfather at ThermopyIe. and
HstenPd to the story of Leonidas; again at
Bunker Hi. then at Plevna when daredevil
ShObeief Led his heroes right into the hell of
Grairtza. AMI next when | looked into Charles
Sumner caiil. dead face. while hundreds Of
black people were weeping round. | remem.
berea how many Gallant men lay there in solemn,
dignidei slumt-r. a glorious congress of the
deal the Ike OF which is gathered beneath
no other roof in the wide world And
the eyes of all England are turned
thither. and the feet of the youth
OF England move tlitherward in dreams, and
tie hearts of the grave and great. OF the noble
and che peasant throb and thrill at the name.
For if there is a tie th;Dnever lO0senS; if there
Is ali influence that diIns not nor dies it is the
love Of a nation for its dead living hero
finds He troublesome enOugh-many to cha-
lenge his greatness many TO blaZon his little
ness and magnify his foibles into vices There
isno exact place for him. Like genius. he is
betWjXt and between men and angels good or
bat hut deal hero, he is granted his lanrels
without grudge, and though the brow fade the
wreath remains fresh.
And say what YOU WILL the abbey guards very
Choice dust Of human kind Great of mind as
OF might. great Cfheart as of head and all Iegis-
latlnr there, in dumb show. in that silent
solemn parliament for the millions of men with
out
1t is the one place in the world where the ma
teriaiist can front the mighty dead without
pushing, where ne can almost prove life well
paid for in posthumOus honor and eternity well
forgotten in the glory of time.
But why should this notice of the removal OF
Linc0lnS body call forth all this2 Because
America has men as great. as good. as noble and
as wise as England. And Vet where are they?
What are they doing for the nation? Washing
ton lies there at Mount Vernon and few COM
parativeiy visit his tomb: Stark yonder in an OBJ
scCre New Hampshire VILLAGE. his grave brer-
grown; Marion in his own Carolina: Steuben in
q quiet farm grave in ONO; the great of the
Revolution scattered here. there and every
where. and the nation as a mass ignorant of
their resting places Where lie Bryant and Long
Fellow, and the noble army of literary great?
Where the brave generals who turned wars red
tide southwark from northern homes: Where
those who legisIated So sta.bly aforetime that
Hike rocks 10y the sea the principles of Americas
liberty have borne the tide and test of one hum
dred and seven years? Ask your public school
teachers. Can they tell; Ask your ministers
Do they know? ASK your men high in official
place. full fed from the nations rounded breast,
They do not know, A book here a tongue
there. viii give You disjointed information. but
you have not the full, fair knowledge. Why
should this continue? The dead are very mighty
In nation Let them speak from some great
city OF their own A great national abbey
would answer the purpose. Such building in
Washington, built, not by the government,
not by king nor prince, tax or subsidy but
by voluntary contribution would do honor
to the American name. III it should be
objected that The states might not indi-
Vlduaily approve, or that jealouses might
arise, or that parties in Congress might control
such an institution. then let each state have it's
own. Let there be attached to- the public build
tnss III every state capital a cemetery tor the re-
nowned dead and let fair, sober reason Judge
wine are worthy There is something horrible IN
the thought that the grave of Lincoln should be
Violated that Garfeld's tomb should need inces-
SAM GUARD; that \. L. Stewards bones should
even now be in the hands OF foul trafickcrs
(th"u1h he. at least. should find no place in a
national abbey) All this might be reme,lied
BTou-ht close together. the graves might be
guarded with little difficulty and robbery made
more dangerous. while ~uch place would be
like Mecca. toward WHICH the nation could
tura and learn seii-reyerence through respecting
Its dead