Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-21


would afford fine view of the monument from
ooth land and water There the monument
/ overlOoks Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria,
Arlington and Mount Vernon
| THE CORNERSTONE
In January, 1918, it was decided by the so
cfety to postpone the laying Of the cornerstone
| until July 18th. In the meantime the society
/ had been presented with the cornerstone by
Mr.. Thomas Simonton, public-spirited citizen
of Baltimore. 1t was forwarded by rail- free OF
/ charge, and upon its arrival volunteer worlxmen
/ nom the navy yard and number of citizens
| transported 1t to the monument site, amid
/ great enthusiasm.
On the 4th Of July, 1913, the cornerstone OF
the monument was laid in the presence of an
/ immense cOncourse OF people, including the
President and Vice President. Senators and
Representatives. cabil e. minister's the iudici-
airy, the corporate au horities of Washington,
Alexandria and Georgetown, and delegations
from all quarters OF the Union, and from several
Indian tribes. Ii had been intended that John
! Quincy Adams should be the orator of the oc-
eaSon. but in consequence of his death the Hon.
Robert [. Winthrop. Speaker of the House OF
Representatives delivered an address.
The work upon the monument was prosecuted
funds When it reached the Height of of 1 Sci feet
| The society appealed 10 people vainly for more
money and memOraliZed Congress with no
/ greater success.
| CONGRESS AGAIN CONSIDERS THE MATTER
i
resentatives appointed a select committee OF
/ thir teen TO consider this memorial, of which
| the Hon. Henry May, of Maryland, was chair
man.
| On the 22d of February, 1855, Mr.. May made
| report from the select committee, commend.
ing the work OF the society, heartily concuuing
| III Its objects and bearing testimony to the
solldlty and beauty OF the monument as far as
completed The committee said: Zach state
and two of the territories of the Union have
/ o. ms he'd
with lis arms or some suitable device, and a
great many Others have been offered by various
institutions and societies throughout the land;
anu several lofeIgn governments have testified
their desire to unite in this great work of hui
mainly, intended to commemorate the virtues
OF Its chief ornament and example. The
boundaries of ChristendOm do not limit his
lame, which reaches to the remotest parts of
the earth, and the most distant and isolated
nations have testified their veneration towards
his memory. Switzerland, Rome, Bremen
Turkey, Greece, China and Japan have piously
united 10 pay their homage to our Washington.
Such tributes are our highest trophies. The his
tory of mankind affords no parallel to this We
l Ieel bound In this place especially to commend
the order of odd Fellows, the various fire COM
panles, and the touching contributions of the
children of the schools of the country-all regIl-
larry defeating their affectionate tributes And
the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations of Indians
also deserve 10 be honored for their very liberal
donations OF money; cOmmemOrating also i'll
this the eloquent sentiment of the great chief
COrnplanter. delivered to Washington in 1871
The voice OF the Seneca nation speaks to you,
the great councillor in whose heart the wise men
OF all the thirteen Fires have placed their wis
DOM"
The committee commended the design of
building the monument by the voluntary con-
tributions OF the people of the United States but
at the same time recommended that a SUBJ
scrlptIon 10 aid the work be made by Congress.
The committee therefore, recommended that
Congress vote 100000 in behalf of the people
OF the United States, which was the sum de-
voted to the monument ordered by the resolu-
lions OF 1899 and voted by the House of Repre-
sentatives on the 1st of January, 1901. The
committee said: lin making this recommends
ton We expressly disclaim engaging for any
further aid by Congress to the work, on the dis
tinct grounds that while it is proper Congress
should make liberal subscription toward it,
Yet it is both the right and duty of the people
OF the United States to complete it,
POLITICAL TROUBLES.
AT the time the report of the committee was
made there was very favorable feeling in
Congress on the subject, and had it not been for
certain untoward circumstances the appropria-
ton recommended would in all probability
have been granted. The know-nothing agita-
ton was at its height. Persons supposed to be
connected with the know-nothing party de-
faced and removed the stone contributed for
the monument by the pope of Rome. 1t was
proclaimed that the monument to Washington
should be built by Americans alone, and no aid
or contributions from outside sources should be
countenanced or received. The managers of
the society, on the very day that the report was
presented to the House of Representatives
were unexpectedly superseded in their places
10y an unlawful election, and the management
OF the affairs OF the society was assumed by
the agents of political party. This put a
summary stop To the attempt to induce Con-
which followed soon after, offered further dis,
couragements to the society
ANOTHER EFFORT IN CONGRESS.
No further proceedings were taken in Congress
until January %, 1872, when Mr.. Chapman,
then delegate in the House of Representatives
from the District of Columbia, introduced a bill
appropriating 100000 toward the completion
OF the monument The bill was referred to the
committee on the District of Columbia. On the
10th OF A ril the committee made an elaborate
report, heartily approving of the object of the
olll but taking the position that il did not come
WITHIN their jurisdiction, and recommending
that il be referred to the committee on appro.
priationS. The reference was made and the hill
was never more heard OF. But, not to be dis
couraged, Mr.. Chapman made another effort at
the next session of Congress. On the 9th of
January, 1873, ON his motion the House ordered
a select committee of thirteen to consider the
practicability of completing the Washington
monument by the approaching centennial July
A, 1876, and ordered that the god of February
ensuing be especially assigned for the consider
alton OF the report of the committee On the
22d of February Mr.. Chapman promptly pre-
sented the report of his committee, going over
all the facts, which so many times before had
been brought TO the attention of Congress and
concluding with recommendation to appropri-
ate S2oo,oOo over and over during that day 8
session, the birthday of Washington, did Mr.
Chapman and other members of the COMMITTEES
urge the House to stand by its order and con-
slider the report of the committee. But the ses-
sion of Congress was drawing TO d close and
members had too many private schemes to look
after to devote any time to the memory of
George Washington. The river and harbor bill
that measure so dear to the heart of the average
member, was before the House. The report of
the committee was antagOnized with the river
and harbor bill, when Mr.. 5. s. Cox said: ait is
George Washington against job. l should
like TO have the vote taken in that way"
The record shows that the job won. The re-
port on the monument went over, and Congress
adjourned on the 4th of March without giving
ii further consideration. May LIST, 1874 the
committee again reported in favor Of an apprO-
priation sufficient for the purpose but again the
matter was not finally acted upon.
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTISM
On February 8, 1876, Mr.. Edmunds intro
duced in the Senate resolution directing the
committee on public buildings and grounds to
inquire into the propriety of making adequate
provision for the speedy completion of the mon.
ument. The resolution was passed. and the
committee had several conferences with the
| officers OF the society, but they were unable to
| come TO any satisfactory conclusion on account
| of various differences OF opinion.
The patriotic inspiration of the centennial
year was felt in the House as well as in the Sen.
4 ace.
! several bills were introduced in the House
providing for the completion OF the monu
ment, but no action was taken on any Of them.
| The 4th dayofJuly, 1876, witnessed unusuallyex
tensive celebrations OF that anniversary, and an
| suspicious occasion was presented to bring uu
| the subject of the monument. On July 5th Mr.
| sherman presented in the Senate the following
| resolutions:
Whereas II has pleased Almighty God to
| guide the United States OF America safely
through one hundred years Of national life and