Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-22
THE MONUMENT.

1t was by the handful of people
who lived in Washington that the steps
we're taken which have resulted in the
magnificent and appropriate monument
this day cOnsecrated. Washington was
80 years old. A few people lived there at
last who did not move away at the end of
four years. Among these people the
Monument Association" was founded in
1888. George WatterstOn may be called
the founder of the plan. For many years
he was secretary OF the society and con-
Quoted its correspondence. The great
Judge Marshall, the bi0grapher of Wash
ingtOn, was the first president. He was
succeeded by Madison, who took the hon
OraTy office in his S5th year, and held ii in
1885 and 1886. Judge William Cranch, a
pure and noble statesman, whose life was
identified with the best interests Of the
country, was vice president and acting
president.
UNDER THE FIRST PLANS No PERSON WAS
PERMITTED
to contribute to the fund more than 81 a
year. But this restriction was removed
in 1S4j. In 1886 SIS, coo had been collected
and was safely invested. In 1S47 this
sum, with interest and new subscriptions,
amounted to $1,000; and the society re-
solved to begin the monument. On Jan.
81, 1913, Congress granted a site for it to
be selected by the President and manager.
1t was SAID that Washington himself
marked the spot, as early as 1895, as a
site for a monument to the American rev.
OlutiOn.
A plan was agreed upon by the man.
agement and the cornerstone was laid,
under most auspiciOus circumstances, on
July 4, 1S4S. The Hon. Robert c. Win
thrOp delivered an Grafton, a truly ad-
mirable memorial of Washington. Other
addresses were made by other gentlemen.
The work was pushed steadily upward
for six years when the funds OF the society
were exhausted. In this time the mOnu-
ment had risen 10 feet, and $4,000 had
been collected and expended on it. Nari-
Gus efforts were made to collect a new
subscription. In 1852 boxes were placed
at the polls on the day of the Presidential
election, in many States, and the aims
thus collected were used for the increase
of the fund. At the annual election of
1860 the people of California contributed
at the polls Sl0,962 Of, which was remit
ted to the secretary of the society. 1t
was invested as nest-egg tor further
use. But work was not in fact renewed
till after the WARMTH the neY wealth
and more than fabulous prosperity of the
newborn natiOn-COngress assumed as its
right the completion of the monument.
placed the work under the direction of its
own officers, and pressed it to the happy
conclusion which is celebrated to-day.
Some fears having been expressed that
the foundation was not secure, an elabO-
rate and interesting report was secured
from the Engineer board, which proved
its absolute sufficiency.
During the long period when the asso-
citation had charge of the work they in
Vited and received blocks of stones to be
wrought into the interior from various
States and societies through the world.
There are nearly one hundred of these
blocks, many of them curious for their
emblems or other inscriptions. Brigham
Young sent one; one is from RraddOck's
field, one processes to be from the ruins
of the AleXandrian Library, one is from
the merchants in China" one is from a
temple in Carthage, and one from the
Government Of Greece.
IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN-TO HARNEONIZE
THE WISHES
of people who wanted a Greek temple
with those of people who knew that an
obelisk was the most tit monumental
drawing was made of a circular temple
not unlike the OdeOn at Athens, had any
body ever been absurd enough to place
porch before the OdeOn. In the middle of
this temple. and rising high above it, was
the Obelisk. Precisely when this pTepOs
ferrous temple was abandoned formally no
man need ask. 1t will never be built. But
its fate was spoken the day when Penn
sylvanian farmer told an agent OF the
Monument Society that he would not
subscribe. This honest man had a simpler
taste than the metropolitan committee.
81 give no tOllar," he said, ''tO any house
NIT such pig chimbly."
And thus, through the perils of hun
dred years, with the actual cooperation
of hundreds of thousands OF people.
and with the glad sympathy of all. the
nation has built its fit monument to him
who is still
First in war, first in peace, and first
in the hearts of his country men,"