National Republican., 1885-02-07
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

The following poem was read ut the
banquet of the Loyal Legion last Wednes-
day evening by tho author. DR.. W. W..
Granger:
Finished; at last yon tall shaft standsl
The noblest tribute human hands,
In all historic times, or lands,
Have ever raised to bear the name
of King or Hero, or proclaim
To coming times and men his fame.
II conscious this might proudly wear
His name, whose life rs true and square,
And upright as itself, compare
With other mems as IL outVies
All other cenotaphs that rise
From other soils tOw'rds other skies,
Telling what great men there have done
What empires built, or battles won,
Since first this Earth beheld the sun.
Who built, or whose remains lie hid
In Eygpts grandest pyramid
Few know, and fewer what they did.
But when this marble has grown gray,
While men and time continue, they
Who come 10 look on 1t shall say
"The nobiest name of all earth's great,
In private life, war, or state,
Is his to whom stands Consecrate
This column" 10 II loving hands,
From quarries In remotest lands.
Have sent choice stones, which, while 1t
stands,
Shall witness bear that not alone
In this, his country, he was known;
But how worldwide his fame had grown.
The polyglotic types OF speech
Deep chiseled in those stones shall teach
To coming ages what a reach
The splendor Of his deeds made bright,
As, through unmeasured realms Of night,
Some planet sends stream OF light
From point SO distant that Its ray
Would reach us yet for many day
Even though the star had passed away.
Lightnings may fash from clouds that ride
On whirlwinds borne; those clouds may hide
Its top sometimes, as slanderors tried
At times to drive him in disgrace,
With clouded name, from his high place.
But the spent storms shall leave no trace
OF their fierce wrath poured out in vain;
Nor stone displaced, nor rent, nor stain
Leave trace of Lightning, wind, or rain
Upon 1t, more than they prevailed,
Whose envious tongues his truth assailed,
And powerless In their malice, failed
To drag him from his lofty height,
Or leave his fame one shade less bright,
As storms on this shall waste their might
Rock based, its firm built walls shall stand,
Not only proof of skill that planned,
Nor less of faithful workman's hand,
But teacher of this law, that they
Who on ambitions sands or clay
| Empires foundations seek to lay,
| Or build up names the world shall own,
Must ever iail : and they, alone,
| Who, making mankind 8 veal their own,
| on Truths bedrock their cornerstone
| OF Justice laying, build thereto
With deeds for stones, cut square and true,
| Can e'er succeed. 80 hiS life grew;
| So grow all lives supremely greatl
| No fame-no character-no state,
Unless so built, will God or Fate
| Permit to stand. None thus built can
| lis part of Heavens eternal plan
Be oyorthrown, by time or man.
And now to his name, in the name of all man
kind,
| And ali that true men love, we dedicate
| This ht memorial of him whose life combined,
In one grand chain, each worthiest human
trait.
| In valor's name these chieftalns who have led
| The nations hosts in battles dreadful hour,
| Salute his memory with uncovered head
| As their examplar in the Use Of power.
| Here statesmen, crowned with honors, bare
| their brows
10 him whose craftsmanship stands unex
colled,
That their best efforts shall not be withheld
To make their country worthy Of his fame,
In that religions name, whose laws he made
His rulo of action--for he did not shame
To own his faith in that Supreme, whose aid
Ills great soul felt Its need Of to sustain
Him in the task his countrymen had laid
Upon his shoulders; In It's name, pgain,
Aud that OF Masonry, whose teachings swayed
His life to virtues which that ancient guild
Hath taught It's VOtarics since ere Hiram sen
The masters OF its mysteries to build
Gods temple at Jerusalem, and lent
Their skill 70 help the Judean monarch crown
By its erection that illustrlOus reign
Which filled the age with Solomon's renown
That he would make immortal through lhl
fame;
In all these names-by all they represent
That's best or wOrthiest TO be thought or done
We COnsecrato to-day this monument
TO him who lived them all-our Washington
-s-~
A BOON to suffering humanity salvation oil
Price only twenty-five cents bottle,