National Republican., 1885-04-03

Washington --bincoin-Grn
The republic which In grateful pride
claims Washington as its founder, not
less gratefully not less proudly names
Lincoln and Grant as chief among its
prcservers.
Tho three great names in our history.
names Of mon the story of whose deeds
will echo through the corridors of timo
TIL time shall be no more--are Washing.
ton. Lincoln, and Grant. Tho sun iu his
daily course shines on no hamlet in any
civilized land where those names are un-
known. They are the thrco names in
modern history which must stand forever
a5 those Of the greatest exemplars of patri.
otto virtuo.
Tho people Of the United Sta tcs havo
been made glad at last by tho complet ion
OF monument which in its simplicity
and grandeur is fitting commemoration
Of the character and deeds OF Washington.
The nation feels that sense of rolief which
comes of the performance Of neglected
duty. Perhaps no othor man who over
lived in the tido of time could so we'll have
dispensed with such tribute as Washing
ton, for his famo would have been i'm
mortal. even IL his countrymen had been
too ungrateful TO pile ono stone upon an-
other in honor of his name But his
countrymen owed it to themselves, to
their Justification in the Judgment of
coming generations, to make record of
their sense of his greatness. That record
is the marble shaft which was dedicated
on the last anniversary of Washingtons
birth.
repetition of tho reproach incurred
by long delay in paying proper tribute to
the momory of tho Father of his Country
should be avoided In the case of Lincoln
and of Grant, the prescrvers of tho Union.
As wo have given to all peoples and all
countries a magnificent example of pros.
perity under Republican institutions. so
let us give 10 the world grand example
of respect to those who have made ou r
prosperity possible.
The names OF Lincoln and Grant are
indissolubly associated. Their fame, like
their work, is indivisible. As the Same
pages of history will tell to coming gem
orations how they worked by common
methods to common ond so tho same
monument, rising not far from the east
front of the capitol, should attest for all
timo the affection, the veueration, the
gratitude of their countrymen. On the
east portico OF the capitol Lincoln and
Grant each twice took the oath Of ofiico
as President Of tho United States. Thoir
successors will do tho same while the re.
public lasts. II is the one spot moro
familiar than any other to the American
mind, the one place which every visitor
from foreign lands seeks above every
other. There lot the Lincoln and Grant
monument be erected.
| Ono Of tho last acts OF President Cloye.
lands immediate predecessor was to
nominate Gen. Grant for restoration to
the rank and emolumonts of the Office from
which he was called when tho people
made him President. One OF tho first
acts Of President Cleveland was the sign .
ing of Gen. Grants new commission. In
graceful, patriotic continuance of tho
work of justice thus entered upon, Presi.
dent Cleveland could take no more appro-
pirate step than to recommend to Con,
gress the erection of tho monument wa
propose to be dedicated by the American
people to the memory of Lincoln and
Grant.