Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22
suEDAY........ FEBRUARY %, 1885.
1ha washipgton Monument orahons.

We print this morning, IN connection
with orr account OF the dedication Of
the Washington monument at Washing
ton Yesterday. the full oraticns Of Hon.
RogIAT G. WINTHROP, Of Massachu-
sets. and Hon. JOHN W. DANIEL, OF
Virginia, delivered on that occasion.
CRAByE declares monuments them
selves memorials need" and when we
say that these orations will pass into
history rs memorials OF the Washington
monument we have accorded their au-
thers no more praise than they deserve.
These gentlemen had no enviable task.
WASHINGTON, his character, his ex-
ample. his purposes. his achievements,
have been the theme Of, We may say,
the orators, poets, sages, philoso-
piers. and statesmen of the world
for over three generations. The tongue
and the brain Of nearly every civilized
nation have contributed eulogies of him,
and ne has been made the antique Of
all that is great in the greatest chaiac-
tiers in ancient history and in modern
history down to his time. The work
before Mr.. WINTHROP AMI Mr.. DAN
III was, in large measure, to wreath
the flowers and the laurels of literature
aud Of history into garlands. This each
has done with skill that is consun-
mate and an art that is as enduring rs
il is beautiful. Ii is meet and proper
that these tributes should be laid
upon the shrine Of the nations
reverence for WASHINGTON, the one
by the Commonwealth that fired the
first shot for American liberty-.he
shot that echoed around the world--and
the other by the Commonwealth that
gave him who above all other men made
American liberty an accomplished fact.
The two Commonwealth represent the
two most pronounced types Of American
civilization, and the styles Of the two
oralions embalm the methods Of thought
aud character Of the people of those
Commonwealth. They are different in
form but tho same in inspiration, and
while IN many points they present
contrasts that render each the
more effective, at others they touch
and blend in substantial unity,
that constitutes perfect eulogium.
Both recognize that the only monument
worthy of WASHINGTON must be in
the hearts Of the people. The claim of
both for WASHINGTON is well summa-
rizcd in the language of the ancient
poet ~ have executed monument
more lasting than brass and more sub
lime than the regal elevation CT pyra-
mids. which neither the wasting shower,
the unayailing north wind, or an ianu-
merable succession of years and the
fight Of seasons shall be able to de-
molish.n This monument is WASH
INoToN's example, and the tribute il
demands--the noblcst tribute that could
be accorded it's that reunited
country heed forever the lesson
that example teaches. Mr.. WIN
THRor struck the keynote that
should 60 sounding down through all
the future of this country when he adj
vised that the example of WASHING
TON be made the test of craftsmanship.
II the American people shall profit by
the memories that the ceremonies ofyes-
tcrday call up, and accept the obelisk
MS a perpetual reminder Of the faith and
the works Of him in whose honor it has
been reared, then indeed will new and
glorious era have dawned upon the ma
ton. Then indeed will the monument
prove not only an appropriate symbol
of the nations reverence for WASH
ISGToN. but a memorial of the virtue
patriotism and glory of the nation itself.
II rests with the people to say whether
il shall honor wAsHINGToN and the
faith Of the fathers, or mock both.