The Washington critic., 1888-08-17
WASHINGTON, AUGUST II, 1888.

A communication appears in the
Critic today from William Howard
Mills of this city, who was gallant
Union officer during the war. in which
he suggests as n monument to the Amerl-
can Soldier the erection of Memorial
building at the National Capital, which
shall be occupied, or so much of it as
may be needed for that purpose, by u
military museum and library and vari-
Gus veteran associations.
The idea also is that il shall include
the great public hall of which Washing
ton has stood so long in need, and rooms
and offices that may be let for uses not
incompatible with the general character
and significance of the structure, so that
the investment may proye of some value
in business point of view.
Leaving all minor details aside how
ever, to be settled upon hereafter, we
have only to say at present that the
suggestion of Colonel Mills is one emf
ncntly worthy of consideration and such
as to meet most cordial response from
the veterans of both armies and their
descendants throughout the country, 1t
being understood that the proposed
structure is to symbolic u purely ma
tional sentiment of admiration for the
valor and hcroism exhibited in the field
by soldiers of both armies and for the
manly virtues which both have so nobly
eXemplihed in the pursuits of peace
since the cruel war was over.
1t seems to us that the time has
come when North and South, now more
IL fnunthnp fhun hn-
fore by the bonds of brotherhood and a
community of interests, may divcst
themselves of all old sectional preju-
dices and unite upon common plane
of sympathy in furtherance Of this
great Memorial project
1t is more than likely thai a large
proportion of the funds required could
be raised by popular subscription, but
as our correspondent intimates, there
is little doubt but that Congress would
feel disposed to aid in the final oonsum-
nation of the undertaking, if the as
sistancc of the Government were found
necessary.
There would assuredly be no impro-
priety in voting liberal appropriation
to the promotion of an object so thor
oughly national and pacificatory in its
character and so essentially Just to the
rank and lilc of the American armies,
whose monuments are few and far be-
tween.
The first and best step to take in the
premises would be to form TN association
of eX-vetcrans of sufficient number TO
canvass the subject in all its bearings
and ascertain as near as may be the feel
ing that prevails relative to the advlsa-
bility and feasibility of the movement
this to be followed by the incorporation
of permanent society to have executive
charge of its future prosecution.
AS the matter now stands il is simply a
suggestion. 1t seems to the Critic a
laudable and practicable one. What the
general drift of opinion relative to the
subject may be remains to be asccrtained
Congressman in Pennsylvania are to
be elected this year under the new ap-
pointment, and OF the twenty-eight dis
tricts nine gave Democratic major
tiles for Governor in 1885; but the
Philadelphia Press says there are but
six which the Republicans cannot
fairly cApect IT, CARRY. The present
delegation consists of twenty Repub-
hcans and eight Democrats.
The decision of the Supreme Court
of Washington Territory, adverse to thu
law ing wCnler. the night OF sui
frage, is explicit and emphatic enough
in its terms, though rather arbitrary il
its reasoning. The court holds tha
the word citizen" in the Constitution
means only male cltizens-this anC
nothing more. Therefore the Legisla
ture exceeded its powers in enlarginl
the franchise But the women OF tn
Territory are not going to be silencet
by little thing like that, and propos
to take their grievance TO the Suprem
Court of the Unitd States, which, bein
presided over by Chief Justice wit
'eight daughters, may be more sympa
thetically disposed.
The latest ocean horror is also one O
the greatcst-the collision of the steam
ships Geiser and hingvalla-resultin
in the loss of nearly one hundred lives
1t occurred during n dense fog and wit
a heavy sea running, and similar catas
trophies will always be liable to Occu
under similar circumstances, unless som
effective system of danger signals ca
be devised for use when lights are invii
ible. The New York Herald ia con
menting upon the disaster this merI
iOg says:
Tho United States Is now proposing
conference of all maritime nations to d
wise means for preventing Just such 60
lisiOns. There is an urgent need for sue
revision of the international code az wi
give soamon better signals when stean
ing in thick weather. II does not appci
that the Thingvalla and Geiser were Tul
ming at very high spoed, and II s impr
bable that any fog signal now permittC
by that code would have prevented
even mitigated the horror of tho dlsaste
Tho calamity, therefore, terribly omph
sizes tho necessity for such reform
navigation as It Is hoped tho Intern
tlOnal Marine Conference win secure.
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The Pensioners Benevolent Union
Missouri have agreed upon II bill to
presented TO the next Congress whiC
provides that in lieu of all arrcarage
bountles, land warrants, etc, every 81
dier who is not receiving pension OF s;
per month shall be placed upon Il
rolls at that rate, this pension to
considered an equivalent for all CLAIM
against the Government Some sue