Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-18

upon what We are to pay iori

upon what We are to pay forf
That is all OF 1t, and do not propose to be
driven by any lectures OF this sort into
voting $40, 900 for what conceive not to
be worth 3hat amount.
In the case Of General Shields the
amount was fixed at what the swords
cost, not to exceed $4,000, to be given
to his widow, who to-day is attempting
to carry out his will, which requested the
education of his children, and she Is COM
PEELED, forced, coerced to sell these
swords, which she has treasured as long
as she could, in order to get money for
that purpose and that alone. This is ell
ckre to say about the matter.
Mr.. Reagan Mr.. President, as we
shall perhaps hsve yea-and-nsy vote on
this subject, l prefer saying a word before
the vote is taken.
The memory of General Wa hington Is
enshrined in every American heart. The
American people have done everything
that they could to attest their gratitude,
their respect, and their Veneration for
him. and if there are other acts which
they could do to attest their appreciation
of his great character no doubt they
would be prepared to perform them.
Now, we are asked to add to the evil
( dence Of our respect and veneration for
General Washington by making commerce
of this sword OF mis-. 1t Is said that 1t is
| In the hands of his descendants, interest
ed IN his fame. They certainly ought to
b. as much interested as other American
citizens. II they feel that proud interest
in his fame which most American citizens
should feel, they would have never asked
money for that sword, but would have
proudly rendered 1t, to be placed where 1t
could be of most service IS a relic and
N emento OF the past. But we are asked
to testify our respect, our Veneration for
the character of Washington by entering
into commercial dicker for one OF his
swords!
His principal sword we are advised has
for thirty or forty years been in the pos
session of the government. 1t seems to
me that there Is something in our Ameri-
canism that has changed very seriously in
the last thirty or forty years. Once we
knew how TO testify our respect for men
and to pay them honors without money.
Now il seems that the measure OF all
honors to be bestowed has to be IN
dollars and cents. We have come down
to vulgar materialism in everything, and
we are asked to testify gratitude. respect,
esteem, confidence by dollars and cents.
The time was when noble, manly sentl-
ments guided our respect, and when the
expressions of respect and esteem and
confidence counted for something more
than filthy lucre.
Iustesd of giving $4,000 for this
sword, l regard 1t as not creditable to
the descendants of General Washington
to Cfer to sell it for price OF money, and
7 no n Nph he re
price proposed.
Mr.. Evarts-Mr. President, l think /
have presented this matter in such form
as should at least have saved this lineaf
descendant OF the legstee named bg
Washington as the possessor Of this
sword from the opprobrium that has been
csst by the observations of the Senator
from Texas. l stated distinctly that it
WAS not question traffic, and when any
one proposes to give the law Of charity or
OF benefcerce for other people, it is well
| to take into consideration the control Of
their own affairs that persons thus pos
sessing 1t should have.
There is but one question, whether We
will buy this sword st the price at which
1t is now ofieredto this government. L.
can be disposed Of, have Lo doubt, in
J other directions; but it would miss its
proper depositsry, and would pass over
the preferred purchaser, as it seems to
me.
When, therefore, 1t is said that one pa
triotic representative Of one line of Gen.
eral Washington's collateral kindred has
presented a sword, SO much TO
their credit and so much for
US that we accepted it and honored
it enough to take care Of it.
Now, it is presented to US in 8
different point Of view, and it is for US to
say yes or no, whether we will not be-
come the owner of this sword OF General
Washington. Otherwise we can not be-
come the owner Of 1t. II we now take 1t
we do become its owner.
It is nothing to say that neither have
we been ready to measure our admiration
by any expenditures that we have maoe,
nor that money can ever estimate or
measure II, or that we are willing that
money should estimate our homage and
duty. It is simply transaction OF
this kind, that this sword having been
transmitted under circumstances of a
family which permitted them to keep 1t,
they are no longer able to keep 1t, and
they offer it toithei government for $780,,
| 100; and 1t IS for US 10 s;y, Dy voting
one way or the other, whether we will
take the sword or not. The bill went
over without action.