The Washington critic., 1888-07-13
THE NEW LIBRARY.

That there should have arisen any
hitch in the progress Of the new
Library building is something much
TO be regretted. Still more to be re-
gretted is it that any disposition
should crop out to belittle this noble
project and disappoint the general
hope which has been inspired rs to
its proper consummation.
II is to be remembered that the
proposed Library building is to be q
structure not so much for present
nses as for future demands. 1t should
not be erected simply with view to
accommodate the books now stored in
the Library, but upon plan adequate
TO meet requirements that are con-
stantly growing and TO which no
limit can be set.
Whether it should cost So, ,0O0,0 900
OF II, 1000, 900 is not 50 much the ques-
ton to be answered as are the other
and greater questions: What sort of q
building do the actual and prospec-
tive necessities of the case demand
What are the aesthetic proprieties in
volved in its construction What the
nature of the national obligation inn
posed to erect structure worthy not
only Of the enlightened age that is,
but of the grander Republic that is to
be, in its relations to the worlds
literature?
These questions being settled on an
intelligent and liberal basis, let plans
be adopted accordingly, the items
footed up and the bill ordered to be
paid.
One of the most effective articles on
this subject that has yet appeared is
from the New York Mail and Egpress
of recent date which says:
All the circumstances of the country within
Itself, and Of its relations to the world at
large, concur in pressing upon Congress the
design Of making in the Congressional Library
the one monument of our creation of litera-
ture, and our interest In literature, which
will place us by the side Of England, Ger
many, France and Italy in that most difficult
and most costly of national achievements,
the gathering, housing and handling of great
library. There can be but one such towering
monument in even great and rich country,
as there is but one British Museum, and Con.
eress 20 the very last man owes II to the ma
tional honor to make the Congressional Ii
brary that monument, imposing no other
limit upon the expenditure than that Of judi
cious and honest use of the money appropri-
ated, providing handsomely as also wisely,
for building, and securing as soon as prac
ticable the proper placing and making avail
able of the stores of the library. 1t should
be the one thing OF equal and undisputed in
terest to all parties and all sections, with
only this care taken on all hands, to get as
much as possible for the money spent, and
to have the library building material and
service the best that expert knowledge can
furnish. The question is one on which
American journals Of every name and party
sect and preference, should speak as one
man; and We nope Il at Con ress may see the
Justice and wisdom of fostering rather thar
disappointing a national feeling ON behalf o
amonumental Library of Congress at Wash
ington.
1t is all-important and essential, of
course, that the work should be kept
absolutely free of jobbery, or fraud,
or corruption of any sort. If it can
be shown that these things have
found their way into it, let them bt
scrupulously eliminated; but, on NJ
consideration, whatever, should thu
work come to standstill, or the fai
proportions Of its original designs bc
curtailed, or what has been done LEI
go undone, or to be done over again
or the Government put to the loss anC
The people to the delay of substituting
new and narrower plans for those al
ready aDproyed and adopted.