Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

caricature of poor Lincoln in the Capitol at
Washington, a cross between Roman toga
Spanish cloak and bed-sheet, adorned with
elaborate embroidery. The head is uncov-
cred, the right hand holds a rapier, and on
the breast is beauti ul medallion of George
Washington, the Father OF Republics.
Great Bolivar, Colombia's first President,
who did so much toward shaping tbs destinies
of South America, and in whose honor the
Republic of Bolivia was named, was a
genius in his day. The congress of the
nations of the three Americas, which has
lately been making the grand tour of the
United States, was the outcome OF an idea
originated by him, as far back as the year
1921. At that time the several sections of
Spanish America had just achieved their
independence, and were for the most part
organized into Republics, but on no sub
stantial basis.
CONFERENCE OF THE THREE AMERICAS.
Bolivar urged the doctrine of America
for the Americans" and suggested q confer
euee of all the American powers-North,
South and Central-to be held at Panama,
the middle point. The proposal found favor
IN the United States, but there was some
hitch in the arrangements made to comply
with the Invitations. For one thing the
place of meeting was ill-chosen, the climate
of Panama, though not Objectionable to the
South and Central Americans who are
accustomed to it, being deadly TO those from
the far North. Two delegates were sent
from the>United States to that early con-
gress; bus one OF them died on the way, and
the other, owing to some delay in transit,
found, on his arrival at Panama, that the
conference had adjourned some days before.
The idea did not die out, however, and
after President Garfeld's Inauguration it
again took definite shape. One of Secretary
Blaine's first acts was to issue invitations to
Mexico and the Central and South American
governments to meet in Washington. After
Garfeld's untimely death, Mr. Blaine's
successor recalled the invitations; and the
project again slumbered until few weeks
before the expiration of President Cleve-
lands term, when Secretary Bayard pre-
sented the matter to Congress, the invita-
| tions were reissued, and the result we know.
This historic space, which has rejoiced
under various names during the last three
| centuries, and is now most commonly known
as the "Plaza de la Constitution" has been
the scene of many stirring events. From
its breast has emanated the growth OF art,
science, religion and liberty. Most OF the
wars have begun and ended here. Here
Quesada unfurled, for the first time, the
blood-red banner of Spain above the symbol
of the Cross. During more than 200 years of
viceregal rule it witnessed the workings of
slavery, OF the lnquisition, the stake and
the scaffold. Here Bolivar unrolled the
flag of freedom.
THE WONDERFUL CATHEDRAL.
On another side of the same square is the
great Cathedral, wonderful structure as to
isze, but not much to boast of in the line
of architectural symmetry. 1t was begun
shortly after the Episcopal See of Bogota
was founded Gin 1868, I believe); but its
original builders did not seem to un-
derstand their business very well for
the whole pile tumbled down, killing
scores of people in its fall, on the very
day it was to have been consecrated! About
30 wears later the work was recommended;
and many alterations having been made at
subsequent periods, by as many different
architects from designs of their own, the
building has singularly mongrel 1ook.
Its facade rests upon basement of square,
hewn stones, slightly raised above the, ,atrio.
Above the basement eight Dorlc pillars rise
in group, forming portals for the side
doors. The entrance to the great central
door is between two futed columns of the
Ionic order. Above the first stofy runs