Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-07
MARY WAsHINGToE's TOMB.
The National Association of Women fc
4

The National Association of Women for
its Restoration and Preservation.
Twice within recent period the RECORD
UNION has had occasion to refer 10 the his
tory of the lamentable failures of attempts
made to raise over the ashes of Mary
Washington suitable monument, or to
complete that which fifty years ago patri-
otto citizen commenced. in May last, Mrs.
Margaret Hetzel, mother of Selden Hetzel
of this city, Register of the United States
Land Office for this District, suggested
through the Washington Post that the neg
lect of the grave of the mother of Washing
ton was a National shame, and advised
that the women of this country organize an
association for the purpose of raising a
fund for the completion of the monument
and the care of the grounds about it. That
association was formed and Mrs. Hetzel
became its Secretary, and resolved to make
the work the chief duty of her declining
days. Below we publish letter from that
venerable and patriotic woman which is
self-explanatory.
1t may be added, that as yet no perma-
nent President has been chosen, it being
the wish to secure the consent of Mrs.
President Hsrrison to fill that position, or
in case of inability to do so, to ask Mrs.
General Grant to assume the responsibility.
The first Vice-President is Mrs. Chief JUS
tice Waite Vice-Presidents for Washing
ton, Mrs. Admiral Lee, a daughter of
Francis P. Blair; Mrs. General Emory, q
great-grand.d daughter of Benjamin Frank
lin. Presidents for each State of the
Union are to be chosen, and the following,
among others we are able to announce as
having accepted: New Hampshire, Mrs
Senator Blair; Illinois, Mrs. Senator Trum-
bull; New York, Mrs. Grover Cleveland
Delaware, Mrs. Senator Bayard; Vermont,
Mrs. Governor Dillingham;; North Caro-
lima, Mrs Senator Vance; Nevada, Mrs
Senator Stewart; Pennsylvania, Miss Pen
dleton California, Mrs. Senator Hearst.
The Treasurership has been accepted by
Riggs q Co., Washington.
While the RECORD UNION holds that it is
the duty of Congress to provide for the
erection of the monument or the compile
ton of that already begun, and which, by
reason of its unfinished state, is falling into
decay, it has only kindly wishes for the
movement inaugurated by the ladies OF
Washington and the Nation generally, and
for that promoted by the patriotic women OF
Fredericksburg, where the grave of Mary
Washington is to be found. 1t is learned
that already in the House, Messrs. McKenna
and Morrow have resolved to present the
matter TO the proper Congressional Com
! mi.tee.
EDS. RECORD UNION: Your issue of the
18th instant has just reached me and has
ten to thank you for your spirited and timely
article on the neglected grave of Mary, the
mother of Washington, and to beg to be al
lowed to confirm its fidelity to history and
tradition as regards the life and character
of that noble woman, who gave character
| istics, fruits and training to the life of her
great son; and also to attest the truthful
ness of your history of the monument upon
her grave and its present condition, for
! visited it on Tuesday last, the 18th instant
and found it precisely the desolate ruin
| you describe.
In May last. when the Washington Gen.
tennial was being celebrated in New York
City, and the papers of the country so gen.
orally commented on this subject, the
women of Washington. moved thereby, Or
ganiZed National Association, with q
President and Executive Board, Treasurer
etc., resident in Washington City, and a
Vice President for each State in the Union
Mrs. Senator Hearst representing Cali
| formal, "tor the purpose of restoring the
present monument or erecting a new one,
which would be a suitable and lasting men,
orial, and providing by an endowment
fund for its future care and preservation. u
In your closing paragraph you appeal to
Congress to do this work. That has been
attempted many times. Three times bills
have passed the Senate making appropri-
alton FOR the object, and each time have
failed to become law. A bill has been in
trodueed in this Congress by Senator Dam
iel of Virginia, which will perhaps, PROB
ABLY. neet with the same fate, eloquenuy
and ABLY as he may. and we know will, adj
yocate il: but as fifty years has passed
waiting for this, fifty more years may find
il the same.
Meantime The women of the country
propose TO do il by popular contributions of
small sums, and this will be true tribute
to the noble mother of her country. Mrs.
Hearst will, no donbt, in due time bring
this matter before the women of California
with practical plans for its execution. The
Frsderickourg Association was organized
in November last, and corresponds aud CO.
operates with US, and is doing noble work.
MARGARET HErzEL, Secretary.
No 1915 rsslvsnia ayenus, Washing
ion, D. c January 20, 1890.