Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-19

change. For already indicated the protec-
ton rendered by the nation to its capital and
the national spirit revived by the war have
caused the wonderful transformation. The
relation OF the soldiers to this development,
which gives to the welcome Of the city addi-
; tional degree of grateful warmth. may also in
| spire the veterans with stronger, deeper
pride in the beautiful city, which in its rudi-
mentary stages they protected and preserved,
and which in its present shape they helped di-
rectly and indirectly to create.
From its pitiable plight OF thirty years ago
| the capital has become an object Of interest,
pride and affection to Americans of all sections
of the republic. In tho cosmopolitan popula-
ton of the modern city northerners. south
erners and westerne-s are mingled. The latter,
no. so very long ago in the dependent condi-
tion of residents OF rational territory, strug-
Cling for greater national attention to their
Affairs. and for more thoughtful consideration
of their needs and grievances by a legislative
body in which they had 10 real representation,
and sensitively resenting misconceptions. born
OF sectional ignorance. concerning their re-
sources, spirit and tendency, can sympaihize
with a community who.e present politically re-
sembles in some respects their past. and they
should be able 10 legisate with peculiar wisdom
and consideration for this bit of national soil,
doing TO the capital rs they would that the
nation had done unto them in the times that
are gone.
But the strongest hold Of the capital upon
north and west-upon patriotic Americans
| everywhere-arises from the fact that it en-
bodies the national idea. 1t owes divided
allegiance to a state, arousing iealousies in the
ntl -t,tac IL tot ,it - tha
whole nation. The south is not excluded By
any means from bonds of sympathy with the
capital The passing Of slavery removes the
point Of greatest sensitiveness that was touched
by the existence of a national city and no alb
stract view concerning the relations of state
and nation needs to interfere longer with pride
in and affection for the capital OF the south, as
well as of the north, and east and west. The
city was founded b. southerners and the
dangers that menaced its infancy were warded
off by them. Washington. Jefferson. Madison,
Clay, Crawford. Calhoun and Jackson nre on
the first page of the list of the capitals friends.
The west and north have supplied their full
quota OF notable names to this list. especially
| since the war. The grca. men from all sections
who have delighted to enroll them elves among
those who have labored hardest to make the
capital worthy Of the republic, sGbuke and put
| to shame the notion which seems to havo
gained some prevalence in Congress that
| the brains OF legislators are not broad
enough to consider thoug ghtfully both cap ptGl and
national affairs, and that it is state s,nan-likc
therefore to disdainfully ignore the CAPITAL.
There is no act Of the forefahers which gives
/ more convincing evidence of wise foreihought
than the creation and general design of the
national city. What they planned The men OF
today are to fully carry out. There is in addi-
tion the new Washington that has sprung up
outside of the original boundaries, which needs
| its George Washington. its Jefferson, its l. En-
FAINT. If without loss of dignity and to their
lasting credit Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson
could throw themselves, they did. enthusi-
astically into the labor of securing for the cap
ital bridges across the Potomac, there is no
statesman OF today so great that he will not ac-
quire new laurels by the performance of Il SINH
lar and much-reeded task for the present city.
| There can be no more ennob!ing and patriotic
labor than that which associates ones name
with those Of the illus.rious forefathers in de-
veloping and adorning the city of the Union,
/ the nation in miniature fostering the national
sentiment realizing the national aspiration,
gratifying the national pride.
What is done for the capital is done for the
nation and for the promotion Of national senti-
ment. AL three advance together. The national
value of the the true capital as q unifying pari-
otic influence is not to be disreSardcd OF un-
derrated. When the southerners seeded they
left Washington with regret and looked forward
10 the predicted early date when they would re-
turn to legislate under the southern flag They
have returned to the city which southerners
founded. projected and loved, and they le;;is-
late under the southern fag-the flag of the
/ Uniou-sou,h, north, east and west. And
many of them thank God today that it is SO.
They are here not as captives in a strange city,
/ but as prodigals returned to n home. the house
of their forefathers, rich in associations both
! joyful and pathetic, standing upon land in
! which they have interest, and governed
exclusively by the Union, OF which they are
part. In Washington every American is
at home, whether the pine, the cypress Or
( the cottonwood grew above him. Here
is the altar Of American patriotism, not
to be approached under the scriptural injunc
! ton without reconciliation with our brother
of the south, or north, or east, or west. At
Washington all Americans come together on
equal terms with a common interest. The west
( tue tuc sOutu anu Nlct
versa. All sections are bound more closely to-
gether. Prejudices are softened and gradually
removed. National sentiment dominates, the
American spirit is developed and patriotism is
strengthened. In the national crucibie sectional
jealousies and hatreds are removed and the puro
gold OF American patriotism remains.
George Washington foresaw this unifying,
natioraiiZing function Of the capital, and for
that reason proposed to locate in it the national
university which he projected Here, he said,
the susceptible youth Of the land. in-the atmos-
phere of the nations city and viewing the
workings Of the general government, would be
impressed with love Of our national institu-
tions, counteracting both foreign influences and
sectional sentiments. The university of which
he dreamed was never born, but. carrying out
his idea on grander scale, the capital has it.
self become y national university, in which all
Americans arc students, for the promotion of
liberal, enlarged and patriotic Americanism,
teaching love OF country and making Of all Of
us better citizens.
Superstition and tradition have associated
the fate Of more than one Of the great nations
OF the world with that of some material object.
while stands the Coiosse u,n Home shall stand
When falls the coicsssam. Rome shall fall"
Tho future OF the empire built on physical