The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-06
Civic Pride in New York.

The completion Of the Washington Arch
the Fifth avenue is a hopeful indication OF
the growth Of civic pride in New York.
When this noble arch was put up origi-
nally as temporary construction Of wood
for the occasional purposes Of q centennial
celebration. the suggestion was made that
an ornament Of the town so artistic
and SO impressive should be preserved
In stone as q fitting and enduring
monument and patriotic symbol. Probably
those who conceived the plan had little ex-
pectation that 1t would be carried out prac-
tically, for its execution involved the ex-
penditure Of large sum Of money which
could be obtained by voluntary subscrip-
lions only. Newspapers outside Of New
York and within New York itself made
sport Of the scheme. saying that the public
spirit and civic pride necessary for the sue
cessful progress Of such an enterprise had
no existence here.
Yet two years ago this month the corner
stone OF the arch was laid and now the
structure Is completed In all its beautiful
proportions as designed by the genius
Of Mr.. STANFORD WHITE. Nowhere else
would the work have been carried out
more expeditiously and moro salts
factorily. Thanks to the persistent and
praiseworthy and admirable energy
Of Mr.. WILLIAM RHNELANDER STEWART,
the money was contributed as It was
needed. The contributions came in as free
gifts bestowed for the public benefit and in
spirit Of local pride never more en-
phatic in its manifestation. The peo-
pie were satisfied with the ornament
Of the town proposed; It appealed
to both their critical taste and their
patriotic sentiment. and they were ready
to give their money for its erection. The
Washington Arch Is thus monument to
the liberality Of New York and its artistic
discernment. no less than pile commence
rative Of the Inauguration of tho first Presi-
dent OF the United States within its limits.
Its erection also affords promise OF the
artistic and architectural ornnrnentation
which individual and civic pride and taste
will bring about In the future for New York.
1t shows that the public sentiment Is here,
and needs only to be awakened by O
proper appeal. So great a community can
not be stirred by tho merely parochial am
billions which agitate smaller towns. It
has no envy. jealousy. and rivalry to
be melted. for it stands alone without COM
pettors. 1t knows that it must fulfil it's
own destiny and be sufficient for itself as
the coming capital OF the world. which will
eventually gather into one municipal fold all
its outlying members and become the great
est urban community In the history OF man,
kind. This assurance breeds an Indifference
to many passing conditions which elsewhere
excite the keenest public interest, but It does
not destroy the pride OF citizenship In q town
30 powerful in the present, and OF future
potentially SO klndling to the immarinn-
ton. 1t raises the people OF New York
above petty considerations and enables
them to take larger and grapder view
than Is obtainablc by the inhabitants OF apy
other American town. II makes appeals to
their mere vanity fruitless. They must be
stirred by bigger motive.
Now. OF course. the artistic embellish-
mcnt OF New York is far inferior to that of
the ancient capitals OF Europe. This town
is in the juvenile period Of il development
In that respect. A few genern lions ago
pioneers were clearing farms where now n
dense population has its seat. The Central
Park IL only generation old. With few
exceptions. every considerable spcci-
men Of architecture in the town is
Il building put up within u genera
ton. and most of them durii the last NJ
teen years. The cd town has been torn
down nnda new constructed. The impor-
tant residences of the 'ity AFRO now upon
land which lay waste twenty and thirty
vpurS ago, and sOlur Of il even mora ra-
Gently: and tn. pioneer work il still pro-
reedins. Great wealth has not exi ited here
to any large rStrnt until within the last
The money required for artistic
was not at hand. The mere ex-
penditure for necessary public improve
ments taxed severely the public resources.
and private wealth was lacking for the
and display OF cultivated pri-
yate taste. Until very lately New York was