Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18
THE IDEAL CITY.
Washington Has More Than Real
lied Its Founders Hopes.
MR.. PARKERS ADDRESS TO-DAY.
The Glorious Promise Of the Dis
trict's Second Century.
CONGRESS AND CAPITAL.

CONGRESS AND CAPITAL.
District Commissioner Myron NJ. Parker
spoke today as the representative Of the
District of Columbia 1T tile celebration of
the Capitol centennial. Mr. Parker said:
The ceremonies here today VIII occupy
an important page in the history of our
country The celebration of the one-hun-
dredth anniversary of the laying Of the
corner stone of the United States Capitol
will be of unusual interest to the people of
our country. while to the citizens Of Wash
ington it Is an event of more than local
importance, since 1t emphasizes our Won
drous growth and greatness. All govern
ments point with pride 10 their respective
capitals To speak of London Is to refer
to England; the name of Paris covers that
Of France. If you would speak of Austria
you have only to mention Vienna, while
Rome with her eternal hills OvershadOws
Italy. SO, too, Of our own beloved coun-
try, unification Of states, with a popuja-
ton of 6o,00,0N of people, every one of
whom Is thrilled with pride and patriotism
at the mention of Washington. their beau
tiful capital.
The application Of these proceedings
from an executive, legislative and judicial
standpoint have been appropriately con-
sidered by the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, by the Honorable
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives
and by Mr.. Justice Brown of the Supreme
Court.wh from a national standpoint in
an eloquent address by the Hon. William
Writ Henry. 1t is fitting, therefore, as one
OF the Commissioners Of the District OF CO.
lumbia / should speak OF the event which
these imposing ceremonies commemorate
with respect to the Influences which have
resulted to the city of Washington locs lily.
To properly discuss this subject would &C.
cupy much more than the ten minutes al
lotted me by the committee. l must.
therefore. refer briefly 10 some of the mate
rial points.
Locating the Capitol.
The location of the national capital was a
subject Of much contention between the
north and the south. Claimants for the
honor OF providing permanent seat of
government were unyielding in their de-
mands by state pride and state jealousy.
Sectional animosities also added to the Bit
telness OF the controversy. Congress found
this subject a fruitful source of wrangling
This body met in different places, accord
Ing as convenience suggested or necessity
compelled. naming from time to time diff
ferent locations. only to reverse its de-
cision at the next discussion of the subject.
1t will be remembered that the proposed
site on the Potomac. supported by many
southern members, was repeatedly rejected
In 17S3 a location on the Delaware was
the Potomac. and in 1884, Congress appoint
ed a commission to select a site upon the
former river.
That this selection was not made is we'll
was left to the First Congress
meeting under the Constitution. Up
on the meeting Of this body the
wranse beare heated 1nan
town. Havre de Grace wright's Ferry on
the Susquehanna and a location on the Po-
tomac were each urged as having the
strongest claims.
The persistency Of Mr.. Madison and other
southern members finally prevailed. and.
in July, 1880, the House by a vote of 81 to %.
and the Senate by vote Of IA to II, decided
In favor of the Potomac.
After years Of preparation for the event,
during which period the site was selected by
President Washington, work on the several
buildings was begun, and Washington, as
the nations capital came into being.
Efforts to Remove the Capital.
Since 1900 the date on which the archives
of the government were brought from
Philadelphia in seven large boxes. and
four or five smaller Ones" there have been
periodical attempts to remove the seat Of
government, which removal would. of
course, have been the death knell to WASH
ington. An Englishman. named Weld. who
visited the future capital in 1885, says:
Observation-Disclosures all that has been done at
the city. and the large sums Of money
which have been expended there are num-
bers Of people in the United States living to
the north Of the Potomac, particularly in
Philadelphia, who are still very adverse to
the removal of the seat Of government
thither, and are doing all in their power to
check the progress of the buildings in that
city, and to prevent the Congress from
meeting there at the appointed time"
may be found in "Crito's Letters on the
Seat of Government" published In 1907.
He says: I'm the meantime be 1t known to
the good people Of the Union. from New
Hampshire to Georgia, Qor I presume.
without fear Of contradiction, that ninety
nine hundredths of the youth Of the United
States grow up to manhood without ever
having seen the capital Of their country.)
that the national bantling called the city Of
Washington, remains, after ten years of
expensive fostering, rickety infant. I'M
able to go alone. Nature will not be forced:
A sickly child cannot be dressed and
handled into healthy constitution. This
embryo Of the states will always be a dis
appointment to its parents, discredit to
the fond opinions of It's worthy god-fathers
and god-mothers. and an eye-sore to all its
relations to the remotest degree of con-
sanguinity" Critic concludes his advice by
recommending that the seat Of government
be removed to Philadelphia.
The last attempt to remove the capital
was made in 1869, by L. L. Reavis and
others. in and out Of Congress. st. Louis
being the city that was to become the future
capital. Mr.. Reavis in his book says: Il
unhesitatingiy answer that the change will
be made within five years from January !.
1869 and before 1875 the President of the
United States will deliver his message at
the new seat of government In the NIissis-
sippi Valley" There were many Influences
about this time which tended to check and
finally to wipe out all efforts having in view
the removal of the capital.
The New Era.
Under the leadership Of man Of high
character great executive ability and de-
termination, a man with broad, comprehen-
sive views. a system of public improvements
was inaugurated and carried to a success
full conclusion, which SO changed the char
o1ts. md nf <,ffx