New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-09
DISGRACE TO THE CITY
ABRAHAM LINCoLN's STATUE USED AS A
HITCHING-POST.
THE SPACE AROUND 1T Uttered WITH STABLE
REFUSE, AND ITS RAILING CLOTHES
LINE-yASDAL WORK BY BROAD

WAY CABLE ROAD EMPLOYEES.
1.-THE Americans seem to hold nothing sacred from
the demands of business not even the statues Of
their great men," was the remark Of a European
visitor to this country, who stood before the statue
of Abraham Lincoln In Union Square yesterday.
II ,s to be hoped that further observation and
further acquaintance with the American people
will cause this traveller to take another view but
the remark was apparently justified by the picture
which presented itself to him.
The space about the base of the statue had been
converted into an open-ar stable. Two pairs Of
horses harnessed were hitched to the iron rail.
ing They were moving and stepping about I'm.
easily their iron-shod hoofs frequently coming In
contact with the granite wall surrounding the
monument. The litter Of a stable was about, and
the granite blocks discolored and filthy from
contact with it. A spare whiffietree and few old
straps and strings were lying about to help out
in case of breakdown An old shovel with Z
rusty blade and a wornout broom with broken
handle leaned like unslghtly cripples against the
wall An old pail lay bottom up. and the stones
which had been splashed with the water, looked
slippery and disgusting. Two handcarts used by
the scavengers employed by the Department Of
Street Cleaning were also backed up to the base
Of the statue. Above rose the figure OF the mar
tyred President its dignity seemingly heightened
hv conscious protest against the dissertations about
It,
LET us walk around and read the motto On
the monument" said the European to his com.
panion.
&" with malice" he began, reading with difficulty
between the horses legs. AN appropriate be-
ginning" he remarked sarcastically. The next word
was almost completely obscured by an old over.
coat and pair Of greasy overals which had been
hung over the railing to dry. Towards none,'"
he finally made out. with malice towards mona
With charity for 1t must, yes, 1t Is, all" An
other pair Of soed overalls covered the hrst ana
last letters of the all
"'Wth malice towards none, with CHARITY for
ALL" said the European, repeating the whole
motto ct is a beautiful sentiment, and worthy Of
the great man whose statue is here. l am not an
American, and have not as much reason 70 Do
Jealous OF President Lincoln and his fame as have
the people of the United States, but my blood
fair,J boils with indignation at the vandals VINO
democratic his statue thus, and have a iessened
respect for the people who permit Il"
The horses which stabbed at the monument
belong to the Broadway Gable Road AS fire.
auenty happens the cars are Obliged 70 et go tneir
grip on the cable while going round the curves
which lead from the Square into broadway, In
order to avoid collisions with passing vehicles
The cable cannot be taken up again until a
straight stretch Is reached. The horses are EN-,
Moved to draw cars which have thus been stopped
The Broadway Gable Road has legal right to
run its cars from Fifty-nnthst. to the Battery.
and II is not unlawful for 1t to employ horses
AT points along the line where the cable cannot
be used but its charter does not permit y 10
appropriate the statue OF Lincoln for hltchine
post the space about II for stable or the railn9
which i for f0 that tho
statue OF Abraham Lincoln should be pr9faned
and disgraced by the unsghtly objects and sur
roundngs Of barnyard