Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-09-17
The Rouss Memorial Hall.


The %. G. V. Association, Camp
No. III. of the District of Colum pa,
together with the Ladies southern
Relief Society, of Washington, have
determined to put forth their best
efforts to have the grand Memorial
Hall located in Washington, and Tor
that nnrpose committees from both
organizations have been appointed
and Instructed to use their hest eff
forts for the Capital of the nation,
Mr.. Rouss the soldier, patriot, and
nbilanthropist, now a resident of
New York city, has offered to donate
the NJ unificent sum of 500, 600 to aid
in the erection of a grand Memorial
Hall the place to be located by the
o. C. ", Associations of the country.
Mr.. Rouss, the patriotic donor, has
indicated that the Memorial Hall be
located where il will be seen and OBJ
served by the people of the world,
and where it will stand out as an OBJ
iect lesson to the present and future
generations, and will monument the
heroism of American soldiery. Wash
ington is now the Mecca of many of
our greatest institutions of learning.
1t is the great head center of legisia-
ton, information and the dissemina-
ton of all kinds of literature, civil,
military and historical. The people
of every city, county and State in
the Union come, and are represented
here. Not day is passed without
visitors from some part of our glorious
south land. All the nations of the
earth are represented and the flag of
every nation floats over our Capital
city; and the city is daily visited by
the travelling people of the world.
ssThe New Orleans States" of June
%, 1895. after passing a high COM
pliment upon MIR. Rouss and sug-
costing New Orleans as the best
place for the erection of this Memo
rial Hall, has this to say: 'sTbe
question of the location of the pro-
posed institution continues to occupy
| the attention of those interested
in its establishment 1t says,
i.While we have strong preference
for New Orleans, based upon her
having more than favorable advan-
tages and conditions, we shall
acquiesce cheerfully in whatever de-
cision the Veterans may reach. We
beliye that personal preferences
should be subordinated to determi-
nation to make this grand and pa
triotIc work success, be it located
where il may. With n view to har-
monizing local jealousies and upon
the principle that a shrine should be
erected where it would attract the
most worshippers, and that Mecca
should be in the most accessible place,
we are inclined to the opinion of
many, New Orleans being eliminated
from consideration, that Washington
City should be the site of our temple.
There it would be seen by represen-
tatives of all nations of the earth.
While it conveyed to them, and
through them, to the world our rev.
erence and regret for the lost cause,
it would teach at the same time Q
lesson of incalculable value. Ii
would be proof of the power. great
: ness and confidence of the American
: people. 1t would show that however
great was once the antagonism be-
tween the two sections of the country
an antagonism which led to the
bloodiest struggle that historyrecords
, the arbitrament of arms was accepted
in good faith-that we are now q
, united people, dwelling in amity and
peace. A Confederate memorial in
} stitution at Washington will be {
t most impressive object lesson to Other
nations, and would exercise s
wider influence in shaping our future
diplomatice controversies and rela-
lions with Other nations" As the
"New Orleans States has wisely
said, let this grand monumental pile
become the Westminster Abby of the
South. JNo. NJ. HICKEY.