New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
TIE UEINE MEMORIAL.

Tho attemnt 70 impose the Heine fountain
unon this city Is practically sure to fall IL
oucht to end to-day, with the meeting OF the
BOARD Of Aldermen. at which a suitable oppor-
t,nity will be offered to those who have been
most conspicuous in the affair to prove the goon
foitb Of the resolutions adopted on Saturday by
their Executive Committee. Those resolutions
EXPRESSED purpose to withdraw the offer OF
the fountain to New-York and to present II 10
baltimore where 1t Is said to be an object OF
desire We cannot conscentously advise bai'i-
more TO take it, for we do not think that It's pos
session would afford permanent satisfaction 10
anv intelligent community but should be
glad TO see the last possibility Of its acceptance
bv Ncw-York removed. Except for such a re-
mote chance, it might be proper to insist tiia'
the Aldermen should end the controversy Dy
resembling the resolution of which MI Nlhdoiph
adroitly procured the passage two or three weeks
ago authorizing Commissioner Iafen TO set up
the memorial somewhere on the North Side. AS
il s we should feel safer to have the offer with
drawn from this city and accepted elsewhere
The management Of this gift enterprise has
not been credtablc to those in charge Of 1t. we
have no reason to doubt that their original pur-
memory Of the German poet but their subsequent
conduct has savored more Of obstinate vanity
than Of n benevolent public spirit. The fountain
was officially rejected by the Park Board from
the best motives and in pursuance Of sound
administrative policy. There was not trace
Of prejudice or Ill will in that action, which, on
the contrary, was solely dictated by a sense of
official responsibility The impartial and com
pctcnt critics OF the Sculpture Society and the
Fine Arts Federation. to whom the question OF
the artistic quality Of the fountain was sub
mltted. having decided against 1t. every consd-
Grafton of propricV and advantage required the
Park Board TO accept their decision and decline
the offer There is Il woful lack both OF sense
and Of courtesy In the repeated assertions OF the
Memorial Committee since that time that the
rejection Of the fountain was an insult to would
b. bcnefactors of the city. 10 the memory on
Ucinc and 10 the German American population.
That intelligent and high minded part of the
community would have good reason 10 complain
If in Difference to a false estimate OF It's artistic
taste and civic spirit an inferior work Of art had
been f,isted upon the metropolis That would
have been vcrltable insult. and we are glad
10 be- assured that great majority Of our citi-
zens Of German extraction 10 whose notice this
matter ha, been brought are entirely ont of sym
pathy with the efforts and utierances OF the
Memorial Commltt,".
In one form or another the subject will come
before the Aldermen to-day. We had hoped that
thrv would dispose Of 1t by resembling the re'o-
mtion which they unknowingly passed at Il
previous meeting and subsequently recalled from
the Mayor. but a formal withdrawal Of the oItcr
which has caused so much trouble and brought
so much Glscrcdlt on those who made II would
be an unlltcrabl,. an1 therefore a St.l more
saflsflctory settlement OF the transaction.