The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-11
THE CAPITOL FRIEZE.
Subjects For Vacant Panels Not
Agreed On.
WHY SOME WERE NOT ACCEPTED.
Belief That the Rebellion should he Re
Northumberland Be Expunged From
the Pages of History Selection Of the
Topics Left Over For the Next Session.

Topics Left Over For the Next Session.
WASHINGTON, Juno To- Special Ono
OF the most interesting questions considered
by this congress, and one which Is left un.
solved, is the completion of the historic
frieze in tho rotunda Of the capitol. For
several years two panels Of this friezc have
been left vacant because the joint commit
tee on library, representing the senate and
house, could not agree upon the topics 10
be treated I'm the sketches Scores OF sug-
gcstions have been made, but everything
has been objected 10 by some one, and the
joint committee has finally been compelled
10 abandon its proposed pictures and 10
leave the whole matter over to the next
session Of congress. The discussion has
brought up anew the old question whether
or not there shall be placed amid the art
works Of the capitol references u the war
of the rebellion, and before the matter Is
finally decided this problem is likely To
precipitate an interesting If not bitter con
troversy
Topics Objected To.
The library committee had prepared
sketches showing the driving of the last
spike of the Pacific railway and the open
ing ceremonies Of the Worlds fair at Chi
cago The first Of these was objected to by
many senators because IL brought up recol-
lections Of the Credit Mobilier scheme, and
also because, while admittedly great
achievement the Pacific railway was after
all mere money making scheme. Per
haps the antipathy OF the people of the far
west 10 the Pacific railways avs they are
now managed had something to do with
the ficrceneSS of the opposition manifested
10 this topic. As 10 the Worlds fai
scene, that was objected Ia chiefly bc.
cause II contained the figure Of President
Cleveland in the act Of pushing the hutton
which set the machinery of the exposition
In motion. The most strenuous objections
came from Democrats. Comparisons were
at once Instituted and il was pointed cat
that no other president of the United states
was honored 10y having his portrait In the |
rotunda.
Rebellion Not Remembered. |
Discussion OF the subject naturally
brought up the omission Of any picture or |
statue relating to the rebellion from the |
art works of the capitol, and senator Haw- |
opinion that it was time 70 repair that /
omission. For years it has been a tradi. |
ton about the capitol that nothing con |
corning the war of the rebellion was To he /
placed within the walls of the national /
state house. This idea probably had its
origin Immediately after the war. when
the national aspiration was toward heal.
ing the wounds caused by that conflict.
AL thnt time In
ties OF the southern people would he of
Tended II any effort were made to common
crate the result of the rebellion or its lead
ing incidents. No doubt il is still true
that an attempt to glorify the victories of
the northern armies or To indulge I'm any
thing OF boast or u note of triumph would |
not only be in bad taste but would I've Sc
riously objected To by southern people. and
perhaps by northern men as well.
But many prominent sputhcrners have
assured me during the last few DAVIS that
II 1t were desired u carry out General
iiawley suggestion and lace in the friczc
d the rotiindaa sketch showing Grant and |
Leo shaking hands at Appomattox, with
Grants memorable words. Let us have
peace, no objection thereto would me |
heard from southern tongue In fact |
several senators from Dixie said such
picture would % their notion bc most ap |
propriate and indicative i'm striking wlv of |
he fact that there We're peace and a com
)lete reconciliation between the sections
which were once at war.
History Cannot he Changed.
1t Is evident 10 most of the public men |
With whom | have talked on this subject |
nat the idea Of trying to suppress in the
ldornment of the capitol all reference I
'he rebellion Is not regarded rs rational Oh
iignified. The greatest war of modern |
history Is fact, ard its results arc n lnIt |
II the national life No one would ch,n,,r
hem, and certainly nothing is u be- gained
~ trying To belle history or ignore A.
senator Wilson of Washington, in bi
Western way, says, THE completion Of the
'acific railroad and the openin. Of a.,
Worlds fair, important events gc t.r,
we're, are mere warts on the flrc of his
DRY, while the civil war il history's living
oul "
Lincoln and the Slaves.
The suggestion was made bv Chairman
iansbrough of the library committee TINT
he striking Of the shackles of the slave.
rom the negro would form an appropriate
ubJect FOR treatment in the national fricze
southern men do not object 10 this nnv
more than to the a ppomattox picturc AMI |