Evening star., 1896-07-03
Sknli 1t BE Here:

Mrs. jefferson Davis, widow of the con-
federate president, is quoted as saying that
it would be just as appropriate 10 erect a
monument to Mr.. Davis in Boston 1t
would be to locate the Rouss Memorial Hall
in this city. The correctness otherwise
of Mrs. Davis views depends entirely upon
the character of the memorial and the
spirit which actuates those vino seem will
ing to endow it. If the memorial hall is to
he comparatively small. narrow and sec
tiCnal and to serve solely as memorial
and reminder of the glories and disas-
ters of the coafederacy then there will be
rome TO question the accuracy of Mrs.
Davis Judgment. but up to this time it had
not been generally supposed-certainly not
In Wasnngton-that the proposition ad-
vanced by Mr.. Charles Broadway Rouss
contemplated such an institution. Mrs.
Davis is not alone in her opposition to this
Sity as the place where the Rouss memorial
Should lie located, for at meeting yester-
Gay Of the Rouss Memorial Hall Associa-
ton committee, consisting of Gen. John
son of Alabama. Gen. Briggs of Kentucky.
DIR. league of South Carolina and Gov.
Jackson of Tennessee. was appointed to
visit New York for the purpose of urging
upon Mr.. Rouss the selection of a purely
southern city the place for the memorial
rather than Washington.
In view of all that has heretofore been
sa!c and written to this memorial the
afiointment of such committee and the
remarks of Mrs. Davis are somewhat as
fCrishing. The newspaper-reading public
has been led to believe that the Rouss
idea was deer-fourded and broad and
mCdern: the intiTnation that IT has fea-
ttres which would render undesirable or
a al
ital has in it several of the elements of
shock. Just what the committee will
say 10 Mr.. Rouss or what Mr.. Rouss will
say 20 the committee cannot be more
than guessed at. but the millionaire ought
rot TO experience any difficulty in making
up his mind to where he wants to plant
bis money He must first decide as to
the character and scope of the memorial:
the rest will he easy and logical
If IL is the idea that the structure shall
be sacred exclusively to the old south, and
Ike the Davis monun ent serve solely as a
war memorial, then it is reasonable TO con-
tend that the capital of the confederacy
and not cf the Unicn should be selected as
its site If. on the other hand it is
desired by Mr.. Rouss and his supporters
that the memorial hall shall be a perma-
Dent exposition of the material resources
OF the sou 'h-tfe rev south. the south that
is sincerely and gladly part of the Union
with d confederate museum, state head
quarters and commodious assembly room
for public gatherings as features, then
Washington is, of all cities the best loca-
ticn.
The National Capital is not mere neutral
territory Here is the center and seat of
government, where all Americans may
meet on ground in which American owner
ship Is common. No matter where the
citizen of the United States may have his
earthly abiding place, he is part proprio tor
of tine country's capital. Millions of Amer
leans recognize this fact. and they come by
thousands to enjoy the beauties and at
fractions of the city which SO largely repre-
sents the national progressvenesS and our
growing affection for those things which
tend to forward the mighty movement of
true national greatness. If the South de
STes. in addition to creating a memorial Of
the days that are gone. to demonstrate
that it is in touch with the living pro-
Eressive present. il can do so in no more
satisfactory way than by establishing here
such permar ent exposition as that which
latter-day Southerners have suggested
should be constructed with the contribu-
tiOns of Mr.. Rouss and of those who are
ready to proffer financial assistance.