The San Francisco call., 1897-05-15
WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN.

The event Of the day so far as the peo-
pie OF the United States are concerned will
be the dedication of the grand monu-
ment 10 Washington at Philadelphia. The
interest excited by the ceremony on that
occasion will have its influence on all the
people of the country and indirectly at
feet the enterprise of erecting monu-
ment to Lincoln in this City. Patriotism,
aroused by the emories OF Washing ton
and the inspira lion drawn from the NOBLE
monument at Philadelphia, will tend to
promote. the erection of similar memori-
ais TO great men in all the principal cities
of the country, and we cannot fail to BEN
eft by the success which has been achieved
elsewhere.
1t is altogether right and fitting that
such monuments should be raised to those
men who by their services have advanced
the welfare of the people and augmented
the grandeur of the Nation. Such monu-
ments appeal to two stroag instincts Of
the human heart, the instinct of hero
worship and the instinct of artistic express
sion. 1t isinevitable, therefore, tn at monu-
ments which are at once patriotic and
artistic should be raised in all civilized
countries, and as matter of fact we not
infrequently judge the civilization of
community less by its works of purely
material good than BY what it has accom-
plished in the line of monumental art.
The development Of tha artistic instinct
OF the American people has been one OF
the most notable features of our National
lille during the last quarter of century.
This development shows itself in every di-
rection. IL is to be seen in all branches of
our architecture, from homes to Office
buildings, and in all departments OF civic
energy, from the laying out of parks to
the construction of municipal edifces.
We have become an artistic people, and
while We have not as yet attained to the
levels OF some OF the great nations of
Europe. we are advancing with a rapidity
which assures that we shall not long be
behind even the foremost in the race.
In monumental work in this country
the commemoration of Washington, Lin
coin and Grant naturally holds the first
place. The great mausoleum on Riverside
drive will probably remain the most
important monument to Grant for all time
to come, while the noble monument
which Philadelphia dedicates to-day will
add another to our artistic memorials
TO Washington. There remains to be
erected monument 10 Lincoln which will
be worthy OF his great fame and not
unequalIy classed with the monuments to
Washington and Grant.
1t is perhaps too much to hope that Lin
coins finest monument will be raised on
this coast, but it is not beyond the reach
of our patriotism and our State pride to
attempt to make it so. In our efforts to
raise a fitting memorial to the martyred
President we ought to bs able to count on
assistance from all parts of the Union, and
will probably receive help in proportion to
tie work which we do ourselves. 1t is to be
trusted, therefore, that the influence
exerted by the great monuments raised in
New YORK and Philadelphia will have a
potent effect in California, and that sub
scriptions to the Lincoln monument to be
erected in Golden Gate PARK will be
literally and speedily forthcoming.