The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-16

|
time In his career did his personality seem
IN the least intrusive lie was above the
temptation Of power. lie spurnod the
suggested crown. Ho would have no hon.
OF which the people did not bcstow.
HIS LOVE OF THE PEOPLE.
An interesting fact-and one which l
ioVe 10 recalls that the only time Wash
ingtor formally addressed the Constltu-
NoIM convention during all Its sessions
over which he presided In this city. he
appealed for a larger representation OF
the people in the National House Of Rep
rcscniatives. and his appeal was Instantly
| needed. Thus was he ever kecnly watch
iul OF the rights OF the people In whose
nands was the destiny OF our Govern
ment then and now
Masterful as were his military CAM
paigns. his civil administration commands
equal admiration. Ills foresight was mar
| velous; his conception Of the philosophy
/ Of government, lis insistence upon the
/ necessity Of education. morality. AMI en-
! hghtened citizenship 20 the progress and
permancnce Of the Republic cannot be
contemplated even at this period without
filling us with astonishment at the
breadth OF his comprehension and the
sweep OF HIS vision.
EROAD-MINDED.
| His was no narrow view Of government.
The Immediate present was not his sole
| concern, but our future good his constant
/ theme of study lie blaZcd the path on
| liberty. lie laid the foundation upon
| which we have grown from weak and
! scattered Colonial governments TO q unit
| ed Republic whose domains and power as
| well as whose liberty and freedom nave
/ become the admiration Of tie world. Dis
| tance and time have not detracted from
the fame and force Of his achievements or
! diminished the grandeur or his lie and
| work Great deeds 90 not STOP ln ther
/ growth, and those OF Washington VIII eN-
! pend In influence in all the centuries TO
! follow.
The bequest Washington has made 70
| civilization is rich beyond computation.
| The obligations under which he has plac-
| cd mankind are sacred and commanding.
| The responsibility he has left for the
| American people TO preserve and per
| feet what he accomplished. Is eXactng
| and solemn. Let us rejoice In every new
| evidence that the people realize what they
| enjoy and cherish with affection the IL
| lustriOus heroes OF Revolutionary story
whose valor and sacrifices made us a
| nation They live in us, ana their MEM
ory will help us keep the covenant enter
| ed into for the maintenance OF the freeSt
! Government Of earth.
The Nation and the name OF Washing
/ ton are insepaTable. one IS linked indis-
| solubly with the other Both are glorl-
! Gus. both triumphant Washington hves
! and viii live because what he did was ior
| the oXaltation OF man the enthronein,enSS ~
| of conscience. and the establishment OF
/ q Government which recognizes al inc
governed. And So too Will the natloh
| live victorious over all obstacles, adherins
ington taught and Lincoln sustalneG'
THE MONUMENTS HISTORY.
The magnificent memorial dedicated to-
day with such pOmp and pageantry has
! a history almost as full Of interest and
moving accidents as that Of the hero
whose prowess 1t commentaries.
on the Fourth of July, ISL, more than
eigrty-hve years ago. the Society Of the
/ Cincinnati which still had among it's
| members officers who had fought i'm tine
! Revolution met i'm Independence Han and
! adopted resolution 70 erect 81 monu-
! meut 20 the memory of George Washing
! ton The Society had not then acquired
| its peculiar distinction as an organiZa-
/ tion Of patriots Of opulence and leisure
| dedicated 10 the worship Of their ances-
! try. They were not unlike the leSi0ns
/ which have grown out Of the Civil war.
/ and Washington was as near TO them as
/ Grant is TO the veterans ORGANIZATIONS
| of the present day. A word about lts iOf-
] nation by the band Of warriors who led
/ our hosts TO victory and something or
/ fits history viii be said presently Al thls
| meeting "a con- mittee was appointed, maze
l up of Major D. LenoX. judge X feters'
/ sccndant Of mick" Biddle the doughty
! Commodore Of the Revolution, ana HOT
ace Binncy. Tkey appealed for FUNDS no
] the people of Pennsylvania. and S-nJJ
/ came In. From this small beginning the
! fund has grown TO S2s0.O00. although the
/ original purpose was TO raise only Sl10WJ'
WORK SUSPENDED.
The war of 1872, with its two years OF
| excitement and the consequent nara
/ times, caused a suspension OF the move
| mcnt. 10 remained in allowance for
/ number of years. Finally In le33, the one
| hundredth anniversary OF washington
! birth produced another revival OF patriot
! ic memories. and committee or citize rs
/ started "a new fund for the monument.
/ I'm honor of this centennial there was a
/ great procession and in the division given
up TO trades was car drawn boy seven
| horses and carrying the cornerstone
which had been prepared for the monu-
/ mont. Again the next year theie was 81
| great parade and the stone was lald lA
I the centre of Washington square WlluI
/ sirht of the Veucrated Independence Han.
Meantime the original iund I'D ihe GUS
fodv of the Cincinnati had renamed un-
| disturbed and the citizens tund was
also substantially intact. ONerlures Were
reDcatcdlv made for consolidation OF tHe
| TWO funds but the sturdy Conservatism OF
the Cincinnatiaus defeated them untll
| about fifteen years ago, Wheh the mat
ter was carried TO the courts win sue
ccssful issue. During the interval OF Q4l-
eeccnce both funds had WaNed idtlei- tne
| citizens TO $4,000 and the Cincinnati 10
| YgO0O0. The union formed treasury
which continued TO accumulate up 20 the
grand achievement to-day OF the purpose
| of our forcfathcrs.
| DESCRIPTION or THE MONUMENT.
The monument. which IS the design OF
/ Prof ssor Rudolph Siemerng, a cele9rat-
/ ed sculptor of Berlin. ls about 10 feet hish.
/ From am oblong PLATFORM. reacncd ON louf
sides by thirteen steps, symbollcdl Of the
/ thirteen original States, rises pedestal
| bearing am equestrian statue i'm bronze of
General Washington. The Father of Ills
/ Country is represented I'm the colonial
/ uniform of the American army, "a large
| military cloak being thrown around his
/ commanding figure. AT the four corners
/ of the platform ere fountains. served hy
/ alielorical figures of American Indians,
| representing four rivers the Delaware.
/ Hudson Potomac and Mississippi. on
| the sides each of these fountains is
Guarded by typical American animals.
| eieht in an AT the front and back of
! me pedestal are two allesorical groups,
me former representing America seated,
] holding iu one hand "a COruucopid; in the
other "a trident. and having az her feet
CHAINS inst cast or. She is in the act Of
| receivinr from her victorious sons the
! trophies OF their conquest. Below this
croup is an eagle supporting the arms
OF the United States.
The group in the back represents Ameri-
en- arousing her sons 70 q sense or their
slavery Below are the arms OF fehnsyl-
vania. on the sides Of the pedestal are
fvo has-rcNefs one representing the
march of the American army. the othel a
vyesfern-bound omigrant train ON one
eide tbe pedestal bears the inscription:
/ "Sic Sempcr Tyrannis. ana Per Aspcla
an Aetra." ON the other. NCslWard thc
! star of Empire Takes IT'S Way. sur
rounding the upper portion OF ihe pedes-
- d, tfo iorrn1. Erected hy the state