The times., 1897-09-26

Talk about the making of school histories
that VIII tell the TRUTH The cherry-tree-
and-hatchet story about George Washing
ton has been doubted by incredulous peo-
pie, but historians have collected verify
ing proofs which seem TO dispel the doubts
OF all except the skeptics who If con
vinced against his WIN is of the same opin
ion still"
The cherry-tree episode 10 the career OF
the father Of his country was an occur
renee Of about $50 years ago. The an
tiqmty of the story and the somewhat
meager hearsay evidence on the subject
are matters which are seized upon as
basis for the doubts of the skeptics.
What, though, is to be thought OF the
historian %, in this period OF accurate and
voluminous records, who, In treating OF
events OF national Importance which oc-
Cured only twenty-one years ago, com
pletely peryerts and misrepresents facts,
and goes out of his way to describe merely
imaginary incidents connected with the
completion OF the monument TO George
Washington at the National Capital?
a modern maker OF history describes
some Of the vicisStUdes through which
the old Washington Monument Society
passed, and the humiiating spectacle OF
an unfinished, crumbIing shaft intended
TO be az enduring monument To the mem-
ory OF Washington.
Then he tells us that the militia OF
the District of Columbia are entitled 10
the credit of having the Washington Mon
ument completed; that on the morning Of
the 22d of February, 1876 (Washington's 5
Birthday, in the Centennial year, soon
after Congress had been to Philadelphia
and dedicated the grounds of the Cen
tenntal Exposition, as Senators and Rep
| resentatives Were On their way to the
Capitol Congress being then in session
they We're impressed by the enthusiasm
caused by the militia parade.
One Of the distinguished members OF
the House OF Representatives, Sunset"
Cox, OF New York. himself en- thused by this
patFiOtic demonstration on Washingtons
natal day. decided to inaugurate at that
suspicious moment q movement looking
toward completing he Washington Monu-
menti'' that, thus inspired, Mr. Cox I'm
mediately drafted a resolution directing
that the work on the monument should be
resumed, and making the necessary sp-
prOpriation for securing better founda
uonr" that in less than half an hour this
resolution was passed.
The Senate soon cuncurred, and the
work began very shortly and, finally, that
1T was the Washington birthday parade
or the District militia that did the bust
ness, and Mr. Cox told several among
them' myself included, that he had no
thought Of tie monument until he had
seen the parade and was enthused by Us
influence"
That story may sound well, but in all
OF its salient parts it lacks one very essen
tial element truth. Aside from the prot
able fact that there may have been a pa
rade ty the District militia which ''en-
thused' Representative Cox, there is no
foundation Of truth n the story.
Sunset Cox did not vent his enthusia SIN
In the House OF Representatives on the
22d OF February, in the Centennial wear,
In resolution Of the kind before men
toned; no such resolution was passed at
all on that day by the House Of Repre-
sentatives, nor concurred in by the Senate,
nor was it the Washington birthday
parade Of the District militia that did
the business
Furthermore, 1t is not likely that Mr..
Cox even accidentally made to this modern
historian the Incorrect statement attributed
70 him. as quoted above. Undoubtedly, If
any OF these alleged noteworthy perform
ances had occurred, with Sunset" Cox
as principal actor, Mr. Cox would have
mentioned them IN his Three Decades OF
Federal Legislation" but 10 word about
them appears in that book, nor is there any
mention of them in the official reports Of
Congressional proceedings as published in
the Congressional Record.
Neither House OF Congress was In ses-
sion cn Tuesday, February %, 1876. Both
houses lad adjourned from Monday, the
21st, to Wednesday, the ed OF February,
in compliance with resolution intro
duced by representative Thomas j. Cason,
Of Indiana. not TO complete the Washing
ton Monument, but concurrent resoIu-
ton, a follows;
Be it resolved, the Senate concurrfng,
That for the promotion of national feeling
throughout the Union on the occasion OF
the centennial year of ofourindepen dence, and
believing this to be the proper time for
the expression Of our appreciation of the