The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-22
Description of the Monument.

lHc IlOuuIltLl, WHICH Is LIE uCSlBn u IIOi
Rudolph Siemering, a celebrated sculptor OF
Berlin, is about 40 feet high. From an oblong
platform, reached IN four sides by Is steps,
symbolical of the ID original states, rises q
pedestal bearing an equestrian statue in
bronze of Gen. Washington. Tit Father of
His Country is represented in the colonial uni
form Of the American army, a large military
cloak being thrown around his commanding
figure. At the four corners of the platform
are fountains, served by allegorical fig
ures of American Indians. representing four
rivers, the Delaware, Hudson, Potomac and
Mississippi. On the sides, each OF these foun-
tains is guarded by typical American animals,
eight in all. At the front and back OF thp ed
eStal are two allegorical groups, the former
representing America seated, holding uin one
hand a cOrnucopia; in the other a trident, and
having at her feet chains just cast of. She is
in the act of receiving from her victorious sons
the trophies OF their conquest. Below this
group is an eagle supporting the arms Of the
United States.
The group in the back represents America
arouSing her sons to a sense of their duty. Be-
low are the arms of Pennsylvania On the
sides of the pedestal are two bas-reliefs, one
representing the march of the American army,
the other q weSt-bound emigrant train. On one
side the pedestal bears the inscription: 'Sic
Semper Tyrannis, and per Aspera ad Astra,"
on the other; Westward the Star of Empire
Takes its Way" Surrounding the upper por-
ton Of the pedestal is the legend: Erected by
the State Society of the Cincinnati OF Penn
sylvania-"
History of the Society of the Cincinnati.
The Society of the Cincinnati forms an inter-
esting historic link connecting our times with
the revolution. Later wars have produced 9TH
er societies which are composed Of actual par
Elephants in the events which they commence
rate; whereas the Cinninnati, conceived by
Washington's fellows in the field, now includes
only their descendants. 1t was founded on May
Is, 1873, at a meeting of the officers Of the con-
tinental army, at the Verplanck residence on
the east shore of the Hudson river, about a mile
above FiShkill, n. Y. Each regiment and stan
corps sent its representative, and Inspector
General Steuben presided. The constitution, OF
rather institution, as the phrase still continues,
recountS the happy close Of the war for indie.
pendence after q bloody conflict OF eight
years." and then recites as the purpose Of the
society:
ITO perpetuate, as well the remembrance Of
this vast event as the neutral friendships
which have been formed under the pressure OF
common danger, and in many instances &C.
mented by the blood Of the parties, the officers
Of the American army do hereby, in the most
solemn manner, associate, constitute and COM
bine themselves into one society Of friends, tc
endure as long as they shall endure, or any Of
their eldest male poSterity, and in failure there
Of the collateral branches who may be judged
worthy Of becoming its supporters and mem
berS.
The officers of the American army. having
generally been taken from the citizens OF Amer
lea, possess high generation for the character
of that illustrious Roman, Lucius Quintius Gin.
cinnatus, and, being resolved to follow his ex-
ample by returning to their citizenship, they
think they may with propriety denominate
themselves the Society of the Cincinnati"
The first officers were Gen. Washington
president-general; Gen. Gates, vice-president-
general; Gen. Knox, secretary-general; Gen
Williams, assistant encouragement, and Gen
MacDougal, treaSurer-generaL OF course, the
names Of members included many distinguished
revolutionary officers, such as Greene, Sullivan.
Lincoln, Smallwood, Steuben, MouItrie, Schuy-
Ter. Clinton, Wayne, Hamilton, Burr, Morgan
and so on.
1t is an interesting fact that at the outset the
aid OF France was acknowledged not only By
constituting a branch OF the society there, but
by electing as members Counts De Astaing, d.
Grasse and Rochambeau, with other officers
who had served in the French cooperative
forces in a rank not under that OF colonel. OF
of commanding officer in the French fleets.
The French society was organized with
the consent OF the king, and Count De
6SJallB SenL 10 Otu. hdSnluEJOn Us Il pIL 1rOH
the French naval officers the eagle of the order
set in diamonds, with a blue ribbon, edged with
white, to typify the alliance between France
and America. This has been worn by each sue
ceeding president-general of the society. Thus
unusual significance is attached to the presence
at dedicatory ceremonies of the French am.
bassador, Patrenotre, and the French cruiser
Fulton.
Monroe was an original member and Presi.
dent Pierce an hereditary member of the Socie.
ty. Washington, the first president Of the So
ciety, was succeeded in the office by Hamilton;
he in turn by the two Pinckneys, Of South Caro-
lima, while Ogden, Lewis, Popham, Dearborn
and. in 1854. Hamilton Fish succeeded.
President-Genera Wayne, elected last year
is q direct descendant of Mad Anthony. The
vice-president general is Winslow Warren, OF
Massachusetts,; the secretary general is Asa
Bird, q retired army officer, and his assistant Is
Nicholas Fish, while the treasurer and assist
ant treasurer are R. M. McSherry and Il. T
Droune.