The National tribune., 1897-11-11
ETHAN ALLEN.

wrought in plaster in 1929. The arch is
adorned with a sculptured eagle Above the
door leading from the rotunda is marble
clock of very beautiful design and artistic
workmanship, done by an Italian soul ptor,
and by all odds the finest work of art in or
about the National Capitol
The theme of the clock is the Flight of
Time, and represents the Genius of History
standing upon the winged chariot of Progress,
which rolls over the globe belted with the
signs Of the Zodiac. History records the in
cidents of National life as they are overtaken
by Time, and the wheel of her chariot forms
the dial Of the clock.
1t was in this old Hall of the House of
Representatives that the first conflict for Ma
tional unity took place, and the echoing
walls seem vet to resound with the fiery elo-
quence of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster
Lewis Cass and Tom Corwin, John C.. Cal
houn and John Randolph Of Roanoke
Those who have not read the famous Reply
of Webster to Hayne," delivered in the
United States Senate, Jan %, 1880, in which
he refers to his speech in this old Hall of Rep
resentatiyes in 1875, should do so now for
true picture of those exciting scenes in the
formative period in American History. 1t
WAS in closing that speech that Webster de-
iYered this famous utterance:
While the Union lasts. we have high, ex-
citing gratifying prospects spread ont before
Us, for us and our chidr, n. Beyond that
seek not to penetrate the veil God grant
that in my day, ut least, that curtain may not
rise God grant that on my vision never may
be opened what lies behind When my eyes
shall be turned TO behold for the last time the
sun in heaven. may rot see him shining on
the broken and dishonored fragments OF once
glorious Union on States discovered, dis
co:dant, belligeTcnt; on a land rent with
ciS feuds, or drenched it may be, in fraternal
blood
Let their last feeble and lingering glance
rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the Re-
public, low known and hOnored throughout
the earth, still full high advanced, it's arms and
trophies streaming III their original luster, not
stripe erased or polluted, nor a single star
obscured, bearing for its motto no such miser-
able iutcrrogatory aS-What is all this |
worth nor those other words ofdelusion and |
folly-Liberty first, and Union afterwards
but everywhere, spread all over in characters
Of living light, blazing on all its ample folds,
as they float over the sea and over the land
and in every wind under the whole heavens
that other sentiment, dear to every true Amer
lean heart-Iiberty and Union, now and for
ever, one and inseparable. :"
1t is in this old House of Congress that ex-
President John Quincy Adams, the first man
in the United States Congress who, in con-
f0rmance with the teachings of great mother,
insisted that women had some rights which
National legislators were bound to protect
including the right to petition and the
petitions have rolled in from that day to this,
generally to be pigeon-holed in the files of
Congressional committee.
And here, Jan. 81, 1S48, he was stricken
with paralysis which resulted in his death
two days later Those who look about them
may find star set in the floor to show where
his desk stood.
1t is something more than 80 years since
Congress authorized a Statuary Hall and
called upon each State to send in two or
more statues of her most illustriois sons
Eleven States have since responded which
makes over 20 statues, in addition to those
owned by the National Government, which
include Hubbard's plaster copy of Ioudon's
famous statue of Washington. modelled at
Mount Vernon from life in 1875; u statue of
Abraham Lincoln by Winnie Ream Hoxie,
the first American woman to attain to fame
in sculpture, for which Congress paid So, GOO
in 1870; also, two marble statues by Stone,
the American sculptor, one of Alexander
Hamilton and the other OF Col Edward d.
Baker, who gave up his seat as Senator from
Oregon TO enter the Union service, and was
killed at Balls Bluff in 1861.
There is also bronze statue of Thomas
Jefferson by French sculptor, which has
peculiar history. 1t was presented to Con-
gress, but they declined to receive it. Then
two naturalzed citizens Jimmie Maher the
public gardener, and John FOy, who kept
restaurant in the basement of the Capitol,
took charge of the statue and placed it on
pedestal in front of the White House, and
there it stood until Congress finally decided
to take it in out of the cold. There are, also,
busts of Abraham Lincoln. Kosciusko, our
Hungarian ally, and Pulaski, or Polish ally
in the Revolution; also, of Thomas Crawford,
the sculptor, and Senator John j. Crttenden,
author of the Crittenden Comnromise of thu