The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-06
NEW MONUMENT.
Memorial to Washington to Be I'm
yelled in Philadelphia.
President, Cabinet and Foreign Legations
to Attend.


Philadelphia, May l-Washington
mon ument. the most costly and most
beautiful in the world, is to be unveiled in
Fairmount Park on May Is. The demon
stration in its honor will be nearly as
great as that upon the occasion of the
unyeiling of the Grant monument and
President Mckinley, his cabinet, the
representatives of foreign rations in
Washington as well as detaohments of
the army and navy will be present.
People are hRy.ng a good deal of fun
with Philadelphia about this monument.
1t is said that il presents proof positive
of Philadelphia slowness. 1t has taken
New York twelve years to erect the
Grant monument hut the movement for
the Philadelpbis Washington monument
had It's inception when Madison was
President, when Jefferson and Adams
wers still to live for sixteen years, when
Geor ge III, was still to live another de-
cade in the restraints of lunaoy, when
Napoleon was in the height of his i'm
perial glory, when five years were yet to
pass before Jackson's victory at New
Orleans. when Clay Ia just entered the
Cnitsd States Senate as youngster in
craftsmanship, when Webster and CAL
houh were unknown, and when Philadel-
phia was not as large by million popu-
lation as she is today, and the population
OF the whole country not greater than
that of the present Pennsylvania.
The movement for the monument was
started in 1916 by the Society of the Gin
cinnati.
+. They began with the purpose of rails
Ing about $4,000 but the war OF 1872,
with its two years of excitement aud
hard times which followed, caused
temporary suspension OF the movement.
More than seventy years ago some Pafla-
delpnians who were disposed to be faster
and less conservative than the Society
of the Cincinnati began to raise COM
pl6ints. When Lafay cite came TO the city
the absence of any monument OF Wash
ington was regarded as d matter OF re-
prOach. In the Outburst OF patriotism at
that time committee of citizens pro-
ceeded to raise new fund. which was
soon forgotten, but which was revived in
1882 when the one hundredth. anniversary
Of Wasbington's birth produced another
revival of patriotic memories. A great
procession twas organized in honor of
this centennial: and i'll the division
given w to trades was car drawn by
seven horses and carrying the cornerstone
which the stoneoutters had prepared for
the Washington monument.
Again the next year there was q great
parade, and the corner stone was laid
in the center of Washington Square,
within sight of the vsnerated Independ-
snce Hall.
Year after year and decade after decade
went by and the soil which was laid over
the corner stone was not disturbed. Now
and then there was some talk of SIDE
sign"
The original fund of 1910 in the GUS
tody of the Cincinnati, had re aimed I'M
disturbed in all these years; the citizens
fund of 1924 and 1882 sswas also substan-
TALLY intact in the care OF Charles
Chaunoey. They had at tho beginning
asked tine Cincinnati to unite th sir fund
with the.Chauncy fund, but the request
was denied. 1t was in 1858 that John
Sartain, together with Joseph r. Inger-
soil Joseph Harrison and Others, entered
into q movement for the consolidation of
the two funds, but they met SO much
opposition that the projectors abandoned
it insdisgust. The Society Of the Cinciu
natl would meet once a year and solemn
ly pass resolutions. At last, about fifteen
years ago, they won't into court and asked
for the Chauncey fund. Alexander
Purvis of the Philadelphia Saving
Society had invested it so carefully that
it amounted to $4,000 On the other
hand, there bad been not less prudent
husbandry of the Cincinnati fund. 1t
Ind swollen to about $3.50, 900. The union
of the funds forms the treasury In which
has been accumulated the money for the
payment of the monument now awaiting
dedication at a cost Of more than S2OG, 900
Now, while the old corner stone is in
itssplaoe, .sthe beautiful structure of to-
day. entirely different from the IDEAS OF
those who originated the scheme eighty
six years ago. adorns the park ready for
the grand unwilling.
Military, naval and civic ceremonies
on grand scale will attend the unveil-
ing. The Society of the Cincinnati, COLE
mittees of the city council, a committee
of leading citizens, officers of the nation-
al guard and representatives of the army
and the navy are all working in har.
mopy. Half of the federal troops in at
tendance at the Grant monument dedi-
cation in New York have gone into camp
in one of the most Epicturesque parts of
Paramount Park. having marched over
from New York after the ceremonies
there. The regular troops in attendance
will include four companies of the
amous Sixth cavalry and their mounted
band from Fort Meyers: four batteries OF
artillery, parading as infantry, and one
full light battery.
The entire division of the PENNSYLVANIA
National Guard is TO he Oh hand. New
Jerseysis to send big contingent of her
crack regiments. Delaware's governor
will head the little band of citizen SOL
diers from that state. New York did not
overexert herself at her own parade. but
will join military forces with the key
stone state and marines from visiting
war ships will try to forget the motion
of the vessels and march without their
sea legs.
The navy department. has ordered the
cruiser Columbia to represent the new
navy. France has ordered the cruiser
Fulton to put onsher best attire honor
of the father Of this country. Tue Brit
ish cruiser Talbot and the crack Spanish
cruiser fnfanta Isabel, fresh from encoan
teri with the Cuban insurgents, will
steam around from New York to Join in
the festivities Grand Army men and
civilians will be out In force and in the
evening 40, 900 wheelpien Will have n
parade all TO themselves.
INVENTOR OF KINEToSCoPE.