The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-18
FOUNTAIN
Presentation
to Drop.
BRITISH CITIZENS
VIII Probably Abandon the
Idea of Gift.

The members of the British-Ameri-
can Jubilee Memorial Association are
expressing themselves in a conserva-
tive manner in regard to the turning
down which their gift received Wednes-
day evening at city hall, and one of
their number expresses himself in
strong terms, saying that the incident
is an illustration of the way in which
Americans allow themselves to be
overriden.
The disposition of the money which
the association has secured for the
proposed fountain, will be decided at
the meeting to be held next week,
when the association will consider the
matter of turning the fund of about
$4,000 which they now have, TO other
ends.
Rev. G. w. Kent, pastor of the South
Unitarian Church, who has encouraged
the movement for the presentation of
the fountain and who knows fully the
ms and outs of the movement, spoke in
the following feeling terms to a Spy
man last night: Said Rev. Mr.. Kent:
I'm afraid it affords an illustration
fortunately quite a harmless one in this
instance, of the way in which Amer
leans allow themselves to be over
ridden, and the things they believe just
and decent to be overthrown by a GER
tain class. 1t is not of course, in this
case, surrender to the rule of a Tam
many Hall, or a Croker. The damage
done is very slight. But the principle
is strikingly similar. Had but one or
two of our prominent and respected
American citizens taken the trouble to
express themselves publicly as they de-
clared themselves to me privately, the
opposition would perhaps have been
shamed into silence. Or if that were
too much to consider possible, such a
protest would at least have stiffened
the resolution of our city fathers, and
they would not have allowed an oppo-
sition so manifestly Vengeful and using
arguments so palpably appealing, to
antipathies which ought to be dead and
buried. to have dictated their action in
the matter We who believe in closer
bonds of fellowship between the ma
tions, who would as gladly see France
and Germany and Italy brought into
friendlier touch with our country as
to see England shown courtesy and
made bit more near to us, must wait,
L suppose, until our American patriot
ism becomes more thoroughly sure of
itself. Then 1t will not be moved by
fear of ghosts-like that of monarchy,
and will not hesitate to honor even a
king or queen who has been a good
one.
Our beautiful old common would have
been the fairer and pleasanter for the
work of art and the means of refresh
ment our fellow-citizens volunteered to
place there, and had it been suffered to
remain uninjured would very soon have
become, for good will and not hatred is
going to be the spirit between Great
Britain and the United States, a source
of pride to Worcester. 1t would stand.
a memorial, not alone of a woman's
sixty years of faithful service to her
country but of Worcesters noble
readiness to be among the first to let
the dead past bury its dead, and strike
hands across the sea for the new era of
peace and friendllness.
III the opportunity is thrown away no
one will regret it more than /. but no
one will go to work more earnestly 10
cultivate that spirit between nation
and nation that shall by and by make
such mistake impossible.
Matthew ]. Whittall, chairman of the
presentation committee, said that he
was not surprised at the outcome of
the affair, as he thought that the mat
ter would be dropped at the meeting
of the committee. This he said was his
supposition in the case Mr.. Whittall
said further:
we have not had a meeting yet. but
presume that / shall hear from Mr..
Armitage in a few days as to the time
of such meeting. My personal opinion
is that the impression as to the mean
ing of the gift was wrongly interpreted,
IN the first place, by those who have
opposed the location of the memorial
as desired. / do not myself, nor does
any member of the committee, wish
any unpleasant feelings in regard to
the matter whatever We are here and
must work together for the best gem
eral interest of the city. OF course, I
do not like the idea of making a pre-
sent, and then having to go down on
our knees and beg to have it received.
am not to blame, neither are my fell
w-countrymen to blame, for what
their ancestors have done. Others have
their faults as well as those who pre-
scented the fountain and the people they
represent"
David Armitage, the chairman Of the
jubilee association, who fostered the
movement from the start and who has
lent it the aid of his time and individ-
ual effort, said:
1.-THE action of the joint committee of
the city council last evening viii prob
ably prevent any further steps being
taken to push the project of the erec-
ton of a memorial fountain in any
other public location. The members of
the British Jubilee Memorial Assooia-
ton and the subscribers to the funds
will have an opportunity of deciding
what action will be taken after the
memorial committee have made their
report to the association.
1.-THE refusal to recommend the To-
cation on the common, coupled with
ignoring the location as designed by
Peabody & Stearns, leaves no room for
doubt of the strength of the opposition
to the wishes of the donors, and the
latter are not likely to invite further
of a project which was con-
ceived in a spirit of amity and intend
ed to commemorate a historic event"
Alfred Thomas, also a prominent
member of the association, stated that
he supposed the majority had done
what is wished, and the majority ruled.
Personally, he had no feelings against
the majority Of the council committee;
or, in fact, any of them, or the party
they represent. The memorial was
given in a spirit of good feeling, and
all there was to 1t it had not been re-
ceived with the same feelings by the
opposition. I'VE shall know nothing
he added, "as to what will be done I'M
til we have a committee meeting"
DIR. John @. Berry expressed himself
positively in the matter. He considered
the action of the committees of the
city council a direct reflection on the
fair name of the city DR.. Berry de-
clared that a public meeting should
be held at once and resolutions adopted
the course taken by the
He also suggested that the