Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18
F atriotic Meeting to Further a Ma
tional Offering to France.
TO Be HELD TOMORROW EVENING
Plans to Dedicate the Monument
During Paris Exposition.
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT

monument to Lafayette in Paris on July
I, 1900 and to take action to aid in swell
ing the funds already being raised for the
monument, gives every promise of being
largely attended and successful to the most
satisfactory degree. The committee which
has charge announces that an enthusiastic
outpouring of prominent men is assured
Among those to be present will be Ad-
miral Schey, General Joseph Wheeler,
General Thomas Vincent, Major Goodloe,
president of the Sons of the Revolution
DR.. E. NJ. Gallaudet, president of the Sons
of the American Revolution, as well as the
officers of both organizations; w. w.
Marsh. president of the District of Column
bia Maytiower Society; w. w. Bailey, for
mer president of the Vermont Society of
the Sons of the American Revolution; Sur
geon General Wyman, Assistant Secretary
Cridler of the State Department, members
of the various patriotic colonial societies
of the District. members of Congress and
others. Rev. DR.. Stafford will pronounce
the Invocation
Sections of the house have been assigned
to the different chapters of the Daughters
of the American Revolution The boxes on
the left of the stage have been assigned
to Mrs. Daniel Manning and the board of
management of the Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution. Thus every organization
have its most distinguished members pres
ent. These will insure the carrying out of
whatever plans are decided upon.
The addresses will be by eminent men of
the country.
The aid of the District of Columbia is
desired by the officials of the Lafayette
Monument Association. Several months ago
the school children of the District con-
tributed several hundred dollars to the fund
to build the monument, and their efforts
were pleasantly acknowledged by Mr.. Chas.
q. Dawes, the treasurer of the fund.
The Lafayette Monument.
feature of the worlds exposition at
Paris of international interest will be the
unwilling and dedication of the monument
TO General Lafayette. The project of erect
ing this monument has the approval of the
United States commissioner general, F. w
Peck, and has been Endorsed by resolution
of the United States Senate, the committee
on foreign relations of the House of Repre-
sentatives and by the President of the
United States and members of the cabinet
The idea of defeating a monument to
General Lafayette in Paris had its origin
in the mind of RObt. j. Thompson Of Chi
cago, who suggested to the liberty-loving
people of America the raising of fund
for the building of a memorial to mark the
grave of that distinguished Frenchman
whose name and fame are inseparabiy link
ed with the struggle for American indie
pendence.
In the city of Paris there is a convent
and garden known through the immortal
Hugo's Les Miserables." 1t is the con-
vent of the Petit Picpus. In the grounds
of this convent is q small cemetery where
nearly 800 victims of the guillotine were
buried Unfortunately. Here also repose
the bones of Lafayette beside those of his
wife. who wished to be buried there The
resting place Of Lafayette, generally un-
known and forgotten. is marked only oy
plain granite slab. Upon Il register kept by
the concierge of the convent there are in
scribed the names of but small number of
casual visitors.
Commission Formed.
In view of these facts, the Lafayette
Memorial Commission has been formed for
the purpose of erecting a monument to the
memory of Lafayette as g. twentieth CEN
tury tribute from the people of this nation
to be unveiled with fitting ceremony July
t. 1900, thus gTandIy celebrating United
States day at the Paris exposition. The
members of the commission are VIM. K
Day, VIM. r. Allison, Rev. Edward Everett
Hale, DR.. W. T. Harris. commissioner of
education. Archbishop Ireland John w
M&ckay. Melville f. Stone general man
aser Associated Press; Frank Thomson
president Pennsylvania railroad, and Chas
a. Collier. mayor of Atlanta. It's officers
are r. W i'eck, honorary president. AL
eXander II. Revcll, vice president: ChaS G.
Dawes. controller of currency treasurer
and Robert ]. Thompson of Chicago. Sec
rotary.
1t was the original intention of Mr.
Thompson, who is he guiding spirit in all
matters relating to the monument enter
prise, that funds for the purpose should
be raised exclusively by the school children
of the United States, and accordingly with
z view to promoting patriotism and i'm
planting in the minds of the young genera
tcn. from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a
broader knowledge of their country's his
tory at Mr. Fhompson's suggestion the
school officials throughout the land set
apart and observed October 10 1895 as
Lafayette day" The children very gener-
ously contributed their pennies in memory
OF the nations defender. and to this day
funds are being received by the treasurer
from schools in all sections of the country.
While iargr sum will be realized from
these sources, ii will, in the expectation of
MI Thompson. hardly amount to sufficient
10 cover all the expenses of the erection
dedication and unwilling of the monument
Action OF Patriotic Bodies.
a few days ago it was brought 10 the
attention of the District of Columbia So
cieties of the Sons of the Revolution and
the Sons of the American Revolution that
contributions would be received from other
sources and the joint committee of the So
cieties, composed of Admiral Jas A Greer
General Jos. c. Breckenridge John b.
Wight. William II. Pearce, Colonel Henry
May, F. W. Hackett John Paul Earnest,
Captain Chas. l.. McCawley, Lloyd b.
Wight. w. +. Curtis, Surgeon General Wal
ter Nyman. Cazenove G.. Lee, T. A Sample,
G. l.. GUrley, Francis E. Leupp j. William
Henry and Chas. S. Fainter, promptly met
and passed resolutions pledging their APP
prevail TO any course that would aid so
patriotic project. The secretary was di-
rected to invite the president of the board
of trade to appoint committee of five to
consult with them as to the best means to
be devised for the holding of public meet
ing, with a view to raising funds and
awakening the interest of the citizens of
the District in and enlisting their support
of plan which 1t was held was national
in character. The meeting in Washington
WILL in the opinion of its projectors, be
but the precursor of other and similar
demonstrations that will be held in other
large cities.
We Have Direct Control
OF money to loan on D. C. real estate at a.
, and DE per cent. Small cost. No DELAY,