The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-06
No Dewey Arch.

The movement TO erect a Dewey arch
in New York has been abandoned. 1t
had been proposed to replace the tempo
rary arch with one of marble, which
should stand a tribute to Admiral Dewey
and the United States navy. It is now a
year since II was determined by the New
York committee to undertake the work
Of raising funds. The funds have not been
Forthcoming. and the plan is now aban-
doned because of lack of interest.
There are several reasons why the arch
project has had to be abandoned. In
the first place. there is not now
and never has been much real
public spirit in the city of New York. At
times there may be a show OF patriotic
fervor, but 1t is heeting and unsubstan-
tial. This was well shown when 1t was
proposed to bury Gen Grant on the
banks OF the Hudson. The people Of the
country believed that New York was the
least appropriate resting place for the
famous warrior. He had met only with
misfortune while living there, and his
Identification with the city was during
some of the most troubled years of his
life.
But the citizens of New York were per-
sistent, and to show that they appreciated
the honor of guarding the remains of the
great Union general. promised a million
dollar monument which should mark the
grave. Subscriptions were called for.
but outside OF few millionaires who
had been Grants personal friends. there
were only meager contributions. The mon
ument fund did not grow because New
York would give nothing. And II is
doubtful II there would be anything more
than temporary tomb on Riverside drive
today had itenot been for the fact that
the people of the country were willing to
do what New York failed to do because Of
a lack of public spirit. The people of the
country declared that the grave Of the
dead hero should not be marked by a
cheap structure OF common brick and they
raised a large part OF the sum necessary
for the erection of the present splendid
tomb.
The story of the Dewey arch IS only
repetition of the Grant monument
iasco. Eiated over the success of the
Dewey naval reception, New York could
plan and promise everything that was
elaborate and expensive; but when II
came to paying for It, II was almost a
certainty that the project would fail be-
cause OF a lack of public support In the
city. The celebration over. peoples at
and to revive interest in patriotic
movement like building an arch in honor
OF the navy would be an impossible task
IN a city like New York.
II Is only fair to admit, however. tina,
what might have been successfully per-
formed year ago by calling on the name
Of Dewey could now be done only with
difficulty. The wave Of Dewey enthusi-
asm seems TO have passed and broken.
A few small private and personal incl
dents dampened the public ardor. The
admlrars unfortunate yielding to the adj
vice Of fool friends In connection with
the presidency shattered the idol OF many
a man. and II Is doubtful II the hero OF
Manils bay ever stands quite so high In
public esteem as he did on the day when
ne entered New York harbor 20 be greet
ed by thousands Of his fellow country
men. He VIII stin be regarded as a su-
perb officer a splendid gentleman and
perhaps the most distinguished figure In
the Spanish American war but It Is doubt
full Il any more arches will be erected in
his honor. either in New York or any
where else.