Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

pllclty. On the front 1t bears the insignia
OF the Grand Army and the insignia Of the
union. with these words:
Designed and presented by the Stone
Cutters Union Of Washington. d. c., as the
corner stone Of the Memorial bridge. which
In connecting the nations capital with Ar
lington shall ever stand as a monument to
American patriotism. Dedicated the 9th
day Of October. 1902. during the thirty-sixth
national encampment of the Grand Army Of
the Republic"
James F. Early designed the carving on
the stone and David w. Sage executed the
ornamental work. Those who volunteered
from time to time are: Al Thorp. ]. J.
Sweeney. jr., Frederick C. Connor. John
Louxman, Edward Casey, Charles Tobin,
william Burns, James F. McHugh. Ed.
John A. Kelly. Ed Sweeney. John Hinbach,
E: Louxman, tr.. ]. Common. jr, William
Gibbs, D. w. Sage and s. Kline.
The officers Of the Stone Cutters Union
president; Edward Casey, vice president:
Frederick c. Connor, financial secretary;
John A. Kelly. corresponding secretary;
William Gibbs, treasurer; John Carroll,
tyler.
The national headquarters of the Journey
men Stone Cutters Association of North
America are located at 500 9Th street north
west, and its general officers are scat
tered throughout the United States and
canada in the following cities: William j.
clifford president, Cincinnati, Ohio; John
L. sullivan vice president. Memphis. Tenn;
James F. McHugh, general secretary-treas-
urer. OF this city. Members of the execu-
tive board: L. H. Fitzgerald, Denver, Col;
John Mortimer. Lincoln. Neb.; D. F. Finn.
Kansas City, Mo-; James A. Gowen, Bar
stow. Tex; M, ]. Mutually Cleveland Ohio;
John F. Duncan of this city; Alexander
Bruce. Toronto, Canada.
"The Arch of the Union"
1t is interesting in connection with the
dedication of tha
afternoon that the first suggestion Of a me-
mortal bridge was made by the late Mai
r. H. Sylvester, father of Mai Richard
sylvester, the present superintendent Of
police. Maj r. H. Sylvester was for years
a local newspaper editor. 1t was in 1885
that he wrote an editorial in a local
paper fnaugurating the memorial bridge
project. 1t was the occasion of the
burial OF General Grant and the cap
ton Of the article was THE Arch of the
Union The editorial was a mastery ap-
peal for the bridge and has been quoted
often since its first appearance Major
Sylvester called attention to the fact that
1t was time for a departure from the ordi-
nary tributes to the dead ARG in the course
OF his writing said:
"In this instance there IN IHlhanded a d.
parture from remote a"l4iUties and we'll
worn precedents and memorial to be de-
striking personality of General Grant but
the eventful history he made.
AN arch OF triumph has been suggested
but there is trace Of old world imperialism
IN this which free America can do better
than appropriate. 1t also involves an ele-
ment OF incongruity, for the structure we
rear is to face the future rather than the
past; to typify results rather than antece-
dents; to celebrate the fruitions of peace
rather than the passions Of war-and least
OF all to magnify the prowess of one part
OF the country at the humiliating expense
of another.
THE idea of an ARCH however possesses
much patriotic as well as poetical signif-
canoe. Why then should not the bridge
which Is shortly to span the waters of the
Fotomac. and for which Congress has al
Teauy MADE a preliminary appropriat ion be
bui!t as the Grant Memorial bridge, uniting
by bonds of masonry, enduring as time it.
sell. the sections between which, so recently
that 1T seems but yesterday this noble river
flowed like an impla cable line of separa-
ton?
What more appropriate remembrance of
the commander who led the armies of the
Union to the gates of Richmond and of a
struggle which in It's elimination cemented
the brotherhood Of states anew than this
hnal bridging Of the bloody chasm' so long
Kept open by artificial resentments and DO
litfcal devices?
What grander tribute to the memory Of
him whose love Of country knew no limita-
lions. who sheathed his sword when Lee
surrendered. who charitably appreciated
the sore discontinue of the south and
whose magnanimity was always superior to
the petty partisanship of the times,
Arlington and Washington would thus
become close landmarks. welcoming the nil
gr1ms of liberty to their historic shrines
Not only this, but the capital of the repub-
lie and the late capital of the southern con-
1ederacy would be brought face to face
upon common hishway-from south to
north-from north to south-animated nv
one nope and looking forward to one lam
bent vista of peace. prosperity and power.
:Ihe arched and illustrated entrance to
TINS heroic pile would commemorate no ar
mics marching and countermarching no
shock OF embattled hosts, no vengeful ami
mosities but simply the supremacy of the
Union as Vindicated by Grant and today as
dear to the shattered legons that laid down
their arms at Appomattox as it was to the
great captain who accepted their paroles"