Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-26
STATUES IN PARKS
ONE SHOULD BE ERECTED TO
JOHN PAUL JONES.
Jefferson, Monroe and the Fathers Of
the Republic Also Deserve
Recognition.

Il
complexion of Congress will be indefinitely
postponed" remarked a Washington artist
to a Star reporter this morning. for a
minor reason local to the capital, but one
which. while small in itself, is nevertheless
of importance when the adornment OF the
city is considered. 1 also wish to make a
suggestion through The Star, which 1 hope
will eventually be adopted.
I'm riding around the city recently, and
noting the different statues erected to our
military and naval heroes, l was struck
with the number and prominence given to
those who took part in the civil war. and
the absence of any statuesque representa-
lions of men who were prominent in the
wars of 1872, 1916 and other conflicts, ex-
cept in the instance of the statues OF WASH
ipgton and Jackson.
There is at present before Congress bill
authorizing a suitable appropriation for q
statue to John Paul Jones, and l am sur
prised that the memory of this remarkable
man should have been SO long uncommemo-
rated by country which owes so much to
his fearlessness and intrepidity as sea
fighter.
Such neglect, however, is in keeping with
the uniting reward given Jones at the
time, and, in view of the unhappy later
years of his life, is a sad commentary upon
his brilliant career as a United States
naval officer, well as a powerful illus
tration of the old proverb regarding the
ingratitude of republics. 1t is questionable
whether there would have been republic
today but for the succession of magnificent
victories achieved by this naval hero over
the British.
A Statue for President Monroe.
washington is the logical location for
statue to Paul Jones. Born abroad, the
capital Of the country he adopted as his
own, and which he so largely contributed to
preserve, should be the place where his
illustrious name and brilliant deeds should
be commemorated in bronze. Eut demo-
cratic Congresses have an unpleasant repu-
tation for using the pruning knife all
around With a republican House this
statue is reasonably assured. but with a
democratic House poStponement is almost
equally certain.
While generals In the civil war are
memorialized by statues In prominent
places in our parks and circles, one looks in
vain for memodials of men who helped TO
make the republic possible. 1t is quite ex-
traordinary that there is no statue in our
public places to Thomas Jefferson the au-
thor of the Declaration of independence,
one of the greatest men of his time and or
contemporary history. The statue OF
Franklin is the gift of a private citizen.
But for the financial aid given the strug-
Cling thirteen states by Robert Morris OF
New York they might have succumbed 70
the stress of overpower'ng adverse circum-
stances. And thus may parallel instances
be drawn ad infinitum-
THE President has had much to say on
his recent tours anent the Monroe doctrine,
and his speeches have welded tight The
chain which binds that doctrine ;ncisSoiu-
bly, with the soldity and the future OF the
republic So strenuous were Mr.. Roose-
velt's words and unequivocal was his
meaning that his statements attracted
world wide attention and were generally
accepted in the chancellories of Europe as
the conclusive affirmation of the doctrine,
and as a warning to foreign nations that.
as he stated, it would be upheld at any
cost.
Monroe's Influence on the Republic. :
"Yet the President was simply reafflrming
and rede claring in positive words the notice
James Monroe enunciated over half a
fury ago. BY this one declaration of ma
tional policy President Monroe perhaps
builded for himself a monument greater
and more enduring than any bronze ceno-
taph which might be erected to his memory.
The fact remains, however. that there is no
statue in a public park in Washington to
President Monroe.
1.-The author of the Monroe doctrine
should have a statue in this city In one
of our most conspicuous squares yet unoc-
cupied by memorials. No single announce
ment short Of positive declaration of war
ever startled the modern world more en-
phatically or which has been CT greater
isphere than the declaration which bears
his name.
IF there has been any proposition to
i erect a memorial to President Monroe 1 do
not recall it. 1t seems to me that the diver
sification. as 1t were, Of the statues of pub
lie men in Washington, which has been 80
often commented upon and urged might
advantageously begin by the erection of a
statue to his memory, an object lesson OF a
declaration which has become a fixed part
of our national policy. While will
object to the erection of as many statues
as may be appropriated for for the COM
memoration of the heroes of our recent
wars, it would seem but just for us to re-
member the heroes and the great men OF
other epochs in the short but eveatful his
tory Of our nation.
perhaps by calling attention in The Star
to the justice of erecting statue to Presl-
dent Monroe in our public places the sug-
gestion may result ultimately in securing
the necessary consent Of Congress. and IL
the appropriation should be grained 1t
should be liberal one"