The Washington times., 1902-12-16
WASHINGTON on SHOULD Be
THE NATIONAL! MAJ! PRIDE"
Secretary Doyle eSpeaksUpon
Capitals Growth.
leisure CLASSES DESIRED"
City Should Become Center Of Learn
ing, as Was Athens and
is Paris

is Paris
The growth. prosperity and improve
mont OF Washington was the topic Of an
address by John T. Doyle. secretary OF
the Civil Service Commission. last night
before the members o. the Unity Club.
ar their meeting at the Riggs House.
The development OF government and
its Capitalization OF administration he
mentioned as among the chief factors Of
the clty's growth and prosperity, but
added that it was also essential to draw
to the national enter the Leisure
classes" Mr. Doyle said in part:
A Siga Of Power.
"The seat e. the national government
is the outward and visible sign OF the
power and significance Of The nation.
While this is peculiarly true Of ancient
capitals-such as Athens and Rome-it
SIS also true in a degree Of Paris and
Washington. no American can look upon
the capital cf this country without an
increase Of interest and affection Tor
the national Institutions, just as no Eng
hshmau may visit Westminster Abbey.
CT a Frenchman Paris. without the graf
iGcati0n Of national pride.
"Our own capital has been called the
only child of the nation. II Is the one
apot where the national government Is
independent and supreme. where na-
tiouaI councils may be held without In
terrurtion. free from party feeling and
prejudice. the disturbances OF COM
mercial metropolis and the liability OF
mob violence. It IS a neutral ground
where a display Of strong military power
IS unnecessary. and where members of
all political parties may meet on equal
terms. free from the turmoil Of popular
elections.
Dignity and Independence.
"Its government is under the guar
dianship Of Congress. giving # dignity
and independence Of state laws. The laws
OF a State might be Inadequate TO the
protection or the national government or
might be exercised in hostile spirit
the site Of the political capital eI-
ercises an important influence upon the
whole tountry This is shown by the
history OF all nations Here take place
the great events in its political history
To is The theater Of national pageants,
and the display Of the national re-
sources. IL Is the site OF monuments and
the center OF historic interest Here
wealth and the mementOs Of achieve
ment accumulate.
Interest in the city as the National
G pital Increases with its Improvement
I'm distinction from other cities. II Is
r.e Mecca which every American de-
sires 70 visit This interest and regard
for the Capital City IS an important
element in national feeling and strength
A study OF cur city derives peculiar
Importance because OF these consid-
eratlons.
Railroads Disappointing.
"The railroad. and the development Of
great food areas in the West. have dis
appointed the expectations formed for
the city's future. but the selection Of
The site showed the highest wisdom Of
the time Ii was not .foreseen that the
fringe Of people along the sea coast
would spread beyond the Alleghenies to
the Mississippi and 20 the Pacific; that
the area in which the people then had
their homes would. a century later. Be
the abode Of only one-third Of the popu-
lstion OF the UriJed States While the
site was central in their time. hun
dred years later IL Is as far from the
center of population as 10 Is from Maine
or Florida.
HAD il become a great commercial
emporium. surprising New York OF Chi
caco. the estimate OF The population
would hage fallen as far short as TIVE
estimate of other growth in the now
nation AS 90 is it IS fortunate that the
city is not a seat Of commerce and OF
q dense exCitable population The mod
crate demand for land enables the on
GERS OF the Government 90 live upon
smaller salaries than an business ci-
Ties. 1t has permitted the growth Of q
cttv based rather upou the coB5idera-
ton of art and resident convenience
than mere utility.
Future OF Washington.
"The development Of washington ap-
pears to have been brought about solely
by public improvement. The era OF CO.
mails and railways which not only built
I up commercial centers. but also indus
/ trial ciues. does not appear 10 nave
had nearly So marked an elect upon
the city's growth
The future Of Washington is shown
I by its history 10 be chiefly dependent
[ for It's growth upon the patriotic spirit
I Of the country While other cities
Gourish or decay from economic causes,
the Capital City alone is rcpreseDt tative
OF national spirit. The growth of gov
ernmeuu. and the Capitalization OF ad-
I min.stratiou. in themselves are vital
+ factors In its growth and prosperity
but it is also essential 20 d-aw 90 this
. national center the leisure class a
I notable tendency, encouraged By and
/ dependent upon public Improvements, is
/ the growth of the city as a center OF
1 learning"
+ INTEREST IN 1IR. SOTHERNS EN-
GAGEMENT.