Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-28
GRAVES OF PRESIDENTS.
Only Three Are Properly Marked and
Cared For.


OF all the presidents Of the United
States who have lived their allotted time
and passed away forever from those
scenes which formerly knew them only
three Lincoln. Garfield and Grant-may
be said To Ice worthily entombed. says
Harper's Weekly The graves of the re-
mainder, scattered here and there. are in
most cases only very moderately com
memorated. and usually the memorial has
been erected by the family or friends of
the dead. rarely by the public or the
state. In three instances forgctfulness of
the departed has assumed something
more than the aspect Of neglect. and the
last resting places of James Madison.
William Henry Harrison and John Tyler
have for long periods either presented
all the melancholy signs of utter desOla-
ton or. as in the case of Tyler, have re-
manned altogether unmarked.
The pilgrim who would visit Madison s
grave must first cross a wide open field
OF that red claycy briery kind character
istic of the Old Dominion. In the midst
is small burial plot, inclo0d by a
moldering, dilapidatcd brick wall. The
spot is solitary and dcsolate and lonely
with that loneliness peculiar to the fam
lily graveyard where fallen headstones.
sunken mounds and wilderness of weeds
attest but too plainly the ingratitude of
the living throng. Within the Enclosure
are several graves. and in one of these,
almost forgotten in the sleep of death.
lie the ashes Of James Madison, the
fourth president Of the United States and
one of the great men of the nations ear
lier history.
william Henry Harrison died a few
weeks after assuming his duties as presi-
dent. \ few days thereafter he was
buried in the Congressional cemetery at
Washington. hut in July of the same
yearshs remains were removed To North
Bend, o.. IIarriSon's former home, l.
miles west of Cincinnati. and there in
TERED in vault on the family domain
which had been prepared 10 receive them
For many years thereafter his tomb was
totally neglected 10y friends and state and
the world at large In the summer OF
1897. however. benjamin Harrison re-
built his grandfathcr'S tomb. and. as re-
stored. the monument is worthy of a
kinsman's memory. though. Of course. il
is in no sense a testimonial of a nations
reverence.
OF all the occupants of the presidential
seat, Tyler alone may he said To have
been wholly and pcrsistcntly neglected in
his place of scpulcher. Tyler, whose ad.
ministration was n stormy one and mark
ed by stirring events, died in January
1862. and was buried with great honor
In Hollywood cemetery. at Richmond
in what is known as the presidents
plot" This is section of ground con
tanning SOL square feet. which was pur.
chased by Governor Wise Of Virginia OF
behalf of the state the original intention
having been to bury therein all of Vir
ginia's sons who attained to the presi
dency. The plan failed of execution
however. and James Monroe and John
Tyler only have been buried i'm the presi
dents plot. They lie there side by sid.
i'm undSturhcd rcposc Monroc's grave
is marked Icy modest monument. but
only spreading magnolia tree shows
where Tyler takes his long, last rest. ant
few of those who pass along the GENE
terry walks have any idea that bcneatf
that little mound of green lie the ashes OF
one whose part in American history was
neither languid nor unesteemed anC
small
Could the fultillmcnt of President Nc
kinlcys suggestion. that the Confederat,
cemeteries bc placed under national con
troll. be- better prefaced 10y anything thar
by the erection over John Tylcr's grave
of "a tit memorial. raised from funds sub
scribed lay the people "f the whole coun
try? Especially now. when the flag of tn,
nation * floating over distant lands. it Il
appropriate for the American people {,
remember that the man who was largely
instrumental in securing the annexation
Of Texas and the vast territory beyon,
sleeps today in AN unmarked grave, un
honnrcd. and. so far as the nation is con
cerncd. neglected and unknown.-Bostol
Transcript.