Evening star., 1902-09-13
Alexander r. Shepherd.

Shepherd Is dead mat dominating Will
and that powerful frame have yielded TO
the universal conqueror-
Washington mourns and honors him, and
some fitting memorial will doubtless arise
at the capital to perpetuate his memory.
Until very recently when a street was
named for him there had been in all this
beautiful city which owes so much to him
no distinctive monument to Shepherd.
While living he found his monument in the
city itself and in the grateful regard of
every thoughtful Washingtonidn. Now that
he Is dead appropriate remembrance in
bronze marble will doubtless follow, sup
plementng his memorial in the minds and
hearts of men.
1t is difficult for those who knew Alexan-
der Shepherd intimately to attempt to fit
tingly characterize him without mourning
the charge OF extravaganza Of expression.
He was one of the worlds great men in
effective combination of brain and will and
wonderful organizing and executive ability
In his name the accent is upon Alexander
the conqueror, and not upon the Shepherd
He was no gentle shepherd, reclining at
ease in the shadow of the wide-spreading
beech and feeding milk to lambs, but he
was a warrior shepherd of the type Of
David of old. brimful and overfowing with
nervous energy and concentrated power, a
man who made and overcame enemies.
man who delighted to beat down Obstacles
action incarnate, determined force person.
fed.
Shepherd was one of the incorporators of
The Evening Star Newspaper Company.
when in 1861 the paper passed from in
dividual TO corporate ownership, and he
was the intimate personal friend of the
Stars editor before and after that change
both in individual capacity and officially
as fellow member with him OF the COM
mon council Of Washington before the terri
torial government was formed. Through
this association he gained an intimate
knowledge of Shepherds innermost
thoughts and plans. and apprecia tIon of
the unselfshness and even self-sacrifice of
Shepherds labors for Washington.
Shepherds ambition his controlling alb
sorbing purpose was to raise his native
city from the dust and after rendering her
attractive in the eyes Of all men, to place
her IN the honorable position to which. as
the nations city, she was entitled. He
burned with indignation at the sneers
aimed by foreigners and other visitors at
the despised capital at time when through
the repudation of national obligations and
through the limitations of cramped local
resources and ideas. the city was national
reproach.
Shepherd saw the nation which had in
the beginning undertaken the work of cap
ital-making and then abandoned it to the
feeble local population, watching the situ-
alton with indifference and paralyzing the
growth Of local strength by holding con-
stantly over the city's head the threat of
capital removal Shepherd recognized the
only means of revolutiOnizing these condi-
ffODS he In he md will 70
adopt this means. and to follow it unflinch-
ingly to success.
The city was hemmed in, its development
was checked, access to It's heritage of ma
tional affection and patriotic pride was de-
MED by vast obstructing walls, built high
through local shortsightedness and congress
sional negelct. Under Shepherds battering
these walls went down forever. They can
never rise again.
But Shepherds genius was not merely de-
structive. When he tore down he built up
again. He was a master builder and or
ganizer. AS a result Of his labors is the
recreated Washington. So conclusively has
the wisdom of his destructive-constructive
methods been vindicated that even the crit
les and detractors who harrassed him and
impeded his work have long ago repented
OF narrowness and shortsightedness and
Joined the ranks of his friends and ad-
mrers.
Shepherd Is a miracle among bosses In
that he entered his boss-ship richer than
he came out. The voluntary exile which
followed his reign was not, as is customary
among bosses. to escape the terrors of out
ragged law or to spend iIl-gotten gains while
lodging the conundrum Where did you
get it?' but to earn money through hard
work TO retrieve his shattered fortunes
He Is unique among bosses In that the mo-
tive of his boss-ship was not mercenary
self-seeking. but public spirit. civic pride
the wholesome ambition TO promote the
welfare of his native city. He was a boss
in that his indomitable spirit was master
OF the situation in every emergency. He
impressed those with whom he came in
contact Daniel Webster impressed the
Englishman. who described him as "a
steam engine in breeches"
The most important outcome of Shep-
herds campaign is that the nation has now
indorsed the capitals promise to prosper
and the nations ward increases daily more
and more In the favor of its guardians, the
American people. The fortunes of the cap
ital and of the republic are now inseparably
interviewer and while the Union endures
and fiourishes, Washington, the nations
city. will show forth the republic In min
idture, responding IN It's own growth to tha
ational development and prosperity.
Whatever material monument may he
here erected TO his memory the men of
the new Washington can in no other way
more greatly honor Shepherd than by
catching the inspiration of his unselfsh
loyalty TO his native city. his infexible and
Irresistible determination to substitute
honor for contempt in the worlds opinion
or that city. and by applying this force to
the removal Of present distractions in
"ashington's path and to the upbulding of
the future capital. Thus though Shepherd
Is In his grave, his spirit and influence will
i've and prevail. as they did quarter GEN.
tury ago and as they do now in the noble
and inspiring labor of developing the Greater
Washington.
Ihe Willingness Of the st. Louis men who
TOOK bribes TO turn states evidence Is con-