New-York tribune., 1906-05-14
HONOR TO LONGFELLOW.
The Poets Statue for the National
CapitaI.
[Fronn 90 Trihune Rureau.l


Washington. May 13-"It is a grave reproach
70 us that while England has been quick 20
recognize the eminence OF Henry wadsworth
Longfellow in placing HIS bust in Westminster
Abbey. our own people have as yet done little
10 testify 20 the affection and pride with which
millions regard one who is. beyond all others.
the poet Of the American home ana ireside"
These words are contained in the report just
made by the House Committee on Library on
the Senate resolution authorizing the selection
OF site for the erection OF a bronze statue of
Aongfellow in Washington. The committee re-
ported the resolution unanimously, and there is
every indication that the permission OF Com
sress Tor setting aside a site in Washington for
the Lonsfellow memorial. which has BEEN sought
for several years, will at last be granted. The
resolution creates commission TO consist OF the
chairmen Of the House and Senate committees
on Library and the Secretary of War to select
the site, which. it is specified, must be on prop
erty belonging to the government in Washing
ton other than the grounds of the Capitol or
Library OF Congress. The commission is directed
to erect on the site suitable pedestal for the
statue, which is TO be provided by the Long
fellow National Memorial Association through
voluntary subscriptions Of citizens. For the
preparation Of the site $4,000 is appropriated.
According to reports to the committee. a good
sum has been raised by the Longfellow me-
44oI4dl dsSoclallon TOT the SGaIQe.
Chairman McCleary. Of the Committee on Ii
brary. in making his report. says:
The propriety Of the action proposed by the
bill seems TO the Committee on Library to be
beyond question Washington already contains
the statues Of more than score of eminent citi-
zens. but among them there Is not one which
marks distinguished services rendered to our
national literature. It has been thought by
many competent judges that a statue OF Long
fellow placed here would be a fitting tribute
both 20 his fame and to the distinction which
he conferred upon American letters
While there may be some who question the
claim Of Longfellow to the title OF our greatest
poet, there are. the other hand few who
would not place his as second only to some more
favored name. No one of our poets has been
translated into so many modern languages, and
no one has ever so beautifully illustrated the
earlier phases of our national life as the author
Of 'Hiawatha-" Of "Evangeline" and Of "The
Courtship Of Miles StandiSh. Many Of his poems
have become in a measure part Of our house
hold speech. The best aspects of our social and
religious life have through his works been made
familiar TO the world, while American patriotism
with which every child is familiar, addressed TO
the ship Of state" If in addition to this we re-
member that so gracious and engaging per-
sonality. so complete and beautiful a life, has
rarely. If ever. graced the literature Of any ma
ton, we may well conclude that to place a last
ing memorial TO Longfellow in the city which
belongs to all our people, and TO which they
send their representatives, to make their laws,
is 70 furnish both a true inspiration TO our
highest ideals of citizenship and testimony to
the achievements which we value most.