New-York tribune., 1906-10-15
ALABAMA'S CHOICE.
DR.. Curry Among the FaUorte Sons
of the States.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington Oct. 14-Alabarna has Just added TO
. the collection of favorite sons-and since Miss
Willard's advent perhaps ought 70 say daugh-
ters-who grace statuary Hall. IN the national
Capitol. beautifully executed effgy OF DR.. J. L NJ
Curry. adopted of Alabama. a native OF
Georgia. and a who fame a Confed-
crate officer and later statesman. educator and
author. The Curry statue. which is OF heroic size,
was executed by Dante Sodinl Italian sculptor,
and depicts the Alabama in the conventional
garb of modern times. being one of comparatively
few thus shown
At the instance of Senator Morrill, OF Vermont
the chamber in which in the early history of the
Republic the House of Representatives held its
sions in 1864 designated "Statuary Hail.
and each invited TO send for its adorn-
ment the efigies of two of ner chosen sons in
marble bronze. TO be perma nently placed there"
Most of the states have complied with the invita-
ton. with the result that there now grace the hall
efTigies of men whose combined biographies would
tell the history Of the nation.
From time to time there has been discussion.
chiefly in the press of the permissibity Of admit
ting this that or the other statue selected by
state but the sentiment has always prevailed that
there conditions attached TO the invitation
extended by Congress and that 1t was only proper
to permit each state determine who should repre-
sent it in this hall Of fame. When Wisconsin
ected Pere Marquette 10 represent her in Statuary
Hall there was an outcry from the now defunct
A P A but little heed paid TO 1t. and when.
four years ago. West Virginia sent to Washington
raised as to whether 1t permissible to give
place to the efRgy Of a who had taken an
active part in the war against the Union. but 1t
was then decided that valid objection would lie.
provided the citizen selected by state held title 10
distinction based other qualities than his record
In the army of the Confederacy.
Dr. Curry played a more important part in the
Confederate army than did Mr.. kenna. AabaIna's
favorite son was a lieutenant colonel In the Con
federate cavalry, and aid on the STATS OF Gen
erals Joseph Wheeler and Joseph e Johnston but
after the war he made a notable record as states
man diplomat, educator and scholar. abundantly
demonstrating his right to the title which Alabama
has placed the pedestal OF his statue states
man. Educator, Patriot Orator.
During the S6th and 37th Congresses he was a
member OF the House of Representatives He was
appointed by President Cleveland Minister to spain
and served at Madrid with distinction, and after his
return 70 this country 1855 took prominent part
in educational and phtanthroptc work besides be-
ing the author OF several religious and other works
He disbursed trustee considerable part or the
peabody Educational Fund and was president of
more than one Southern educational institution
He died In 1898. being then in his seventy-ninth
year -, ..,o 80 nv Curry has
been placed in good company in Statuary HalL At
his right stands the heroic inquire OF EooeTt @ fut-
ing on the model OF that steamboat which he first
aeaTion G Of the world Fuitons statue was Sc
sected by Pennsylvania: OF which state ne was
of New York the Keystone state thus reversing the
course whlch Ala SaI'1S mas EaGp'eG & VII es9IG 20
TathenaeI Greene the famous Revolutionary
ror of Rhode Island and still further 20 the left IS
Roger Williams. founder OF Rhode Island and the
first man TO rebel against the laws and religious
stands Governor William King. OF Maine, and then
come George Clinton. first Governor OF New York
RevoIutionary General and twice e-President of
the United States. and Richard Stockton, OF New
Jersey. signer Of the Declaration OF Independence
and one OF the first martyrs OF the cause OF inde-
pendence. having died the result Of incarcera-
ton by the British
Al The approaching session OF Congress some
member Of the' Aaoama delegation will formally
present o the nation the OF DR. Curry
prominent Southern members OF Congress will de
FLYER eulOgies and the generation will learn
from living lips the story the SOuth's most
distinguished sons who always loyal 70
his fellow men and whose loyalty TO the Union
after Appomattox, even exceeded HIS devotion to
the COnfederaCy.