Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-11

International In reputation American in the
highest and best sense, but owing its chief
allegiance to truth and the brother of the
universities of all nations. We saw 1t sur
rounded by scores of institutions of learn
ing. We saw the scholars of all the world
cominxg to the priceless collections Of the
national government for original research.
We saw national gallery of painting
and sculpture unequaled in any other capt.
tai. We saw cathedrals and other temples
of religion and the spiritual life which
they represent.
With a population Of five millions in and
around the city of Washington. the sifted
wheat Of all states, home and foreign, the
national capital in the year 1000 will. we
trust be very much like the ideal which is
now our plan of action.
1t is our high privilege, entering into the
labors of those who have gone before us,
beginning with George Washington himself,
and getting in our day the results of their
work. to serve our capital while, by the
grace of God, we serve our generation be-
fore we leave this world.
1t is a service full of enthusiasm, because
1t calls forth all our loyalty, and because
1t Is self-rewarding in what we can see al
ready of results and the certainty that
greater things are to come later. Its diff
ficulties, its disappointments, are common
to every human undertaking. But its sat-
isfactions and its results are distinctive.
We may well thank God and take courage
on this anniversary day, as we consecrate
ourselves anew to the cause of the national
capital
The Ideal of Perfection.
AS men of vision and not Missionaries, we
can see at once our ideal of perfection, and
the progress we are making toward it. We
can see also that we shall have more and
more the active sympathy and support of
all intelligent Americans. This has been
more and more apparent ever since our
centennial celebration attracted the atten-
ton Of the whole country to the District of
Columbia and awoke new interest and
rnri3 tn Va htn ",
every new exhibition of the national en-
thusiasm for the nations city. If it Is in
formed this interest will prove of the great
est value. We should lose no opportunity
of reciting the history and describing the
progress and plans for the future. We
may well expect to see the day when the
nation will not be content to pay only half
or the national capital expenses. The time
will surely come when it will pay all that is
necessary over and above the yield OF rea-
Sonable taxation upon the District tax
payers to make the national capital all that
it ought to be, whether its proportion be
two-thirds or three-fourths of the whole
amount. For the patriots Of America,
proud of their country and of its capital.
want to see Washington made perfect in
every respect and are willing to contribute
generously to that end.
In the fiscal year opening on the 1st of
July, the people of the United States out
side of the District of Columbia, assuming
that there are ninety millions of them, will
pay in round numbers $5,500G00 toward the
national capital expenses, or 6l-lo cents
per capita, while the 100000 people of the
District of Columbia will pay in round
numbers $5.5OO,000 or s16.G6 per capita
I believe that the ninety million, when
they thoroughly understand the mat
ter will gladly double or treble their
contribution, without asking any more from
the District taxpayers. Then we shall see
the capital fully equal to the country, glori-
flying the memory of George Washington,
and Offering its hospitality to all the world.
In that day it may well take for its word
of praise, as indeed we may today, the in
spired message sent from Washington to
Baltimore the first telegram the first
telegraph line, what hath God wrought? %
Savannah Day Also.
NORFOLK, Va, June 11.-Representative