The Washington herald., 1908-06-15
Statue Site Criticised.


ting Barry statue IN Franklin Square.
"A Barry statue in Franklin Square!
What next?
''The growth of Washington city has
been a succession OF doings and undo
ings. and doings over again in kaleido-
scopic process, with sufferings In the
pot-boiling. and losses IN the crucible, in
the moldins Of the Capital magnificent
In the heart Of stately Washington
is a gently rolling piece Of ground, eme-
raid in sod. evergreen in shrub brilliant
IN flower. in the shade OF great trees
Old Franklin Square. Franklin School Is
in its sunshine and shadow The atmos-
phere is Franklin-peculiarly Franklin
IL has always been so IL IS right and
meet IL continue so. Thousands of Frank
lin School children have gone out In the
world with the cherished memory OF old
Franklin School and old Franklin
Square playground living through their
youth and man-and womanhood. linger-
ing in CID age. These many thousands
cherish It and want it kept immaculate
Tens or thousands OF other washington
school children. Old and young. would
vouchsafe il 10 the Franklin School chill
dren as they would have Franklin School
children DO unto them in like case All
Washington people have long known /.
as Franklin Square. Many years they
have measured the city's parts by old
Franklin Square. Innumerable visitors
have been guided by It. and kept it in
memory IN their far-away homes.
Franklin Square is an old landmark
To be told a thing is in the neighborhood
Of Franklin Square instantaneously con-
veys a certainty OF place as in being told
a thing is In the locality OF the Capitol
Should this old landmark be destroyed?
Should its history be changed. confused
its character mixed messed; its luster
corroded. cleft? Why should II he
changed? Is Il patriotism-the love of
State. the nation? For whom is fl
changed? The whole people or only a
part; II for a part is it the majority
part2 Who is interested IN this matter?
The whole citizenship. or only an infnl-
tislmal part? The Barry statue is the
whole nations gft-a mite from each
OF its S5.0oOoo0 sovereigns In the national
Congress {5o0CC appropriation. The people
did not give the money 10 disparage. or
10 displace. or 20 dishonor the memory Of
Franklin
''The newspapers are heraldng the
national Congress $4,000 appropriation
Barry statue placement in Franklin
Square. II is a desecration. Not even
Franklins equals should stand in Frank
lin Square. Not even Jefferson. a Han
cock. a Witherspoon. a Carroll or any
other Of the Immortal Fifty-six should
stand there. No. not even the greatest or
all Americans. Washington or his equal
Lincoln. should be placed tnera for
then II would not be Franklin Square
hallowed in Franklinonian atmosphere. in
time as Il should now he. a Franklin
statue will rise i'm Franklin Square bv
old Franklin School and. JOYOUS thought
perchance by Franklin School children
given.
1t is a senseless mixture. a miserable
mess. with a shameful purpose. 10 put
Barry statue In Franklin Square.
TO mix Franklin and Barry in old
Franklin Square would mean 10 one set
Of people a Franklin place. 10 another
Barry place. and TO another-the major
the undoing OF which and
doing over again could not easily be
done Then, sirs, why perpetuate a mis-
take-a bluuder? Is il not we'll 10 kill
Il IN germ? II IS indefensible 10 mix
Franklin and Barry in Franklin Square.
Just as II was senseless 90 mix Lafayette
and Jackson in Lafayette Square. giving
rise 20 confusion in name and location
OF lafayette Square, often called Jack
son Square.
In brief then. put Barry somewhere
else PM fv
park 20 himself. and let such square.
circle, or park take the name Of Barry.
which would be appropriate and proper
Then a Barry statue and square would
also be a landmark. useful as well as or
namental 70 point out as we'll as 10 beau
MY part Of the city separate and dis
linct from Franklin Square in IT'S own
peaceful atmosphere Ions having been.and
is now. one Of the city's chief landmarks
not only 20 all Washington people but
70 the visiting millions of the nation
whose interest and privilege in II are Of
equal right
Put Barry in front Of part Of the
War, State, and Navy Building. or in
front OF the new Municipal Building. or
dig up the Peace Monument and put
him there, or even in Washington's soon
to-be-vacated seat in.front OF the Capitol;
but not In Franklin Square
Here in our midst. with a Barry
statue IN Franklin Square. would soon
be wrangling public with: Where is
Barry Square" Why. over by Franklin
School You are mistaken-that is
Franklin square Well. you know, II
used 10 be called Franklin Square but
since we put Barry statue I'm II. Il is no
longer Franklin Squsre-it is Barry
GfrfT
wrong; II is Franklin Square 1t always
was and always will be-who was Barry.
anyway Why, Barry was the father OF
the navy and a Revolutionary sea cap
tain, who captured two British men-o'-
war in one day. TO which John Paul
Jones sending the Scraps 20 the bottom
OF the sea was nothing
Why. sir. John Paul Jones was the
father or the navy, the FIRST commander
In-chief. the first admiral the first TO
hoist the Stars and Stripes over an Amer
ican man-of-war. the first TO force
British man-of-war 70 strike 10 taa stars
and Stripes the first 70 run Old Glory up
on the first ship Of the lne-America,
he was the first TO strike
out for foreign waters. the first 10 re-
ceive and acknowledge a salute 10 the
Stars and Stripes from foreign power.
and the first one and the only. sir. 10
sail around Great Britain. destroying war
ships and commerce. landing on shore.
demanding and receiving. and making her
feel like a 30-cent piece. Why sir. Barry
was 10 Jones about as a ramrod IS to
Washington Monument And then for
he FIRST time fighting commenced IN the
ancient and quiet atmosphere OF the old
park long ago dedicated exclusively 10
The grand old apostle of peace. Barry
was little sea-dog fighter. requiring
reference 10 FIX his identity.
while the world-famed, many-sided
Franklin is a byword of greatness. wis
1om' and light Of national and inter
national brilliancy Why mix the lite
lighter with the great man OF peace II