Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-30
The Lincoln Memorial.

On the 18th of February next the people
of this country will celebrate the Tooth an
niversary of the birth of Abraham Lin
coln. Many plans are now under con-
sfferation and in preparation to this end,
and general expectation has arisen that
Congress will mark the occasion appro-
priately from the national point OF view.
No more significant or adequate express
sion of the national sentiment toward Lin
coin is possible than the enactment of a
law providing for the erection, here in
Washington. the scene of his great labors.
of memorial to the man who at the
supreme crisis in the nations existence
proved worthy of the great trust imposed
in him.
It Is a fact noted by many visitors to
Washington that there is at this capital
no great architectural symbol of Lincoln.
although forty-three years have passed
since his death. There are three small
statues not one of them of sufficient size
to attract more than passing notice. There
should be memorial placed and so
designed as to impress all corners to the
seat of government with the fact that
Lincoln is held in the hearts Of the people
as few men have ever been regarded in
the history of the world.
In another part of The Star today ap-
pears an article descriptive of the various
projects that have been outlined to this
end of honoring Lincoln's memory with
some permanent symbol in bronze or
stone. The latest plan is that a peristyle
OF monumental proportions be erected on
the Union station plaza. The detailed
plans are yet to be drawn but as the
project is outlined tentatively for con-
sideration of Congress it appeals to the
Imagination as more closely approaching
the ideal of a Lincoln memorial than
anything yet projected.
The prime considerations in such a
matter are: First, that the memorial
should be adequate in size and character
TO typify the great man; second. that it
should be SO placed as to appeal to the
greatest possible number of people. The
selection of the plaza for this purpose
would most fully meet the second con-
saderation. Although that place has al
ready been chosen for the memorial to
Columbus, there is room for. a Lincoln
peristyle OF the proportions suggested,
sweeping. grandly about the station ap-
proach on a radius of about $50 feet, and
impressing the eye Immediately as a me-
mortal and not a utilitar1an structure. par
ucularly II park were developed beyond
it to prevent too close an approach of
public or private buildings.
Under no circumstances should the Lin
coin memorial be placed at an inaccessible
point.A 1t should not, for example, be
! located on the river bank unless, as has
been. proposed. the long contemplated
Memorial bridge were erected in conjunc-
ton with It, A river site would be visited
only. by those drawn out of their ordinary
courses to view this particular bit Of
architecture. Inasmuch as the station is
a fixed fact, and the plaza calls for arts
tic treatment, it seems reasonable to sug-
gest the en1placement' Of the Lincoln me-
mortal at that point if it can be SO de-
signed as to fit artisticaliy into the scheme
{. there and at the same time appropriately
and with full dignity symbolic the great
President.
In any case. the hope is strong that upon
returning to Washington the members of
Congress will regard this project as one
OF the insistent items of the winters pro-
gram 1t is far enough advanced to war
rant the belief that it will be actively
pressed from the first day of the session.
and the highest tribute that can be paid
to Lincoln will be the submission of the
bill to the President for signature on the
centenary Of his birth.