Evening star., 1909-04-28
HONOR TO IENFANT
TARDY BUT SINCERE
Continued from First Page.)

with the years, will always be the best
remembrancer of his fame.
The capital had to wait for its de-
velopment almost as long as L'Enfant
had to wait for the tribute we pay him
today. The poverty of the young nation
and the uncertainty as to whether the
capital would remain here. only ended
when the civil war had consecrated this
place as the seat OF the national govern
ment forever, account In part for the long
neglect. 1t was not until 1871, when
Gov. Shepherd shook the dust off the
map, and, backed by the President. Con-
gress and the progressive men of WASH
ington, ran the ploughshare of progress
literally through the streets and avenues.
that the plan began to be executed. Ever
since, especially In the last decade. the
progress Of the capital has been remark
able and steadily in the lines laid down
by the founders.
Pride Is ouickened.
Since our centennial celebration in
1900, whose permanent monument was
the Senate park commission plan for the
District Of Columbia. the interest and the
pride of the country In its capital have
been greatly quickened and appear in the
desire of all patriotic Americans that 1t
should be made the most perfect on
earth In all respects. moral and physical
Nothing shows the excellence of the orig
inal plans better than the statement OF
the park commission Of 1900 that after
re-exam:ning the capitals of Europe ana
the suggestions of modern experts every
where, 1t concluded that the Washington
plan could not be improved upon. and
added only an extension of its principles
to the territory outside of the city.
I'VE Of Washington. privileged by our
residence to bear one-half OF the burden
of the maintenance and development OF
the National capital (as until 1873 we
bore all the municipal burdens), are
proud and glad to do our full part In
carrying out the great purpose OF our
what L'Enfant did. SO that we celebrate
his achievements with peculiar pleasure.
We rejoice that Congress has recognized
the nations debt to him as another In
capital which Is appropr. ately placed by
the Constitution under its exclusive leg
isation' and supreme authority.
1T Is one hundred and twenty years this
week since George Washington first be-
came President of the United Suites. We
seek and hope to have Inauguration day
changed to the last Thursday in April,
the day of that first inauguration. We
can all see now what Washington only
foresaw. We can see not only history
Fulfilling his prediction-the spread of the
United States from sea to sea, and to the
far-off islands. It's unparalleled develop
ments and achievements-not only the
greatness of the present but we can see
can see that this capital. which since 1875
has grown with the growth of the coun-
try. Is to increase steadily as the country
increases. in wealth and power and
beauty. We want 1t to be perfect. We
are working to make IL 80.
Present Needs Of Capital.
Much has been done. Much remains
to do. We need at once, for example
more parks outside of the city as well as
the complete redemption of the south side
of Pennsylvania avenue. We need fol
health and beauty the improvement OF
the Anacostia and of the Rock Creek val
ley from the park to the Potomac. We
should buy at once all the park lands
needed for the future, for they will be
like the sibylline books.
This day. recalling the services Of a
Frenchman who chose to be an American
services to our country. but none the less
distinctly to its capital-will be an In
spiration TO US all to labor. patiently and
persstently, to make sacrifice of time and