Evening star., 1909-04-28

/ STATE AT THE CAPITOL.
thought and money. that we may with the
cordial cooperation of all Our fellow
countrymen work out to completion the
plans for the enlargement and beautifica
tion of the capital of our common love
and PRIDE
High tribute was paid to LEnfant by
Vice President Sherman.
Eulogized by Sherman.
Vice President Sherman said: This
occasion suggests a thought not usual In
America-the thought that our people
have been tardy in offering appreciative
acknowledgment OF individual effort put
forth for the benefit of all. It as we'll
suggests the further thought that other
generations than those wherein deeds
were wrought will not permit merit to
remain forever unacknowledged. No peo-
pie have granted fuller or more generous
reward for valorous service than those of
our republic. The resting places of our
hero dead. the scenes of conflict wherein
they gave willing contribution of life.
marked by grand memorials. are mute
witnesses to American patriotic devotion
Few there be whose service to country
on field, not so few in forum, have failed
Of suitable recognition. He whose NOR
tai remains--a few scattered bones-we
place Of nearly q century to lie with the
nations great served us in arms and in
civil life; in arms with distinguished brav-
cry; In civil life with rare ability and
masterful genius.
Peter Charles L'Enfant was born in
France, was educated in her military
schools. With the Unborn friendliness for
the cause for which the colonies con-
tended, friendliness manifested by La
fayette and Rochambesu. friendliness
which outlived colonial days and has come
down through the deca des, q friendliness
evidenced by the accredited representa-
tive Of our sister republic, M. Jusserand.
on many occasions and repeated by his
presence today, the young lieutenant en-
gineer came to America In 1777. and his
pronered services were accepted by Wash
ington. At the battle Of Savannah the
young officers bravery in action was con-
spicuously displayed in aid of the colon
ial cause. Here he WIS wounded and
captured. Later he was paroled and there
after exchanged. from which time he con-
tinued in our military service Gen. Wash
pressed him with his ability and he con-
tinued in the service of our military. de-
partment until the close of the revolution.
Wisdom Of the Past.
The profound thought. the earnest dis
cussion, the untiring labors OF our fore
fathers gave to us constitution which,
almost without change, endures today
And the patriots whose wisdom framed
this, our Magma Charta, little dreamed
that less than century and a quarter
after the state had approved their labors
there would exist upon this western conti-
nent a government the peer of any which
has ever existed on the globe; govern
ment whose people have increased thirty
fold and whose wealth has in 1reased by
such marvellous bounds that the figures
now measuring it are well night fabulous.
1t is the marvel OF the thoughtful men Of
the twentieth century that constitution
framed In the light of the eighteenth CEN
tury should measure up SO completely to
the requirements of this later-this larger
day.
Among the dificult problems which the
chosen representatives of the people had
early to solve was the location of home
for the seat of government. Opinions
differed; differed widely Interests were
diverse. and then, as always must be the
case, the selfish local interest played its
part. AS the Constitution was in part
the result of compromise, SO. too. was the
location of the federal capital the result
of an agreement. There seems no ground
to doubt that Washington fro.A the out
set favored Location upon the Potomac.
Jefferson. too. was In sympathy with this
idea. Hamilton's mind. filled with other
thoughts. was ready to acquiesce In any
determination that involved the solution
engrossing his attention.
1T having been determined that the
seat of government should be upon the
banks Of the Potomac, the exact loca-
ton. That being determined. Washing
ton designated L'Enfant. whose engi-
neering skill had impressed the Presi-
dent when LEnfant was still an officer
Capital city. LEnfant's education, his
observation Of foreign cities. an observa-
ton the advantages Of which few Ameri-
cans at that time possessed. especially
qualified him for a discharge of the i'm
portant duties OF the trust
The General Plan Was His.
'It is neither meet nor necessary upon
this occasion to enter upon a discussion
OF the relative merits Of the claims put
forth in behalf OF the adherents Of diff
ferent claimants to the honor OF plan
ming Washington. That L'Enfant's
mind evolved the general plan of the
present city Of Washington seems be-
yond the possibility OF dispute. That
fact renders it Of little consequence as
to whose pencil or whose pen actully
prepared the plan which was finally en-
graved. There is little ground to sup
pose that any mind other than Wash
ington's anticipated the establishment
Of a city which should. In little moro
than q century, be filled by nearly one
half a million Of Inhabitants.
LAS We wonder that Constitution
framed for the existing situation, when
our population and our wealth were but
| trifiing fraction Of what they are to-
day, meets so completely the require
ments Of this great and growing republic.
/ so. too. do we wonder that a plan OF a
| city. laid out through an almost unbroken
| forest. where but handful of people re-
sided. and with the contracted ideas of
the time as to the future Of the repub-
lie and it's capital. should be so per-
| fectly adapted to the city which has been
reared. and which Is today the most
| beautiful residential city on the western
continent. That the so-called Congress
House." which has become the Capitol. in
| whose rotunda we are now assembled. q
| Capitol which. in architectural beauty, is
| unsurpassed. and which. with its addi-
tions, meets the requirements of the
present day, was located by L'Enfant
that the site of the Executive Mansion
was his selection should not be denied ;
that no one suggests at the present day
any material change In the plan OF the