Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05

I'm HE promise is that the number Of
statues and memorials in Washing
ton will steadily increase. Among
the measures pending in Congress are
bills for the erection of statues of Robert
Morris and Francis Marion. both of whom
were patriots in the American revolution.
There is also project looking to the erec-
ton in the capital of a monument to the
memory of the colored soldiers and sailors
who fought i'm the various wars OF the
United States. Among other proposals IS
one that Congress should acquire for the
National Capital the Scout, an eques-
trian Indian statue by Cyrus +. Dallin.
Robert Morris was not only intimately
and influentially associated with the
establishment of the American republic,
but he was associated in way with
the city OF Washington in its early youth.
1t has been said that no man can look
into the period of the American revolu-
ton without seeing the hand of Robert
Morris. Commentators have said that
without his aid the new republic might
not have been and that the struggling
government would not have been financed
but for Robert Morris of the firm of Will
ing & Morris
Historians seem to be clear and
agreed on the point that the final mill
tary campaign of the revolution. that
of Yorktown. could not have been I'M
dertaken and carried to conclusion but
for the aid extended by Robert Morris
About a year ago the patriotic people
of Philadelphia placed tab.-t on
building in that city. which occupies
the site of the once great Morris man
sion. Robert Morris signed the nom
importation agreement of 1865, but at
first opposed separation from the
mother country. He voted against the
adoption of the Declaration of hide
pendence on July ], 1875. and in the
voting by which it was adopted he de-
clined to vote. but on the announcement
of its adoption he signed the immortal
document. He might have, had he
wished. been the first American Secre-
tary of the Treasury. Under the Ameri-
can confederation he had administered
with distinction the office of superin-
tendent of finance. which corresponded
to the Office of Secretary of the Treas
ury. Or the organization of the gov
ernment under the Constitution Presi-
dent Washington desired Morris to as
sumo the post indicated, but Morris
urged the selection and appointment of.
Alexander Hamilton.
1t is curious 10 recall at this time
that this man, who died in 1906. at the
age of seventy-two years. spent more
than four years in a debtors cell in
the Walnut street prison in Phila-
delphia. He was imprisoned from Feb
ruary, 1898, until October 1902, and
his release came about. not through
the interest and endeavors of friends,
but through the institution of the
national bankruptcy act. which was
largely the outgrowth of popular senti-
ment against Imprisonment for debt.
The relation of Morris to Washington
city is told by Allen e. Clark. presi-
ciety, in his work. ''Greenleaf and Law
in the Federal City" By an agreement
entered into September %. 1893. the
for the new federal Dis
johnson. David Stuart
and Daniel Carroll-sold to James
Greenleaf 5000 of the lots in the new
city at f25 sterling per lot. One-sev-
enth of the whole amount was to be
paid by Greenleaf on May ]. 1894. and
from then in six equal annual Install
ments, without interest. The lots were
to be selected alternately. and one OF
the conditions was that Greenleaf
be two stories high and having an
area of 1,20C feet, and he was not TO
sell his lots before January l, 1896.
without a stipulation that on every
third lot like house should De ouiit
within four years from the cate OF
sale.
Greenleaf made the agreement on his
own responsibility. but by the 26th OF
the ensuing month. october. he had ar
ranged with Robert Morris and John
Nicholson to take twO-thirds OF the
lots and had launched scheme on
their joint concern to float great loan
in Holland on pledge of the lots. Mr..
Clark writes:
In more formal phraseoogy the commissioners
and Greenleaf entered. December "a. 1893, into
articles Of agreement. Under a series OF where
as" they recite the former agreement that Green
leaf has under authority from Morris purchased
on his behalf the same number Of lots upon the
same credit and conditions for building and re-
selling except that the price TO be paid by Morris
is thirty i've pounds sterling per lot.
The wreck of the project is known to
everybody who has read the history of
Washington city.
A writer on the fortunes and misfor-
tunes of Robert Morris has said:
There is a common notion that Morris finally
failed because an ungrateful nation refused TO
reimburse him for his expenses. This is a mis-
apprehension. Although Morris gave heavily OF
his private fortune he emerged from the revolu-
tionary struggle a rich man for his time-so rich
that he oyerestimated his wealth and his hmm