Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
Capital SideIights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Two impressive thoughts regarding
Washington's future are emphasized bv
veteran builder in Congress who has
stood on the hilltops and looked
toward the horizon" Representative
Elliott w. Sproul. He advises that in
the Capital development program #
should be remembered that Washington
as world capital is still young and
must not be crowded" He advises
too, that man can build no structure
comparable with Gods special Sift of
natural attractions - the gorge and
Great Falls and palisades of the Poto-
mac.
This Capital City," said Mr. snronl
designed to be the most wonderful in
the world, which President Coolidge
said we must make a soul city' and
TO the development and beautification
| OF which President Hoover saws we must
give our best efforts, is but a century
and quarter old. 1t has many centu-
rles to live and expand. 1t has already
grown lar beyond the original 10 miles
square 1t must not be crowded. Now
Is the time to safeguard the future by
proVlolng breathing spaces, parkways
ana recreation grounds. It is the
greatest thing we can do for the CAPITAL
OF the future.
That young poet hero of the World
war. who sleeps where peoples blow
| IN Flanders Field, has given to ages
yet to come one great thought-'Only
God can make a tree God has given
to various parts of our country rich
| deposits OF gold and silver and iron
and phosphate and what not. To other
localities He has given scenery match
less in its grandeur, as each of our great
national parks. distinctively individual
In its chief characteristics, so plainly
| teStifieS.
God has given to Washington. the
Nations Capital, gorge and Great
| rails on the Potomac, with palisades
along either bank, which world travellers
| assure us cannot be matched anywhere
| in all creation. That is Gods gift to
us, but not to US alone-it is for pos
terity. We are the custodians for q
brief time. This beauty, which the
hand Of man cannot duplicate, must
not be deSpoiled by the hand Of man.
1t Is our trust to hold this beauty
inviolate as heritage for the future
generations. Succeeding generations
may build greater buildings, but we
know that they can never build any
thing as beautiful as the gorge and
Great Falls of the Potomac, which we
/ here today pledge ourselves to preserve
for our children's children in genera
tons yet unborn"
* -
Representative Ernest w. Gibson oil
Vermont, who has taken the District OF
Columbia so particularly under his leg
islative wing, has also espoused the
cause of Haiti, and during q recent
visit to the island has become enthralled
by its history and Importance as Q
strategic position as the second largest
island In the Caribbean Sea area.
Representative Gibson points out that
It's location makes it a natural screen
for the Panama Canal, which we are
obligated to protect and maintain tc
insure the orderly flow of the commerce
Of the world.
It's history depicts some of the most
stirring struggles for independence and
human liberty since history has beer
written. It is the story of revolution
after revolution since independence wa
gained in 1904. During its existence a.
a nation 1t has had "a rulers, only 8 Of
whom succeeded in remaining in Office
| for the period of their elected terms
while only 2 we're allowed to retire
peaCeably. Seventeen OF these rulers
were deposed by revolution, Of these
| following one another out of ONCE In
quick succession in the seven years pre-
1 ceding the American occupation In 1915
Haiti at one time was the richest
colonial possession of the world, with
| 100000 acres of land under cultiva-
ton. Revolutions obliterated means Of
communication with the interior; roads
gave way to trails; the hills became in
tested with bandits; people did not dare
leave home for fear of being impressed
into military service; no police pro-
lection existed; the Government rem.
dered no service whatever to the PEG.
pie; education was forgotten: the peo.
| pie became overridden with disease
| they sunk into poverty and ignorance
and freedom fled. The 100000 pro
ductive acres became reduced to a few
| thousand in 1915. A small percentage
| of the people, however, are well edu
Gated, graduates Of some Of the bes
universities of Europe. but this small
element has never been able to contro
their country and direct its affairs.