Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13

nerve and energy. compromised in any honor
able way to avoid. Imagine the responsibility
Imagine any one, whatever his ability, post
poning indefinitely, much less averting entirely
that strife. Omnipotent power, omniscent skin
alone could have warded of the Civil War;
OF course Buchanan made mistakes. Any one
would. OF course he failed. Any one would.
OF course he displeased and disappointed many
people, many powerful factions. Any one
would. OF course he was subjected to vile,
harsh abuse. So was Washington and so, in
deed, was every President.
But none can say he did not act in good
conscience, from pure motives, and in accord
with the moral standard. the idea of law and
rights that then obtained among the majority
Of the American Nation.
He did that which his conception of his
oath, the law, and his duty required Of him
always.
mr.. Buchanan not not the gratest of our
Presidents, or yet the least. In patriotism in
moral character and intellect he measured
above the average by far. His perplexities were
terrible We not just if we censure him
for falling where no finite genius could sue
coed. as now we well know.
Slavery, secession-both dead Why not
let the discussion Of the painful memories, the
dark history of their period die?"
With references to Mrs. Johnston, Senator
Smith said:
Mrs. Johnston, his niece, a philanthropist
who has endowed q great hospital in Baltimore
for the treatment of little suffering children
and also helpful in other charities, honored
and respected Buchanan. Her philanthropies,
however. were not in Baltimore alone. She did
many other philanthropic acts, among which
is included the presentation to the Smithsonian
Institution of her large and magnificent coll
lection Of paintings to form a nucleus Of q
National Art Gallery. She was the hostess
md 0F faa tee H,ie
administration. No man who was unworthy
could have held until death the love and
respect Of a woman of such culture and IN
tellectuality
Few men in America have done what
Buchanan did for his country. From 1914 until
1861 he was in public life. He served in the
Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1914. For 10
years he was Representative in Congress, and
in 1882 he was appointed an envoy to Russia
by President Jackson and rendered signal serv-
ice in negotiating commercial treaty with
that country He sat for three terms in this
Senate and declined the Attorney Generalship
of the United States, offered him by President
Van Buren,. He served with success and dis
tinction as Secretary Of State under President
Polk and was appointed our Minister to Eng
land by President Pierce. His was long, hon.
orable, and most useful career. Never in his
long political life did the breath of scandal
touch him. Only for his openly held and
courageously expressed political views was he
aSsailed."
The Washington of tomorrow will gaze with
wonder upon this monument, the work of the
sculptor Hans Schuler, and the architect will
liam Gordon Beecher. In the east end of the
lower garden the great bronze statue of Buch-
anan will sit, listening as it were, to the
tumbling Of the water down the cascade into
the pleasant pool, BLOWOUT in reality. per-
haps, thinking Of Clay, Of Calhoun Of Webster
and Of Fort Sumter and AppOmattox,- but?
above all Of golden haired lass Of the sixties
Harriet Lane. .. -.- ... ..-.... M