Evening star., 1932-02-22

Northern Liberty Fire Bell. remarks by
Theodore w. NoyeS president OF the
Association Of Oldest Inhabitants. and
an address by Allen c. Clark, president
of the Columbia Historical Society
broadcast to the Nation through the
coast-to-coast network Of the Column
bia Broadcasting System. the Associa-
its most elaborate and noteworthy trib-
ute to George Washington among all
the long series Of tributes paid through
the years by that venerable organiza-
tion.
The ceremonies took place In the old
Union Engine House. at Nineteenth and
H streets, historic place in its own
right, where elaborate decorations gave
gala atmosphere to the rich collection
Of relics of early days.
Annual Tribue Paid.
The Bicentennial Celebration of
WaShington's birth by this organization
refiected its past celebrations. as Presi-
dent Moves f1ttingly said: by no other
group OF Washingtonians has George
Washington been SO consistently and
devctedly honored as by our Associa-
tion of Oldest Inhabitants which from
its birth IN 1865 has paid annual tribute
On his birthday to the great American.
including some years in which others
have been forgetful or neglectful." Mr..
City" The speaker said it was not
WaShington's idea that Its people
should be politically defective and de-
linquent Americans" but a people
clothed with all American rights not
absolutely inconsistent with the foster
ing control by the Nation of the Ma
tions Capital"
President Clark of the Columbia His
torical Society presented a series of
many pictures of Washington portraits,
and by reference to historical docu-
ments concerning the portraits painted
a faithful, interesting and picturesque
word picture of the Father of His
Country-What he looked like Both
speakers also paid tribute to the great
ness Of the First President.
The program was opened by invoca-
ton by Rev. j. Harvey Dunham, pastor
| Of Western Presbyterian Church. The
old Northern Liberty Bell was brought
into national prominence for the first
time, when it was struck 200 times, for
the Bicentennial years, by George Bruf
Jackson, member of the association
who recently took the part of George
Washington in pageant.
Mr. Noyes opened his remarks by say
ing: This is George Washington'S great
year, during nine months of which
everywhere IN the United States and to
some degree throughout the civilized
world, men celebrate with reverence the
200th anniversary of the day and year
OF his birth.
| His Greatest Day.
This is George Washington's great
est day in this great year. the ami
versary specifically of his birthday.
This is George Washingtons city,"
said Mr.. Noyes. In no other spot in
the world is George Washington honor
ed with such fervor and intensity as IN
the city to which he gave being and
which bears his name. The Father
OF His Country is even more distinctly
and distinctively the Father of his city"
Referring to the constancy of the
Association Of Oldest Inhabitants in
Noye5 said, To-day Washington, the
city, pays tribute to the memory of
Washington the man, whose character
istics of simplicity, true greatness and
quiet, enduring strength are well ex-
emplif1ed by the towering shaft, the
memorial monument, which bears his
name.
What Washington the city thinks
Of Washington the man is retold each
year in terms of ever increasing ad-
mlration and veneration. Appreciation
OF the true greatness Of the greatest
American grows from year to year as
steadily and as strongly as the republic
itself.
What Washington the man thought
and predicted concerning Washington
the city is of record
I'VE are sometimes told that WASH
ington and the forefathers contem-
plated no great American city here, but
only national workshop for the quiet
and safe performance of the executive,
legislative and judicial functions, with
small population of tranSients when
| Congress is in session, almost deserted
| when Congress is away, city without
permanent inhabitants and without the
| foundations upon which public spirit
! and local pride are based
No Such Mean Capital.
George Washington saw in prophetic
vision no such mean capital.
Was the Nations city in Washing
tons intent to be limited in area to
the ground absolutely necessary for the
public buildings and the governmental
activities? No. AS the Federal District
was created of the largest area that
the Constitution permitted, so in re-
| SptCI W Illc AREA Ol IllS CITY
George Washington suggested in one
of his letters that the Capital of the
United States should be as much larger
| than Philadelphia as the United States
was larger than Pennsylvania. Un 1871,
commenting upon the area covered by
Philadelphia, he inquired suggestively
of the Commissioners of Washington:
If the metropolis of one State occupied
; 50 much ground. what ought that of
the United States to occupy?O
Was this extensive city to be devoted
solely to governmental activities. No.
Washington was located on its Potomac
site and canal connecting the Poto-
mac with tributaries of the Ohio was
projected and built in TIE expectation
| that the new city would become the
greatest commercial emporium Of the
country
WAS this extensive Capital area to
be uninhabited except by temporary
Government employees, by those cater
ing to their needs. and by other tran
sients? No. In 1895 Washington said
prophetically pf the population of the
/ Capital that a century hence, If the
country kent united, the Capital would
be though not as large as London, yet
of a magnitude inferior to few others
! (cities) in Europe 1t is said that
! Washington directed that the plan of
the Capital should provide for a popu-
lation of at least 100000.
WAS this great population, peopling
an extensive and magnificently planned
city. to be un-American and politically
! alien, deprived entirely of participation
in the National Government? Who be-
: lieves it? Who. by any stretch of the
/ imagination, can conceive it?
| "Washingt2n'S idea was that the
Capital should be Federal city de-
veloped by the Nation and subject to
its control. but it was not his idea that
/ it should be without people or that its
people should be politically defective