Evening star., 1933-03-05

Telling his colleagues on the floor of the
House why he favored the name Constitution
Avenue" Representative Cooper declared the
Constitution united politically what at one
time were differing sections Of the Republic,
and this soon-to-be beautiful avenue from the
Capitol to Arlington Memorial Bridge will in
sentiment also unite these two sections"
Reminding the House of what the Constitu-
ton of the United States of America had done
for our country and for the world, Mr.. Cooper
said, Gladstone in famous essay, declared
the Constitution to be the most wonderful work
ever struck of at given time by the brain
and the purpose of man. and this believe is
the view now generally held by the statesmen
of the world.
I'VE are apt to forget sometimes, fear. he
said, what the Constitution did for us and .or
all humanity I believe from q reading of
history that next to the establishment of the
Christian religion the establishment of the
United States Of America as an Independent re-
public is the most important event in the his
tory Of mankind. And this we owe entirely.
absolutely, to the Constitution"
He opposed the name Of Jefferson avenue
for the street, but proposing instead that there
should be statue Of Jefferson in a new In
dependence Square" Representative Cooper
told the House this thoroughfare of miles
from the Capitol to the river ought not to b.
IlaulCO aAtcI duy OtdN, VI d1tcI any IlOIFlOudI,
however distinguished Nor does either the
name Memorial avenue or National avenue i'm
press me as being at all worthy of it. Memo
rial Avenue is too indefinite-too vague-not
sufficiently specific. And there are throughout
the country innumerable National avenues.
when the stately public buildings and other
structures which are to border it from the
Capitol to the river shall be completed there
will be no other thoroughfare In America-in-
+ to1 M tn hA to
said ito rival it in impressiveness or as a re-
minder Of the long, long struggle to rescue lib
erty from the grasp Of hostile power. Every
American patriot, passing along Constitution
avenue win think Of the Constitution of the
United States Of America, the charter by
which his liberty is made secure, and to which
his country owes all its greatness and glory"
This sentiment by the venerable member Of
the House drew forth not only applause. but
also praise from other members of Congress
Il was recalled by Representative Frear that Nh.
Cooper several years before had fought for
leeislation on National Capital development.
saying at that time m part:
THE plan Is to have an avenue from this
Capitol to the Potomac. In that avenue Wfn
stand only the towering shaft to George WASH
tnston and the superb, the matchless memorial
70 Abraham Lincoln. Beyond will come the
Memorial Bridge and then Arlington. where
rest IN dreamless sleep the soldier dead. Dur
ing the generations after you and are forever
gone millions Of our countrymen will come to
this Capital City and millions as the genera
tions pass away will go over that bridge 10
Arlington. The Capitol. Washington, Lincoln.
the Memorial Bridge and Arlington, the home
Of LeeI It IS glorious conception"
To open the new Constitution avenue from
the Capitol to the river required the tearing
Uonf; n,,oI Eorf4r