Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-13
SPIRES OF The SPIRIT
Another Washington
By DR.. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

An outstanding Ukrainian
poet who was q contemporary
Of Abraham Lincoln pub
hshed q want ad" that re-
sounds across q hundred
years. He died Just after the
man who saved the Union
entered the White House to
face black days. His name Is
Taras Shevchenko. His was,
and is, the enduring voice Of
his valiant land in its age
long struggle for freedom.
During his lifetime, most Of
which was spent in the slav-
cry Of serfdom. the Ukraine
was bound by the shsckles of
Czarist tyranny. Shevchenko,
in his inspired poetry, helped
nightly to keep alive the
dream Of an independent
Ukraine.
With volcanic anger, de-
flying the Russian handouts,
his eyes were riveted with
hope upon the American
rebels who had revolted
against the unjust exactions
Of a royal master and by
their victory inspired all who
longed to breathe free.
Against her oppressors Taras
Shevchenko poured hot
words that still roll like
molten lava. Recalling hope
fully what the rebellion I'M
der the calm leader from
Mount Vernon had brought
to pass, he cried out
All, you miserable and cursed
cTetD,
When iDiH you breathe your
last?
When shall iDe get ourselves
q Washington
To promulodte his neto and
righteous ldtD-
But, some day TOE shall surely
find the man.
Had the brave heart in the
middle Of the 10Th century
who penned those eloquent
words known that in the
middle Of the Goth century
even greater slavery than he
had envisioned would fall
upon his valiant land. as the
ruthless Kremlin masters Of
deceit squeezed out for their
own gain the very life blood
Of his noble people. who can
doubt that Shevchenko would
turn in burning wrath upon
the modern descendants Of
Genghis Khan? Who can
doubt that he would hurl at
the most sinister conspiracy
against human decency ever
to plot for the domination Of
the planet the phrase he
coined so long ago You
miserable and cursed crew"
And, who can question that
he would hail the one free
world power which has
pledged its moral and ma
terial might that instead Of
bestriding the earth. the
time will come on Gods CAL
endar when the Ukraine
prophecy will come to pass
and the vile tyranny will
breathe It's last-an newt
able day when the anquished
query, when shall we get
ourselves a Washington" will
be answered as 1t becomes
clear to all the earth that
the Red tide is not the wave
Of the future.
A pledge already broadcast
around the planet. that the
flame Of Shevchenko's faith
will be kept blazing, Is about
to be reiterated in the form
Of a statue in Washington,
capital of the free world.
In this city splendid a prom
inent site has been assigned
for that purpose by the
United States. 1t is a grassy
plot, appropriately in close
proximity to the worShipful
tower and spire Of a stately
Christian church. There will
rise in the months just ahead
the sculptured likeness Of
this fiery patriot Of freedom.
Costing more than a quarter
Of a million dollars 1t is to
be a gift Of prophetic faith
by Ukrainian Americans. The
seth Congress acted in the
spirit Of George Washington
when 1t gave the green light
for this project in spite Of
the bitter denunciation Of
today's despots, who have the
unbelievable audacity to sug-
gest that If the Ukrainian
poet were living today he
would join the marauders