Year: 1871

when Alexander, In his INVASION OF the Persian
country, approached the tomb OF Cyrus and found
it broken open he put the author OF the sacrilege
lPolymacnus) to DEATH although he was person OF
considerable distinction. And some further par
ticuars Of the matter may be useful IN the connec-
ton to impress the people OF the United States OF
to-day, whose territory may pass into the possession
OF strangers tomorrow, how succeeding nations
ana rulers among men are affected with respect
and venerati0n when In the presence OF the ashes
or monuments or the great dead who directed
human affairs before them, ana how future con-
querors OF the world WILL In the lapse OF ages stand
la uncovered reverence before tho object, whatever
1t shall Dc, which commentaries the virtues and
achievements OF washington. Nor VIII they be un-
interesting.


The epitapn on tho tomb OF Cyrus was this


40 man. whoever thou art and whensoever thou
comest (for come know thou VIII, am Cyrus,
little earth that covers my body"


And when Alexander had read 1t he was much
afected, and ordered the words to be inscribed In
Greek, SO that the Macedonians might derive from
the same lesson which had moved hun; which was
'the uncertainty and vicisstude OF thingsn In this
world.


J So was Alexander's heart softened toward the
Persians by this illustration Of their national char
acter that he was even inclined toward them and
soon thereafter took the daughter OF Darius for his
WIFE, and encouraged his officers TO for the HANDS
OF the Persian maidens, which was very generally
done; and such was the extent OF his enthusiasm
that ne gave an entertainment ar Susa In honor OF
the nuptals OF those Macedonians who had preyl-
ously married In Persia, to which many thou.
sands sat down, and to each Of whom he
presented golden cup besides paying all his debts,
IN fad tn rlv
three millions OF dollars of money. He also sub.
sequenty chose Persians among his guards and
officers and made them as his own people. Such
was the effect Of the evidences OF patriotic scnsi.
Fbality among the Persians upon Alexander. And It
10 ever true that those who have attained to exalted
positions in life feel certain prlde-amost per.
sonal one-in observing with what distinction the
people have consigned to the earth such as them
selves; and, their vanity being natered by the
spectacle, they are moved to acts Of grace and mag
nanimity toward those who have thus shown their
fidelity to greatness. And from this incident in tho
career OF q conqueror the conclusion may be drawn
that posterity has been frequently benefited and
nations preserved from the simple circumstance
that the renowned among the ancestors received
appropriate seputure; which. rising in the path OF
the invader caused his respect for the dead
come his hostility to the living. The experience also
forces the conviction upon the judgment that II Is Wis
dom In nation to erect such monuments to the
memory OF Its eminent dead, and to mark the lead
ing events OF its history as SHALL in the OF decay
and disintegraton which ultimately comes to all
human organizations. repress the violence OF the
foe and perhaps command his favor and friendship
by silent appeals to his consciousness and man.
hood. Such has been the effect OF like structures IN
the past and the future Is but the past repeated.
These sublime objects arrest the attention Of the
stranger as his foot presses the so ana their IN
scrpuons reach his SOUL like voices from the far.
away tombs Of his own dead or from the lofty sum-
mils OF the national watch towers at home. They
are, at such times, wherever found and by whom
soeyer met, eloquent apostles OF mercy ana minis
tcrs Of peace, moro pensiye than living tongues,
touching, by their dumb utterances, the hearts OF
tyrants, and teaching them tenderness In the name
Of common humanity. They are, also,
the rear guards Of civilization, the last wit
nesses OF the fall OF governments and OF the
overthrow OF nations standing on the outposts OF
time solemnly protesting against the advance OF
the destroyer Melancholy sentnels In the midst of
anarchy and Standardization, their sacred pre-
sence rebukes the wontonness which assails and
the weakness which surrendcrs. In the name Of the
mighty memories OF years, In the name OF all that is
holy In the past, they invoke what OF good remains
among men in times Of turbulence and direct its
n.
A shield against the sword OF enlightened nations,
they are a powerful Intimidation OF the rude
weapon Of the barbarian SO long as the arts,
the urns and the uLterances OF antiquity exert a
charm over civilized men they Will protect fallen
people against the violence Of such an enemy; and
30 long MS objects majestic and mysterious retain
their marvellous power over the superstltions OF
untutored minds ter presence Will lend an effective
ala IN the protection OF deienceleSS community





to him the letters OF the epttaph inscription are
but unmeaning characters, he well understands the
universal language or the structure itself and re-
CARDS II with ave. fearing the hand which reared 1t
as his master. Thus taught he acts instinctively
with prudent estimate OF the skin and power
equal TO consummations so wonderful.


But these public landmarks or nations are In an
other way potent III the councils OF peace. lhey are
In themselves noble examples OF the arts OF peace,
and their lesson Is The mculcatlon OF those arts
They discourage war and all strife by imbuln9 the
hearts or the people with wise and liberal sentiments
which are instiiled from CHI. dhood by rccltas or
their gories IN nursery and schoolroom. The
very affection with which they are regarded by the
promote peace, Tor however reluctant contendlny
armies may be to. destroy the noted piles
and monuments OF country which art
and patriotism have reared, the apprehensions OF
the pubic socitude for their safety; and, In
deed. they generally suffer mucn from tho conflict.
Hence u is that old aud highly cultivated nations
hesitate long. ana solennly weigh the chances OF the
campaign before they decide upon u. fearing the
destruction Of vcnerated OBJECTS within their borders
In case II goes against them.


Again, nation gains an immediate benefit from
the erection VI great works Of art TO perpeuate tho
names and lame OF her heroes and history, by the
inspiraiions OF patriotism among the people, which
fne very act OF construction beGets Contributions
,oward the object AWAKEN the generous natures OF
the masses and refine the popular sentiments OF
country There is no truer maxim in morals than
that good acts make good hearts. And VINO does not
Know from personal experience how q good deed
reacts upon the individual docr and prompts TO q
continuance Of similar effort; and who. therefore
does OF believe that nations are improved ana ele.
yatcd I'm the mass by united exertions in the cause
Of pcrpetuatng Their own plories2


The hearts oi The people of the United States have
long bcen hardened and their affections scared by
the experiences of civil war and IN the
meantime the name aud memory OF washington


given place 10 the scenes and events oil the last
decade. Wltn the younger classes aud even the


middle aged, this Is especially the case. And SO !,


Is that at the present time very ew persons under


thirty years OF age have any definite recollection o


none whatever u the progress that was male In the


XoIk heIole Il was arrested by the OutOreNk 0f the