USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > One hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and Independence Square and the three main buildings thereon, in Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania > Part 3
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Well might the spirit of the Huguenots, the Pilgrims, Puritans, and Penn, have lingered here to approve, rejoice, and say, " Let all this have a choice place in every American heart, to be seen in the brightest mirror of memory forever."
John Morton placed the Keystone in the arch of patriotism. He lived eight months afterwards. Before leaving the world, he said, "Tell my friends and others who censured me for my vote, that they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it to have been the most glorious service I ever rendered to my country." His vote proved a victory; his last words a reality. If the work here proposed should be done, let some part of it honor the memory of John Morton.
In each department have a book to record a list of the memorials, the names of donors of such as are given, date when given, place where given, when received, and such further account of each as may be essential and interesting. Also a book for each visitor to write therein his or her name, residence, &c., and have all records carefully preserved for all time, with every other paper of interest.
As in the east appears the breaking morn, And gilding light the scenes of earth adorn ; So Freedom's sun on eastern line arose, To spread its glories wide to western close.
Begins the emblem on our Square, east side ; In grandeur see each step a moral stride ; Till on its west, the States presented stand, Our country's chain, our Union, hand in hand.
Thus, in one great exhibition, our beloved country would be seen, especially in that all-important period from 1750 to 1799, when Washington, standing at the close of the eighteenth century and at the head of the nineteenth, the model man of the world, departed this life, leaving a character spread out before his country and all countries as pure and as beautiful as the golden skies in a clear autumnal sunset. Great in goodness, good in greatness, with rising fame, still rising, and still to rise, as if let- tered on the firmament with ascending stars.
Probably no work has ever been done on earth by man that can more appropriately meet the scriptural words, "God requir- eth that which is past," than the one here proposed to be done.
Its entire cost may reach one million of dollars, and as.much more at interest, for an income for yearly expenses. A small sum, compared with the wealth of our city, more so with that of our State, far more with that of our Nation. To illustrate its own financial or pecuniary value, just suppose, for a moment, an impossibility, viz .: That a company could own it, and, without any entrance fee, could receive all the additional value it would give to real estate around it, the benefits of all the increase of business it would bring to our city, the additional gains to our Railroads, commerce, hotels, stores, &c., augmenting from year to year, and then its pecuniary worth at the end of twenty-five years,
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the company could pay one hundred per cent. yearly dividends, and at the termination of said time would have millions still to divide. All this would flow into the business and wealth of our citizens and city. But no pecuniary or speculative gains can be high enough to reach the exalted platform of this patriotic pur- pose, nor can its worth be told in dollars and cents. It would be a diadem to our country, adorned with richest jewels, a firma- ment of patriotism, illumined by the spreading radiance of the Sun of Liberty.
If the beauty, loveliness, grandeur, magnificence of the scenes of nature portrayed on canvas, tend to elevate and purify human thoughts; if the pictures and statues of the departed great and good are beheld with reverence; if mementos, emblems and me- morials have in all ages been dear, telling of excellence that lived, and prompting to higher excellence; if the single and some- times simplest gift of affection is held as priceless ; and if all such (some of which are handmaids to religion) lead the minds of the children of men upward and onward in the atmosphere of truth, purity, freedom, philanthropy, patriotism, peace and charity, then what will be the influence of this monument of memorials, in win- ning the admiration, the love and the reverential regard of every beholder, and of all who may hear of it, in all civilized nations ?
Its moral worth in words cannot be given, Each heart can feel, and 'mid its scenes may say, Sublime and solemn, like the stars of heaven, This ushered in the morn of Freedom's day.
Historical, genealogical, antiquarian and other societies, also libraries, records, travels, searches, &c., involving years of time and millions in cost, are all cheerfully supported for the one great purpose of knowing the past. Can any one of them, or even all, display an event so important, or any in so vivid a manner, as the work here proposed ? For this, if carried out, will show the introduction of civil and religious liberty to man. The Reforma- tion was like a few voices crying for it in a wilderness : the Hu- guenots, Pilgrims and Puritans were its pioneers; bold and dauntless patriots like James Otis, Patrick Henry and others, . opened its pathway; the Declaration of Independence unlocked its gates ; the Revolution entered its field victoriously, our coun- try is planting that field world-wide, and the harvest is freedom, order, peace, with human rights and duties for all mankind.
It would be a lasting honor to Philadelphia ; it would more than substitute and supply all monuments that have been pro- posed; it would be a standing testimony that republics are not always ungrateful; it would give to children and youth a clear view of their country, their country's fathers, and the priceless value of liberty, government, order, safety and happiness; it would tend to unite all parties in selecting and choosing wise and good men for every official station; it would make our city more than ever respected and beloved by our country, and the increas- ing fame of our beloved Washington would be followed by the
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fame of Philadelphia, as having the most noble, interesting and instructive monument of patriotism mankind has ever known. It would tend to increase moral purity and goodness, to strengthen the union of our States, to augment the true greatness of our nation, and everybody would see it as the ark of human rights and duties, riding high above the reckless and miry undercurrents of deception, falsehood, corruption, injustice, oppression and the whole catalogue of wrongs.
Well might a citizen of Philadelphia feel some degree of pride in taking his family, his friends, his guests to this place, where all could be entertained, be interested, be instructed, and in a day learn more of the American Revolution, of our fathers, and of the origin and formation of our government, than usually would be learned in years. Besides which, the impressions on every mind would be lasting, especially with the young. No museum would be more interesting, no other nation could have such a monu- ment, and no city on earth but Philadelphia could possibly obtain such a treasure.
Aged persons are now living who are happy to relate many things of great interest, seen or known by them in their youth, never published, but which pertain to this matter, and if secured now while such are living, may prove important and valuable.
. Perhaps no time can be more favorable than now for this work. Every recent movement in relation to Independence Square favors it, no better thing can be done for our city, our country and man- kind, and if commenced and directed by patriotic, judicious minds, it would in three years be ready for an appropriate dedi- cation, unless that service should be postponed to the one hun- dredth anniversary of the Day of Independence.
Washington gave freely, without pay, eight years of his life in rendering his invaluable services to our country, and with his compatriots underwent labors, hazards, sacrifices, anxieties, toils, sufferings, severe trials, contests, privations, war, battles and blood-struggles, to carry out and establish those great principles of order, freedom and right, which have made us the most pros- perous and favored nation on earth, under a government formed by them, which protects equally the nation, the State, the county, the' town, the borough, the neighborhood, the family and the
NOTE .- Children and youth have inquiring minds, and early impres- sions are said to be most deep and lasting. If this design should be carried out, the children and youth of Philadelphia would, in their earliest years, be visiting it with their parents and teachers, and in it, and from it, would learn rapidly respecting our Independence, our Rev- olution, our Constitution, our government, our patriotic leaders, our States, our Union, our civil and religious liberty, our beloved Washing- ton, our great country, and our means of prosperity and happiness, and to value such as blessings from Heaven, beyond all price.
No children in any other city in the world would or could have a school so interesting and so full of useful instruction.
The advantages to children, if there were nothing more, would warrant all the expense that can attend it.
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cradle. Let us now, in our peace and prosperity, evince our gratitude, and honor their character, principles and names, by this monument of memorials, that will command the respect; love and reverence of all men, and give to the world a lasting demonstration that we do and will honor the fathers who left such glory to their children. And in so doing, that we do not forget the mothers and daughters who did their part in the great work :
For mothers, wives and sisters, steadfast, true, In spirit, for their country, were the van ; They cheered each patriot, for resolves anew, And hardships, toils, and triumphs shared with man.
With such a monument of memorials, Philadelphia would have a Mount Zion of patriotism, a temple beautified with the por- traits of departed excellence, an altar adorned with priceless mementos and emblems, constituting a glory surpassing in many respects that of Solomon's, with no offering required but affec- . tion and reverence, no homage but gratitude to the Divine Giver of all good, to whom our fathers looked for wisdom, and no sacri- fice, but love to God and man.
To contemplate all is inspiring; to behold its reality would bring the tribes from our thirty-six States, and others when added, and tribes from all nations, with the words of the ancient prophet verified, "Joy and gladness is found therein, thanks- giving and the voice of melody ;" and all hearts vibrating with love for our country, Union, government, order, peace, pros- perity, charity and happiness.
Throughont our land, and all lands, the tidings would run, to tell that the city of William Penn and of brotherly love has a shrine of patriotism by no other equalled ; a monument of respect, veneration and reverence for their country's fathers, and their character and principles, that in moral grandeur links the past to the present, earth with heaven, and mortal with immortality ; and over which the cherubim and seraphim of freedom might spread their wings and give it their approving voice.
Our people, our children, our descendants for all time, and from the south, north. east and west of our country, besides hun- dreds and thousands from all nations, would visit this fountain of freedom to be refreshed ; this house of patriotism, to be intro- duced to our patriot fathers in portrait ; this shrine of memorials, to behold in it the heart of a mighty nation; this monument to ancestral excellence, to see in it the gratitude of their descend- ants; this palladium of independence, government, peace and order, to behold it as a grand moral fortress to guard the rights of man; this ark of liberty, to see in it the choicest jewels of our land, and this moral light-house of our beloved country, to behold it as a guide for all nations to the field of true democratic-republican-federal government ; and, finally, to view the whole in all its intrinsic and commanding importance, as well as in all its touching and tender influence, in its silent but unceasing eloquence; declaring this great and funda-
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mental truth to all people, and which should be most deeply fixed in every heart, namely, that the Bible, the Sabbath, the school, and well-conducted press are, have been, and must be the light of our beloved land forever, the light approved by heaven, and blest for man.
'Tis our fathers' great record, exalt it in light, And the children will keep it, untarnished and bright.
Thus, Independence Square and its three main front buildings will be a permanent institution, showing the introduction of practical, civil, and religious liberty ; a government "by, from, and for the people," and the great principles involved in both. Results therefrom, moral and material, will be vividly set forth and made manifest to the world, by the grandest and most in- teresting centennial ever known on earth, for which our country, States and city are making preparation.
This design and plan have been made known to distinguished men of our city and nation, and to the people, more or less, of *eleven different States in our Union, and by all approved, with the belief expressed, that diplomas of membership will be sold, sufficient to pay for all and provide for all subsequent expense. The diplomas will be large, full, and instructive.
When the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument was laid, on the 17th day of June, 1825, La Fayette, then our nation's guest, was present, with thousands from various parts of our country, including many veterans who served in the Revolu- tionary war, some of whom were survivors of the battle of Bunker Hill, and among whom was a Rev. Mr. Thaxter, who was a chaplain in the army of the Revolution, and who, fifty years previously, officiated on the same hill. He led the multi- tude in prayer, and was followed by Daniel Webster, who gave his celebrated address, in which, when speaking of the monument, he used these poetic and prophetic words, descriptive of a scene to come of beauty and magnificence, viz .:
"Let it rise, till it meets the sun in his coming, Let the earliest light of the morning gild it, And parting day linger and play on its summit."
If Independence Square should have the monument of memo- rials here proposed, then we will borrow Mr. Webster's idea, and say : Let the children and youth of our land, in the bright morn of early life, greet it with the rising beams of joy and gladness ; let the ascending sun of manhood, its noon-tide and onward line of brightness, to life's declining day, encircle it and crown it with the radiance of moral beauty, tenderness, care, protection, and love; and let the heart and intellect of age, made wise by experience, gild it with the pure and beautiful rays of lingering affection, and the calm, golden halo of a farewell blessing.
* Now to seventeen States.
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A Plan for carrying out the Design. Submitted to the Philadelphia City Coun- cils, June 1, 1871, by Joseph Leeds, residing at No. 1614 Summer street :
First. To form an association specially for the purpose, to be composed of gentlemen whose names and character will inspire perfect confidence with the people, and under whose auspices every thing will be done in such a manner that in every house- hold the voice of approval will be heard, to which every heart will respond.
Second. To organize by having the President of the United States, and his successors in said office, ex-officio, the President of this association; the Governors of each State, and their suc- cessors in office, ex-officio, Vice-Presidents; the oldest Senator in Congress and two oldest Representatives, Members of Cabinet and Chief Justice, Honorary Members; the Mayor and Presidents of two Councils of Philadelphia, with ten others, to be chosen Directors. Any vacancy occurring in said ten to be filled by a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, from a nomination of five persons.
Third. To have a commission of trust, and proper authorities petitioned to grant to said commission and successors " Independ- ence Square and Buildings," for the purpose set forth in said design.
Fourth. To have suitable rooms for business, and for deposit- ing all memorials, until the present buildings on Independence Square are vacated, the said grant obtained, and all things made ready for their reception.
Fifth. To engage honest, able, intelligent persons to visit the families having the mementos and memorials desired, state to them the object, procure such as far as practicable, and report all doings to the Board of Directors weekly.
Sixth. To make known to all the people throughout our land the design and purpose, that all may understand it, that it is to be for our entire country, and to benefit mankind.
Seventh. To appoint suitable committees for such portraits, pictures, engravings, &c., as may be required; and have the diploma of membership, of such simple elegance as will adorn any parlor or room in our nation, or the world.
Eighth. To consider and act on all other matters requisite to carry out the design.
If carried out, it will forever commemorate the practical intro- duction of civil and religious liberty on earth, the grandest declaration man ever made, the most important revolution for the world's welfare, the fathers of our beloved country, the birth of our nation, and the best constituted government in the world.
Besides which, it will be on a ground hallowed by patriotic associations; a monument such as no nation has known; such as will win all hearts; such as advancing generations will love. reverence, and keep sacred; such as will draw, for all coming time, increasing multitudes from our country and the world, to visit it, and such as no city or place can have in such perfection as Philadelphia, because Independence Square and Hall are here.
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WASHINGTON.
No page herein can have a subject more appropriate than the following brief notes of his life, and the tribute to his character, taken from Spark's volume, No. 12. The latter portrays the excellence of that great and good man, the esteem and affection in which he was held, and accords with the words and proceed- ings of the President, the Senate, the House, the States, and the people when he departed this life, and with the acts of other nations. Such was the man who was chief in giving us Independ- ence, Constitution, and Government, and whose influence for good on national and individual character is untold.
Born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, near the banks of the Potomac, February 22, 1732. At the age of seventeen, an able Surveyor of lands. At nineteen, a Major in the Virginia forces to repel the French and Indians. At twenty-three, Commander- in-Chief of all the Virginia forces. At twenty-six, resigned his commission. Was married January 6, 1759. For fifteen years was a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia. At forty- two was a member of the Continental Congress, and Chairman of the most important Committees. At forty-three, unanimously chosen Commander-in-Chief of the American forces. At fifty, repelled the proposal to make him dictator or king. At fifty- one, went before Congress, resigned his commission, and retired to private life, having given to his country eight years service, refusing any pay. At fifty-six, was President of the Convention that framed the Constitution. At fifty-seven, unanimously chosen President of the United States. At sixty-one, unanimously chosen a second term. At sixty-four, gave his farewell address. At sixty-seven, departed this life at his residence, Mount Vernon, Virginia, on Saturday evening, December 14, 1799.
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WASHINGTON.
" The Defender of his Country ; the Founder of Liberty ; The Friend of Man. History and Tradition are explored in vain For a Parallel to his Character.
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In the Annals of modern Greatness He stands alone ; And the noblest Names of Antiquity Lose their Lustre in his Presence. Born the Benefactor of Mankind,
He united all the qualities necessary To an Illustrious career. Nature made him Great : He made himself Virtuous.
Called by his Country to the Defence of her liberties, He triumphantly vindicated the Rights of Humanity, And on the Pillars of National Independence Laid the Foundation of a Great Republic. Twice invested with Supreme Magistracy, By the Unanimous voice of a Free People, He surpassed in the Cabinet The Glories of the Field ; And voluntarily resigning the Sceptre and the Sword, Retired to the Shades of Private Life. A Spectacle so new and so sublime Was contemplated with the profoundest Admiration. And the Name of Washington, Adding new Lustre to Humanity,
Resounded to the remotest Regions of the Earth. Magnanimous in Youth ; Glorious through Life; Great in Death. His highest Ambition : the Happiness of Mankind. His noblest Victory : the Conquest of himself. Bequeathing to Posterity the Inheritance of his fame, And building his Monument in the Hearts of his Countrymen, He lived the Ornament of the Eighteenth Century : He died, regretted by a mourning World."
"The author of this composition is not known. It has been transcribed from a manuscript copy written on the back of a pie- ture-frame, in which is set a miniature likeness of Washington, and which hangs in one of the rooms of the mansion at Mount Vernon, having been left there some time after Washington's death."
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THE ANCESTORS OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE FATHERS OF OUR NATION. ONE HUNDRED LINES.
Old Ocean bore the first to this our land, The Huguenots, the Quakers. (freedom men, ) And Puritans, and Pilgrims of like faith. The South, the Centre and the North to them Almost unknown, they sought, but not for wealth Nor power. From such in tyrant hands they fled, And found this land, that they might here enjoy Religious Liberty. the only force
Which fosters and protects all other rights. This boon, in every age and every clime
From man was hid or held, or met, if known, By threats or prison, torture, scourge or death, While moral darkness and misrule prevailed.
The ocean wide, the lonely, distant shores, The rocks, and cliffs, and forests deep and dark, They dauntless met. In wilderness they lived, With.prayer they wrought, the Bible read and gained Increasing light. They sung in praise to God, The forest heard, and shore, and sea, and Heaven, And thus the freedom-hymn for man commenced.
And thus, with care they planted here a seed, A tree grew up, and they did eat thereof, And their descendants too. To all it proved A tree of life, the life of Heaven-born truth, Of knowledge, wisdom, foresight, human rights, Of Christian courage fixed in patriot hearts, And ever ready to suppress all wrong. The mothers, daughters, wives and sisters too, Partook that fruit, and often foremost stood, And with their presence and their counsel cheered Their fathers, husbands, sons and brothers on, To paths of duty straight, at every cost, If possible, with peace ; if needful, war.
A crisis came, and prompt their chosen men Were here convened, and here transplanted well That noble tree, ou Independence Square. With healthful root, it pierced the subsoil deep, Its mighty strength has grown, and rapid grows. The mammoth branches high o'er mountain peaks, And wide beyond our bounds of ocean shores, Are waving moral empire over Earth. Its rich perennial foliage bright and full, A fragrance gives and purifying air, On wings of health, to waft away from man, The inhumanity which oft unmans,
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And crushes noble feelings to despair ; And then to man it gives these richest fruits In constant full supply, enough for all : Our Independence, Victory and Peace, Our Liberty and Constitution, firm, Our Union and Government, secured, Our Freedom and Prosperity untold. Religion, learning, institutions wise, Imparting hope, instruction and relief ; Homes, friendships, pastimes where affection gains ; The flowers that fill the vase for Auld Lang Syne.
In wilderness the freedom song began, And children's children learned full well the strain, . Until at length on Independence Square Those chosen ones declared in thunder tones, That song to be a nation's anthem full, " Proclaiming liberty throughout the land, And unto all inhabitants thereof."
No history here repeats itself, nor is A like precedent known among mankind. No other nation, country, age, or place Can such a record show, nor such a line Of ancestry draw out, nor such results For good to man declare. A hand Divine Directed all, and thus our Country stands.
Respect and reverence, gratitude and love Beget their like, in works and deeds performed ; And these to such progenitors we owe, But most to Heaven who made their triumphs sure.
The Plymouth Hall, the noble monument To Standish rising now, and everywhere Through all our States, memorials scattered, tell That worth ancestral, made our Country's base, A rest most sure, on which to rise most high. Enough not yet is done to honor them, And vivify to man what they performed.
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