Who that visits Italy can fail to be inspired by the ruins of the Forum and the palaces of the Cæsars on the Palatine? The Italian Government has done wisely in making its work of excavation a work also of restoration by replacing as far as possible the statues and monuments of ancient time in their original positions, and in entrusting visitors to the care of guides educated for their duties by a university course in the history and archæology of the Eternal City. Such a guide, after a whole day spent in enthusiastic descriptions of the temples, public buildings, rostra and tombs of the Forum, was asked, “How happens it that you are so very enthusiastic over all this, when it is your duty to make this round day after day?” Never will the hearer forget his reply as, drawing himself up to his full height, he exclaimed with the proudest, loftiest accent, “I am a Roman.”
“The grandeur that was Rome” was the spirit of her citizens, their expression in the life of their city, of their high ideals. When these ideals failed to inspire, Rome fell.
That which makes a State is the character of its citizens. One of the strongest influences in the moulding of character is the example of the heroes of the past. Preservation of the history of those who helped to make and mould the nation is, therefore, essential to the maintenance of patriotism. Indeed, it is essential to the true moral development of the nation,—to the very preservation of the nation.
One great advantage of the memorial tablet and the statue over the printed page is that the former are seen and understood by all, while the pages of history are only turned by those who have a certain degree of education and interest. “What mean ye by these stones?” the children in the land of Canaan would ask, gazing upon the heap of twelve smooth stones by the banks of the Jordan. Then would the fathers in Israel reply, “Because the waters of Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and these stones from the bed of the river are for a memorial forever of Jehovah’s leadership of his people through the dry bed of the river into the promised land.”
The historical and patriotic societies of the United States are doing a much needed work by the erection of tablets and the marking of historic spots. A want of reverence for those who founded our nation and fought to establish it; a carelessness as to the lessons to be learned from the early history of the country; a desecration of places consecrated by the blood of our heroes, had much to do with making us, in appearance, a flippant, boastful people, glorying only in the “bigness” of our country and what our own generation was doing, in short, the boastful Yankee caricatured by our European kinsmen.
That temper has changed. While the greater seriousness with which the American people undertake their problems of government is no doubt in part due to territorial expansion and greater international relations, credit must also be given to the impressive influence of the memorials placed in our State houses, our parks, along our streets, commemorating the worthy deeds of our ancestors.
It is then a direct benefit to the State, and aid to good government, and to the realization of the highest civic ideals, to place, where all can see, memorials reciting the virtues and the heroic deeds of men like Washington, Lincoln, Greene, Sullivan, Sherman and a host of others whose splendid achievements, in war and in peace, are a part of our heritage as American citizens, and are the inspiration of our youth to give also of their best, in talents and in loyal, patriotic effort; to make our country great in the best sense,—great in the character of its citizens, great in the accomplishment of high ideals; great in the enjoyment by all of the blessings of liberty.
Providence, R. I., February 12, 1909.
MR. PATRICK CARTER.
Of Providence. R. I.
Member of the Executive Council.