E 3/^ .M7 5 ff\ S 17 P Z o o m 0) 0) C O CO 0) > ^ ■< n [Fourth Edition.] Mount Vernon Association. ^ OPINIONS OF THE PKES.S.. " It is indeed, eiitirelj' out of harmouy witii thesentimentconnected witli the spot to liave it fenced about and managed as tliough it were a show." Boston Evening Transcript. Tlic Baltimore Sun of June 29th has an article of nearly a column in fine ty\)(i^ written by its able Washington correspondent, F. A. R. Our limited space in this circular forbids its entire republication. Tiiis want of space we sincerely regret, for we consider it one of the strongest arguments that has so far been published on the question at issue to confirm public opinion that the Mount Vernon Association is an unjustifiable, unpatriotic and oppressive institiition, opposed to the teacliings and principles of a Kepublican Government, and a pro- ])er respect due to the dead. The first sentence of the Sun's article in defence of the Mount Vernon Regency, reads : "Editorials and communications on the subject of Mount Vernon and tlie "fee"' exacted for visitin"' the tomb of Wasliinutou are just now of frequent occnrrence in the columns of tlie newspaper press of the country. A move- ment has been initiated in tliis city (Washinuton) with the purpose of devising some method by whicli admission to the grounds of Mount Vernon and the tomb of Wasliington shall be made free, and circulars sent from this city have been the inspiring cause of the publications above alluded to." So it seems that our little "circular sent from this city has been the inspiring cause of tlie publications above alluded to." This is truly gratifying to be informed that our little publication has been the cause of the great commotion extending from one end of the Union to tlie other ; it also proves that the press in every State is talcing a deep interest in the matter, and has decided to let the people know how the tombs of Wasliington and Lincoln are used for the purpose of making money out of the general public. Our single handed effort — (setting the type, working the press, biiyingpaper, envelopes, post- age stamns. and other expenses, all drawn fi'om our limited niPixus) can well be compared to the combat between David and Uoliath, and with truth, justice and res])ect for the illustrious dead for a weapon, we are confident that a headless giant will be the final result. "Truth is mighty and will prevail.'' "While error bruised and writhed with pain, Will die amidst her worshippers." Again says the Sun's correspondent : "Among other statements is one giving the whole credit of acquiring the Mount Vernon estate to Edward Everett. Mr. Everett's services were most valuable and patriotic, but the sum total raised by his articles on Washinsiton and the famous oration which he repeated so many times was •'i!(>8,000. * * The remainder of the $220,000 principal^^itl interest of the purchase money for Mount Vernon was collocled by Up^adies of the Associations, and mostly through individual subscriptions.' J^ This extract sustain tlie stmenient published in the N. Y, Even- ing Telegram, Boston JourjjSl, and Kansas C'ity Times, that the peo- ple furnished the money t9 purchase Washington's tomb. There is no evidence to show that the said ladies personally gave a dollar to tlie fund required to purchase the estate. The money came directly from the people, and the first act of the Regents was to demand one dollar and fifty cents for the privilege; of visiting the tomb and the estate ])urcha •' admission, and tlie association claims that this sum has never been "exceeded." As an eye-witness to the contrary we most emphati- cally contradict this statement. We were one who went witli a party of about twenty-five on the Steamer Mary Washington to test the ad- mittance question. On landing and reaching the gate, which was closed and barred as we approached, each one of the party off"ered the superintendent, Col. HoUingsworth, 2o cents to be admitted which he refused. The first one who off'ered tlie 25 ct. fee was the old veteran, Tliomas Davj% then 83 years of age. He turned with a sad heart that he had been refused admission to the tomb of tlie man he had reverenced from his boyhood. We can bring a cloud of wit- nesses to prove that the Regents demanded a price exceeding 25 cts. for admission to the grounds. It is reasonable to suppose that an association generous enough to provide free admision, boat fare included,to 70 Senators,333 Represen- tatives,Cabinet officials, and the chief clerks, and "friends of the fam- ily," — uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, and cousinstoo numer- ous to mention — would also be generous enougli to admit bonafide subscribers to the fund that purchased the estate for 25 cents when ottered at the gate ! Tlie author of tliis circular liberally subscribed to that fund, j'et his otter of 25 cents to be admitted to Washington's tomb was refused ! "It has been frequently repeated that the tomb of Washiuf(ton is the only torab in the world for thepiivilejie of visitini^ which a fee is exacted. Even in the strict technical sense tliis is not correct, and no one who has traveled but knows what "a pretty-penny" it costs in one shape or another to pay devoirs at the tomb of saint, bard, orator or ciiieftain." We do not see the point in the above paragraph to justify the ex- tortion to gain admittance toMt. Vernon. Because a "pretty-penny"' is demanded to visit a tomb in foreign lands is it claimed that the Regents have a precedent which gives them the right to demand a " pretty-dollar " to visit Washington's grave ? All travelers in for- F— eigH lauds say th.at this "pretty-penny" system of begging is a great annoyance : and foreign visitors to Washington entertain the same disgust at the extortion of a dolhir to visit the tomb of Washington. Here is an instance of foreign travelers rebuking our American sys- tem of paying "devoirs at the tomb of a great chieftain" : Twelve citizens of Loudon visited Washington in a body, July, '84. possess- ing means enough to travel over this entire continent, yet the twelve returned to London without visiting Mount Vernon, because the tax imposed was contrary to an Englishman's idea of a ]>roper respect for the dead. In the language of the Psalmist, "Oh, Lord, how long" shall this American system of tomb speculation exist ? The author of this circular is responsible for the statement that AVashington's tomb is the only tomb in the world that requires a fee to visit. We here confess our error. We learn from a letter recently pub- lished in the Cincinnati Enquirer that Abraham Lincoln's tomb has been added to tlie '•museum" list, where the visitor, at the moderate chaige of 25 cents, is shown a vnricty of "interesting relics," such as a piece of wood from the box where Lincoln was killed, and stained with his blood ; also, a piece of an actress dress worn at the theatre at that time. Another "relic" is "the hole" where Robert Lincoln will be put when he dies, so described by the guide who collects the quarters from visitors. The sale of photographs to gain admission to Garfield's tomb is another "pretty-penny" scheme in the line of sepulchral speculation. It is safe to say that the three graves above named are the only ones in the world except a few in half-civilized countries where a peiniy is solicited from the beggars in charge. No other nation except this great and glorious Republic— this "land of the free and home of the brave" can boast of a deposit in a bank of I "ii-i'lT? $37,000 exacted from pilgrims to a sacred slirine. No other party but the Government shonkl own Washington's es- tate. Arlington Is so owned and all expenses to keep the property in repair are paid by the Government. Arlington is free to all, and not an instance is on record that this privilege has been abused. Can the managers of Mt. Vernon claim more, or as much respect for the dead as Arlington receives ? The aristocracy, so much coni'ted by the Regents, are more noted for their vandalism than reverence for the i-emains of Washington. A due respect for the ISTation's illustrious dead demand'^ that Mt. Vernon should be as free to the public as Ar- lington, the labored article published in the Baltimore Sun to the contrary notwithstanding. This Eepublic had better pay $10,000,000 for the property than subject citizens and foreign visitors to the pre- sent exorbitant tax. This great and rich Government cannot aftbrd to let the civilized nations of the world criticise and ridicule the sys- tem which demands a fee, even to the amount of a penny, from visi- tors to the tombs of Washington and Lincoln. "Mount Vernon is unlike all other spots where the boues of the venerated dead repose. It has not only the tomb, but the home of Washington. The graves of other threat men — of those whose last restlna: place on the earth is the object of popular devotion and solieitude — have totally different surroundings and require no special income." The above argument is so ttnlike common sense that we are sur- prised that the" intelligent and judicious correspondent of the Sun should offer it as a i-eason for adopting the present tax system at Mt. V. He contends that the bones of Washington are so unlike the l)on('s of other great men that no other agency but the present Regency possess the requisite qualifications to take charge of them . 'I'he bones of other great men can be safely placed in charge of a government and its appointed agents, but the bones of Washington are so unlike the bones of other venerated dead that it requires an association com- posed of venerated ladies for their safe and proper keeping. The following frankly and clearly admits the dollar fee : "Froji the time of the purchase all visitors comins; by laud have paid only ?,5ets- V'Uors bv water pav $1, of whicli the boat owner receives 66 cents and the association 34 cents. Nine cents of this latter is app'iieu'to ujc" of the wharf. The round trip by water is thirty miles." In addition to the above figures, the Sun's correspondent could have added another interesting item. Tliis same steamer Corcoran that takes 60 cents fare from passsengers who land at Mount Vernon, advertises to take passengers who do not hmd at Mt. V. to Glymont and back to Washington, nearly twice the distance for 25 cents. The boat after landing the Mt. V. visitors, at a cost of (J6 cts fare, pro- ceeds down the river to that popular and romantic landing Glymont. charging the low fare of 25 cents for the round trip. We commend this cheap and interesting excursion to all who object or cannot afford to pay $1 to land Mt. V. The 25 cents passengers from the deck of the steamer get a good outside view of Washington's home and save 75 cents by contimiiiig down the Potomac ten miles farther. Another fast and commodious steamer Arrowsmith is now making daily trips to Colonial lieach, 70 miles down the Potomac and return, for 50 cts.. yet to visit Mt. Vernon, the short distance of 15 miles, 66 cts. steam- boat fare and 34 cts. admission fee is demanded form each visitor ; and another fact, visitors are not only compelled to pay one dollar to gain admittance, but restricted to one particular boat, one particular hour^ 10 a. m. At no other time, 10 a. m., can the public secure a passage down the river to Mt. V. at any price. Tiiat precise hour and the price is a costly monopoly, yet we are told by the Regent's gallant defender that " The tomb of Washington i.i reall;/ the only tomb in the world which covers an illustrious hero and statesman that pri ■ vale greed and selfishness does notp7'ofit by''"' !!! As the tombs in all nations, except in the United States, can be visited without inoiiey and without price, we are at a loss to conceive hoAv "private o'reed and selfishness" can derive any ])rofit thereby. It is nnjust and out of place for an American to insinuate that tombs in Europe are used as a means of speculation. Add all the fees collected from visitors to tombs m England, France, and Germany together during a century they would not amount to $7!».ono, the sum collected in six months from visitors to ]MoMnt Vernon in ]87G ! If $79,000 collected in six- months is not sufficient to sustain a charge of "greed and selfisJiness" pray tell ns what sum would be required ? Let it also be taken into consideration that no admittance is per- mitted on Sundaj\«, and no boat except at 10 a. m., many thousands «Mn])loyed in tlie departments, in the stores, meclianics and laborers generally are entirely shut out from Mt. V. at any price for the want of a liver conveyance on Sundnvs. or between o and G p m This rule that provides but one boat and 10 a. m. the only hour in the day to secure a i)assage is more deserving of censure tlian the dollar fee It completely excludes a worthy class of citizens, and surpasses a greed and selfislniess computed by dollars and cents. Here's another sublime sentence : "Tiie method has l.ccn to make the atmosphere of Mount Vernon like a pri- vate home, with the halo of Washii)a;toii forever around it " True as holy writ. The method tliat excludes nineteen out of twenty from A\ asliingtou"s estate isverv "like a private home." and a kind of a "halo" wliich thousands thus forbidden to cross its three- hold do not enthusiasticly appreciate. Less "halo" and more respect for public rights would be far more acceptable ! Here is what can be pioperly called a "tender" argument : "To repeat, there is no other tomh in the world like that at Mount Vernon JNo tomb can lie more tenderly and more efficiently cared for." A tender care for the dea1 »V«^;,Tj;ton, v.iii o!>jiA.i, tu cuu ibuliuj;: 25 ceiils. " - . - Tiie writer again repeats that tlie admittance fee is only 25 cts A^et several tunes in ids letter lie admits tliat the actual cost is 6(5 cts boat faie, and .U cts. gate fee. If he can convince the thousands who liave visited Mt. V. and paid $1.50, and never less than $1, "that the a