Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/831

 THE AKCHITECTUBAL KEVLEW AND AMERICAN BUILDERS' JOURNAL. Vol. I. — Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S6S, by Samuel Sloan, in trie Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. MONTHLY REVIEW. ARCHITECTURE AND REPUBLICANISM. IN countries where monarchy rules, or has ruled, it is at once perceptible that Architecture there has basked in the golden affluence of pride and am- bition. The royal residence is not more profuse of its display of vanity, than is the proud temple, ostensibly raised to religion, yet too evidently dedicated to the glory of the prince whose liberality of a people's wealth piles up an enduring monument to stand as a record of his greatness for ages. Every branch of government, civic or military, from the palace down, has its share of Architectural display ; and next, the nobility take the position which rank has given them, and sustain by outlay, the grandeur of the govern- mental fabric they borrow their greatness from. Hence we find in such countries the mightiest, if not the choicest, trea- sures of design. It is not so in our land of republU canism, where the people rule them- selves ; where the magistrate of State holds his high authority but for a season, and then falls back into the ranks of the people who chose him for the position he has held. Our City Halls are our only palaces, and these are not residences like Mayor- alty Houses in Europe ; but simply offi- cial buildings for municipal purposes. The State Capitol is in the same cate- gory, but of a higher class. It is the parliament house of the State. And the United States Capitol is the National representative building of the entire country, in which the delegated powers of legislation congregate for the govern- ment of the whole people. First, then, amongst the Architec- tural monuments of our nation, is, as it should be, the Capitol at Washington. The State Capitols stand forth as the leading designs in their several States. That is, they should be such ; and that they will be, appears certain, from the liberal efforts which are being made by many legislatures to erect structures worthy of a great and enlightened Re- public of which they each go to make the whole. There are many of these State Capi- tols that are worthy of admiration, and we doubt not but they will be ex- celled by those 3 r et to arise. There is professional talent enough in the country to ensure so desirable an end. The next in grade of civic architec- tural representation, come the City Halls, the Court-houses, Post-offices and Custom-houses. And these make up the features of this class of muni- cipal sights to be seen by strangers who visit our shores. (673)