The Dewey Arch

 The New York Times ran a guest column yesterday that described the history of "triumphal arches," which Trump is obviously trying to imitate in the construction of his new so-called "Arc de Trump" in D.C. 

But the Times piece leaves out of the story one of the closest parallels from our own history: the Dewey Arch, which was built in New York's Madison Square in 1899 and demolished a year later. 

This arch was particularly Trumpy, I say, because it was constructed specifically to honor an extremely unpopular war of aggression and imperial aggrandizement in the Philippines—

—a piece of history that is all too reminiscent, that is to say, of Trump's own unlawful invasions of Venezuela and Iran. 

May we hope that Trump's "Triumphal Arch," if it ever gets built, will be as short-lived as Dewey's. 

I only know about the Dewey Arch thanks to the poem of protest that the anti-imperialist poet Ernest Crosby wrote on the subject. 

It sums up all we need to know or say about the proposed "Arc de Trump" as well; so let us quote it in full: 

Build up your arch. Lay snowy stone on stone

To herald to the world your glittering pride

In foreign conquest. Lightly fling aside

That irksome creed of Liberty outgrown.

Let your new toys, your ships and guns, atone

For broken faith and precedent defied.

Proclaim your marble goddess far and wide

Freedom no more, but Might, and Might alone!

Nay, 'tis a whited sepulcher you raise,

Whereon shall this stern epitaph be read:

"Here at the silent parting of the ways

Fell Liberty, betrayed, beguiled, misled.

Pray for her, stranger, that in happier days

She may be raised immortal from the dead."