The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-12
The Douglas Monument.

For more than four years the grave of Ste
phen A. Douglas has been left without so
much as simple tablet to tell the pilgrim
the name of him who rests beneath. On a
sport near the margin of tina lake, a little be-
yond Camp Douglas, lies all that is mortal of
the great statesman and orator, Illinois own
son, whose memory all Americans delight to
honor. 1t is enclosed by plain wooden pal
isading, which is slowly falling into decay,
or disappearing piece-meal a relic to re-
mind strangers of their visit to the spot
For nearly four years a number of ladies and
gentlemen of Illinois, the intimate personal
friends of Douglas. have been engaged in
raising funds for suitable monument to be
erected over his resting place and about
year ago beautiful design prepared by Mr..
l.. w. Volk, the sculptor, was adopted by the
board of trustees. The design has been
widely circulated, and has been approved by
the public, but the first stone of the monu-
ment has never been laid. Perhaps the re-
sponsibility of the delay rests not so much
upon the trustees, as upon the excited state
of the country. The war broke out soon sf-
ter the movement was originated, and the
public had other important matters to occupy
their attention. But now that the struggle
is over the people have once more begun to
turn their attention to the subject. The
Douglas monument has not been forgotten,
and there is now a sure prospect of its being
at least partially completed during the COM
ing winter.
4 majority of the board Of trustees of the
Douglas Monument association, consisting of
Bishop Duggan, Thos. b. Bryan, John b.
Turner, John NJ Douglas, Francis c. Sher.
man, W. c. Goudy, John L. Wilson and D..
A. Gage, recently authorized the executive
committee to make the necessary arrrage-
N ents and contract for the erection OF the
first section of the monument. These ar
rangements have now been completed, and
the building of the monument will be COM
menced In few days.
Those who are familiar with the design of
the monument need scarcely be reminded
that it csnsists of three sections.-th plat
form base, the pedestal, and the column, the
latter surmounted by the statue. 1t was con-
structed in this fashion by Mr.. VoIk, with a
view to the very difficulty which has arisen,
in order that, in case the whole monument
could not be built at one time, any section of
1t would be so far complete IN itself.
The executive committee propose to erect
this winter the first section of the monument
comprising that portion of the design from
the ground up TO the pedestal and containing
the mausOleum. When this is finished the
remains of Douglas will be taken up and de-
posted in the tomb within q marble sarcOp-
hagus, whcn can be viewed from the outside.
The erection Of the first section of the
monument will be an important step towards
the completion Of the structure. 1t then re-
mains TO subscribe more funds and raise the
second section, up to the column. If this is
done, the colossal statue of Douglas could be
erected on top of the pedestal, and the mon
ument would then appear almost complete IN
itself. But before this can be accomplished,
more funds must be raised. Over $4,000 is
already subscribed or on hand, which will
COM plete the first section, or platform base,
up to the pedestal which is TO be built Of
Athens marble. Arrangements have now
been completed, the contracts made. and the
work will be commenced Immediately CHI
cagO Times.
The Chicago Republican says:
when the tomb is completed, with the
walls and Ceiling of polished variegated mar
BILE and mosaic pavement. the remains of the
distinguished senator will be laid within
marble sarcophagus, which will stand in the
center of the chamber. In view of the spec
tator looking through the doorway.
The funds now in the hands of the associa
ton are sufficient to complete the portion of
the monument now about to he commenced,
and it is thought that when the work is so
far advanced money enough may be obtained
to carry IT forward to completion"
Here now is good chance tor the people
of the northwest 10 manifest their appreoia-
tion of the great and departed statesman,
Douglas, by contributing to the erection of
shaft to his memory. Let all respond hber-
ally. 1t surely is as little as grateful peo-
pie can do for the memory of the champion
of popular rights.