New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-22
THE ALLEN MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.

An appeal signed by J. s. Copes, W. S
Pike, Harry T. Hays, A. Il. Isaacson, and
James H. Wingfeld, addressed to the
people of Louisiana, has been published
in the city papers daring the past week o,
ten days. The signers assert themselves
to be the Executive Committee of the 81
w. Allen Monument Association, and theiI
object in making the appeal is to solicit
small contributions, widows mites, and
the like to build memorial monument to
the man whose name the association bears.
This business of monument building
has been rather uphill WORK in the United
States. The affair at Bunker Hill has never
been considered worthy of the OCCASION,
and the Washington monument has been
unfinished for fifteen or twenty years.
And with here and there a notable excep.
ton, our whole country is singularly free
of these destinations aids to memory for
departed greatness. We are possibly a
trifie too utilitarian for such displays OF
lacerated feeling, and let our great men
| 60 down to the tomb and forgetfulness with
the most shameful Indifference. To COM
pensate for our short conings in the monu-
ment building line, we endeavor, after a
fashion, to provide for the widows and
orphans who have been left as reminders
that We have had brilliant, gallant, reck-
less, daring men in the public councils,
| who would rather sacrifice all the hus-
| bands, brothers and fathers in the land
than not to have their own peculiar views
in the ascendant.
But the managers of the II. ". Allen
Monum entail Association are determined
to strike for something grander than the
humid rum duties Of feeding and clothing
the widows and orphans. They are not
only about to see to it that departed great
ness shall receive more attention than
heretofore, but they generously permit
even the widows and orphans to refund
portion of their surplus aims to aid in
erecting the monument. The subscrip-
tons have been limited to four dollars to
each person, SO "that every man, woman
and child" may have the honor of con-
tributing. AS fitting reward, the name
of every person who pays in anything for
this noble purpose, is to be tastefully en-
rolled on parchment scroll, and buried
out of sight, under the corner stone of the
monument.
1t is eminently fitting and proper that
the frien DIS Of the great man who is thus
to be honored should build a memorial
monument. Like the heroic Arthur, of
the ancient Britons, his memory at present
survives only in somewhat doubtful tradi-
tons, in which his exploits may not al-
ways be accurately recounted. Fifty thou |
sand dollars for such purpose, under all |
the circumst ances, is mere trife We |
regret that an economical limit should |
have thus been placed upon the forth
coming public ardor. Rather let it be
proclaimed abroad that the cost and gran
leur of the structure shall be in proper
ion to the public gratitude, as manifested
~ their contributions. The fact that the
re asurer of the association, in addition to
ais well known character, is under "heavy
ponds is a sufficient assurance that ample
PRECAUTIONS have been taken to prevent
certain unpleasant consequences. We
lope at the proper time, unless men grow
honest before the day arrives, that the
contractors will also be placed under
leavy bonds.' But this, and the duty of
EXPLAINING the objects Of the structure,
re obviously to be left to "luture genera
ions"
A timely and proper precaution is given
gainst impostors, who may engage in the
opular work of soliciting subscriptions {
5ithout first giving bonds.
There may be some difficulty about the I
pitaph. Doubts may arise as to the ex- I
ct official designation, as well as to the pre- /
Use deeds of valor, acts of craftsmanship ,
nd works of benevolence which have +
aused the people to SO love and admire |
is exalted virtues. Yet we may safely f
.ust to the ingenuity Of the Executive i
ommittee for supplying the needed in p
or such as will answer the pur-
ose, when wanted. 1t has been said that y
oitaph writing is one of the most diff |
lit species of composition. In view of l
lis axiom and the premises, the commit. s
g, or their successors, will have an OPP d
'rtunity presented of achieving a great Il
erary success. They will, we trust, be
und equal to the occasion, when it b