The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-18

Congress.
MEIGOsEAE.S OF TEE pASE
1t must be confessed that the American
people arc utlitarian almost to the last de-
gree The main question seems to be 'cUi
bora, what good will it do ? The meaning
being what pecuniary benefits will we or
our children reap from this or that project?
Yet, N a measure they belle that charac-
ter, and prove by their deeds and actions
that they have something of respect and
veneraiion for the past, that they seek
something beside money return. They
bcauiify their houses with paintings, en-
cravings, chromos and photographs, and
these they seek, not wealth in mere money.
but food for the mind, a cultivation of the
taste of the finer elements Of character
Year after year, hundreds if not thoNsands
and the number increases yearly, seek
the old world that they may feast their eyes
with the monuments and memorials of the
past, and thereby recall the deeds they
commemorate, the artist, poet or author
whose works they are, and they return to
their homes the better therefor. At home
''soldcrs monuments" dot the country, and
it is well because they are outward signs of
an inward feeling of love for country, n
devotion to free institutions and deep,
abiding respect and vencratiOn for those
heroes whose deeds they commemorate and
whose blood saved the Union.
And yet ruthless hands are allowed to
destroy the really few monuments of the
past, which past generations have suffered
foreman with us. Our country is young
in years but old in events. A few memoir
ais Of the throes through which the country
passed in its new birth of freedom and uni
ty yet remain. but wanda, hands are fast
working their destruction. Why should
this be so? Why not preserve a few build
ings to which the traveller will turn his way
on account of the historic interest connect
ell Herewith Why should not such places
be as sacredly preserved in the new world
as in the old? Why should not the Amcri-
can visit the monuments of the past in his
own country as well as in foreign lands :?
But how is it? Let the facts answer In
order to RAISE grain, the monuments erected
by the prehistoric race of Amcrica-the
mound builders have been lcveled to
the ground. y so-callcd utility has destroy
co most Of the buildings rcdolent with
memories of the revolution. There is no.
thing 10 show where n single battle Of the
revolution, the war Of 1912, or the war Of
the rebellion with, perhaps, three or four
exceptions was fought, save, perchance
some man may be living who can point
them out to the persistent inquirer.
When visited, what do we sec-anythng
to remind us of the blood there shed, of the
glorious achievements of our citizen SOL
dicry? Are there any marks or lines to
show where the opposing forces stood,
where the contest commenced, where this
noble commander or that brave soldier
poured out his life blood, where victory
was finally wrcsted from the enemy and
the foe laid down his arms ? Not at all.
We only see an ordinary farm covered with
grass, grain or fruits of the earth, pas
turc in which cattle or sheep are peacefully
feeding, or hogs roofing up the ground, OF
perhaps piece Of land covered with for
est or dense growth of undcrbrush As
] Al Al. Al. a. l. ~
else And now the cold South" church,
the pride of Boston and the glory of the
country, around and in which cluster more
sacred and historic memories than in almost
any other place in the country, is doomed
to destruction, In defiance of public opin
ion and in spite OF protests after protests
We have, in Rutland, Nermont's almost
sole monuments Of the past, of the days il
which she was fighting for her own and thu
countrys independence. The old Stat,
house of 1884 still remains on West street
presenting, save for paint and blinds, thu
same outside appearance it did ninety year
ago, when the legislature voted to rails,
men for the defense of Windham count,
"against the Workers as it did, the SAM
year, when Tie mob attempted to oyeraw
the court there in session. 1t ought to b.
preserved for all time. 1t ought TO becom
the property of the town or state.
ought not TO be exposed to danger from fire
or to be in danger of destruction or remova
for any supposed public necessity or publ
or private improvement. Let us see to it
fellow citizens, that there shall be, at least
one memorial of the past in the country
and that in Rutland.