The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-28
THE CUSTER Northumberland
IT BE ERECTED?

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Is it truo that the Americans fail acknowledge the
great services OF our benefactors that we DO not
appreciate the deeds OF heroes and that forget
perpetuate their virtues and vaor In either history,
poetry or art?
When the European traveller walks through the
great avenues of national capital be looks In
the statues OF those illustrous whose names
arc interviewer with the history Of civilization.
he asks for Fulton, Morse, Irving Clay Webster aud
Bcuton but they to be found. Robert Fulton,
the inventor OF the steamboat sleeps in Trinity
Churchyard without slab stone to mark his grave,
and Morse Irving the father OF the telegraph,
ani Tho other iathor OF American literature, have
suitable TO tell the rising generations OF
their genius and achievements There are private
soldiers on our streets ana our farms who have
fought through half hundred battles VINO pass IN.
noticed from day to day In europe suSn mcn would
the orders Of the day: they would DO honored with
place and profit.
which expressed Tor the heroic Custer, and the
intention which shown all over the country 10
monument 10 his memory and those who fell
with him. But IL seems that the Incompatible cour-
age the terrific battle and the awful sacrifice OF that
evcntu day have been forgoten not one soldier was
Lett to write its history. now the relatives and
friends of the martyrs silence on every side they
Our American orators alude 10 Leonidas at Their.
mopylc, Bruce nj Bannockburn, Napoleon at Lodi,
Macdonald at wagram Ncy at Waterloo and Nolan at
Baaklava with his six hundred. but the matchless
American, tho valley OF death, with his three hun
drcd, every dead tho field seems to BIO for
gotten Our historians and poets have embamet
nearly all former heroes In story and song but Custer,
tho martyr hero, Is unslatued and unsung. Still his
name Is In the OF tho worlds heroeG Not
Gallo Henry's spotless plume, nor crest OF peerless
born Bayard, yet De Icons stainless blade nor
banner OF Tcmplars Knights outshno the stars that
CLEANED on Clusters battle flag on that Hateful field
Lot statue be erected 10 Custer wncre nc directed
his bones DO bured-West Point Let him he stand
ing, endorsed, IN the midst of his soldiers lead
ing tho last charge, for man ever lcd him IN a
charge Let there be two allcgoricai statues tho
sides OF the PEDESTAL the genius OF liberty mourn
ing Tor her son, the other the genius OF history with
and without pen stylus In her hand. These three
figures with suitable pedestal OF granite would cost
about 49, 500. statue OF Custer with plain pedestal
would cost about &c. 800 less the size were
reduced from colossal proportions. II Custer could
have been consulted as TO where he would nave nad
his placed he would chosen West Point ABOVE
oil other places and there can be no question tnat
II would DO the most appropriate place; inaeoa, out
side OF the national capital, 1t ~ the only locality We
have for our war heroes But be this as u may wnat
we want now Is 10 know how much money there Is on
hand, who has charge OF the matter, how nuch more
raised If thore Is enough, and what can be
done toward selecting sculptor TO go on with the
work. committee composed OF, say william Z. bry-
ant, Peter Cooper General Hancock Algernon 81 sui.
iivan and Thurlow Weed, II thcy could be prevailed
upon serve, would be aDlc 10 do all that would be
necessary they would have nothing 10 do but decide
upon tho sculptor ana give the order secretary and
treasurer could do ali the rest and the statue DO
put up .,,n.
new YoRx, Sep. 20, 1871 JUsrIrIA