Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-07-30
NORTHERN TRIBUNE,
SATURDAY. JULY 30. 1881.
Michigan Soldiers Monument.

Michigan Soldiers Monument.
From Lansing Republican.
After work of 16 years the Michigan
soldiers monument erected in the Cam
pus Martius at Detroit is completed, and
the four allegOrical figures representing
"union," "histOry," victory" and "eman-
cipatiOn" were unveiled Tuesday, 10th,
in the presence of an immense crowd Of
people.
Col. James w. Romeyn of the board Of
trustees gave historical statement of
the inception and building OF the monu-
ment. A public meeting with this object
in view was held in Detroit as early as
1861, but 1t was not until 1865 that the
work took definite form and resulted in
monument association, with B. +. H..
Witheral as president; Henry A. Morrow,
vice president; James w. Tillman, treas
urer; John Owen, auditor; and Thomas
w. Palmer and James w. ROmeyn, secre-
taries. An executive committee was also
chosen, which consisted of C. G. TrOw-
bridge, John Owen, Henry P. Baldwin,
II. N. Walker, j. +. COnOver, G. l. Walker,
w. A. Butler, Austin Blair and +. III.
Thompson.
Two years were spent in an active can
vass for funds, and in 1867 the committee
advertised for designs and estimates.
Those furnished by Randolph Rogers, of
Rome, Italy, were adopted. On July of
the same year the cornerstone was laid
under the auspices Of the f. and A. Ma
sons, with an grafton by Ex-Governor
Blair. In August the association became
incorporated under the name of the
michigan soldiers and sailors mOnu
ment association"
On April 8, 1872, the monument COM
plete according to design in all respects,
with the exception Of the four allegOrical
statues above mentioned, was unveiled
with appropriate military and civil cere-
monies, Ex-Governor Blair again deliver
ing the grafton.
The total cost of the monument has
been $70,0S2.9l, and the statues unveiled
on Friday cost $4,000. The subscrip-
tiOns to the monument fund varied from
10 cents to $1,000, a large sum having
been contributed by the pupils of the
public schools of the state. No public
appropriation or tax has been made or
levied in aid of it. The monument faces
due south. To the top of the statue of
Michigan it is So feet high. 1t contains
about 227 tons of Rhode Island granite
and about 16 tons of bronze. The bronze
work is from the royal foundry at Mu-
mich, except the four sitting statues which
were cast at Rome. The monument
bears the following inscription: Erect
ed by the peOplesOf Michigan, in honor
of the martyrs who fell and the heroes
who fought in defense of liberty and
union"
The present officers of the association
are G. c. TrOwbribge, president; John
Owen, vice president; Vim. A. Butler,
treasurer; and James w. ROmeyn and T.
w. Palmer, secretaries. Such, in brief,
is history of the monument.
Theodore ROmeyn, on behalf of the
association, delivered an appropriate ad-
dress, in which he touched on the cause
and nature of the rebellion which ex-
banded until it became the most extern
sive conflict recorded in history. OF the
10000 union troops furnished by Michi-
gan, nearly 1900 persisted in battle or
from the direct exposure in the field.
This monument teaches lesson to the
people of Michigan more eloquent than
can be uttered by human lips.
Governor Jerome made an eloquent
response, in which he truly said. "Mich-
igan men were among the first to enlist
and the last to leave the service. They
took part In nearly every engagement
during the entire conflict, and their con-
duct under all the vicissitudes of war;
on the march, in the battle, in the hos
pitfalls, and under the tortures of rebel
prisons, was marked by the highest type
of herOism,"
In a general way he touched upon the
causes and results of the great struggle,
and closed with the following words: IL
congratulate the association on the COM
pletiOn OF its undertaking, and for the
labors thus performed tender the thanks
of grateful people. And. now speaking
for those who fell in the conflict, for
those who survived, and for the whole
people who enjoy the fruits of their VIC
tOry,I accept the monument in the beauty
of its completeness, and mindful of the
sacred sentiments it typifes in the name
of the commonwealth of Michigan"
At the close of his words the four stat
ues were unveiled. Each is a female
figure with body inclined forward.
victory holds palm branch in the
right hand, with antique sword, sheath
ed, resting upon the left knee; union"
has bundle Of rods firmly bound to.
gether resting by the left side, emble-
matte of the union of states; "emancipa-
ton" Is cOlOred woman with laurel
wreath in each hand; and history"
holds a laurel wreath in her extended
left hand while ponderous tome rests
upon the right knee.
For ages to come this monument will
remind future generations of the brave
deeds and willing sacrifices of Michigan's
noble sons, many of whom laid down
their lives that the union might be pre-
served.
ConhIing's Telegram.
Whan NnpIrIsy,r.