The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-09-29
THE GARFIELD MONUMENT.

The Garfield national monument
scoeme is one that should be worked
cut mmediately. We have compare
lively few nonuments in this country,
though the bodies of our great men
by tue score are Wondering in hun
dreds OF gEaveysrds, neglected. IN
cared tor and unthougbt of. II one
should look over the long list of
Americas great dead, and then note
the absence OF monuments 10 their
memory, he would conclude that We
were cold, mercenary people, de-
void OF that pride which in every
other civilized country marks the last
resting places o.! heroes with massive
and grand columns of stone, and puts
the great in bronze and marble. The
judgment would be 100 severe, for
Americans are perhaps the most lib
erRl people on earth; they srs full
Ct sympathy; they love and honor
their heroes and cherish their mem.
DRY. They are simply not given to
the building of monuments. In no
other country is there name so uni
versslly revered as lie that Of George
Washington throughout the United
Ststef; yet the comparatively modest
monument being erected to his MEM
DRY at the national capital has been
decsdes in rising above the founda-
ton. That the column progresses so
slowly is Tot owing to the stinginess
of the people, but solely TO the fact
that We are not MISUNDERSTANDING
people. In the case OF Garfield an
exception 10 the usual order should
be made. The late PRECEDENT repre-.
ssnted in his person the true Ameri-
can character and the possibilities
under our social and political institu-
tons. Descended from the old Puri-
tan stock he was purely democratic in
his whole nature. His manner
of thinking, OF working, Of plod-
ding. of soaring, of social
growth and of political achievement
was simply democratic in the broad |
sense of the term, snd American.
In no other country could poor boy
do as James 4. Garfield did-ascend |
from the lowest to the highest posi-
ton in the nation. And yet, With all
his high honors. notwithstan ling the
lofty height attained through laudable
he was merely citizen
Of the United States, and so regarded
He did not conceive that it
was possible for a man to get socially
above his fellow who was equally
honest and upright, though without
official position or prominent name.
Gen. Garfield, as Representative,
Senator or President could be as
Iociable, genial, free and easy with
The farmer or the day laborer az with
titled and official people. 1t was this
sublime democratic characteristic
hat caused him to be loved by all
With whom be came in contact. Let
there be q grand monument erected
to hia glorious memory, not to com
memorate the fact that be was muir
lered, for that can never be forgotten;
but to glorify the name OF the noble
American citizen. ADd that monu-
nent should be built by the people,
rather than by state or national aid
or the gifts of rich men. There are
wealthy men who would doubtless be
proud of the honor of building
monument to Garfield but this would
be Objectionable to the dead
President, and offensive to the masses,
whose warm friend be was, and who
want to know that they have done
to mark the tomb of their
friend and fellow. The twenty-five
cent subscription plan is the proper
)ue. It viii supply all the money
hat is necessary, and extend to all
he people an opportunity for con
ributing. Now is the time for going
ahead with the work. Americas ex
oerience in monument building fur
1ishes convincing evidence that de.
avs are dangerous.