New-York tribune., 1882-02-09
THE GARFIELD MONUMENT.

yIOW THE MONEY Is TO BE RAISED, AND WHY
II OUGHT TO BE.
TO ne Edftor Of me TTtdu"e
SIR: Some of the press notices about the Gar
field Monument tund seem to call for little ex-
plonatiou. The erection of some kind of mark at
tbe graves of the dead is u fixed and
beantilul custom of civilization the proprlety
of winch is disputed by only very
small number of people, if, indeed by any. That
such mark. or that a monument. should bear some
relation to the character and Importance OF the
person whose grave It marks and to the es INA
tjon in which his memory is held, is self-evi-
dent If James A. Garfield is TO be treated
as \ prominent local politician" it would be all
right to reat his grave and memory as of merely
local interest and allow Cleveland and his old dis
trict TO erect such monument to his memory as
their respect for him and for themselves
might dictate. But If Garfield is a
National character and his grave a
nlace Of National interest there ought to be cred
table National monument to his memory erected at
his grave.
The committee selected by citizens of Cleveland
simply propose a plan to the American people to
raise a fund and erect a National monument They
estimate that $25O,000 will be required (about
the sum expended LincOln's monument at
Springfeldl. OF this they pledge 100000 from
Ohio; and of this sum in Cleveland alone over
$4,000 has already been raised. When was re-
ouested few weeks ago, the agent of the COM
mittee to organize a scheme for raising $l50O0O
outside of Ohio, that sum was divided among the
several States in what considered fair ratio to
their ability to give, and we-knOwn citizen OF
each State with the exception of four five States
not vet vitod) secured to take charge of the mat
ter for the state.
,Jot~ I I1x-a adn 20
10 divide the amount assigned to each State among
the several counties in proportion to their
population and wealth. and to ask some
well-known man in each county to raise
the comparatively small amount asked of his
county. BY this method 1t is expected the whole
fund will be raised in such manner to make the
monument really National-that every county
in the United States will give little
toward it, aud that community
OF person will be importuned for or
burdcned with large subscription. The Cleveland
committee does not propose TO control the adop.
tion of plans for monument or the expenditure of
the money. A National Monument Association Will
be legally incorporated, consisting OF gentlemen
from each State and to the trustees of this
ton the funds will be turned over and to them the
work of erecting the monument Will be lntrusted.
There Is certainly nothing lmpertluent or unSeemy
about such a proposition as thus Oh the part oil tue
Cleveland committee. On the contrary, all fair
minded persons will regard 1t as emlncntly proper
reasonable and falr
A word about the great number of Garfield
memorial projects that have been proposed in differ
ent parts of the country. Without cnticising any
of them, it is enough to say that
none OF them can have claims superior to
this one They may all fail bat if a National
monument marks his grave no one viii say that the
country has neglected the memory of Garfield. The
others may all succeed, yet If thus one fails the
world would say, and justly too that the United
States has neglected the grave OF Garfield, and
would pronounce such neglect disgrace TO the
American name and character
One thing more may be properly mentioned
the thoroughly nOn-partsan spirit shown III
what has has been tar done. McSsrs. j. III. Wade
and H. b. Payne, OF the Cleveland committee, are
lifelong members OF high standing in the party Of
which Garfield was a lifelong opponent. The
prompt and earnest interest OF Mayor
in Chicago, and of the gentlemen
whose cooperation has been solicited III all the
Southern States worthy tribute to Garfield, and
no less tribute 10 the patriotism and generOsl ~ OF
those gentlemen themselves and those they repre-
THOMAS NJ. NICHOL-
Mar York. Feb. s, 1882.