The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-28
THE SOLDIERS, MONUMENT,


The idea of a monument in honor of the
soldiers and sailors who by their lives and
death reflected honor upon the State of In
diana is not a new one, and no one who knows
recent history claims it as such. 1t was sug-
gested almost Immediately after the close of
the war, and an organization was effected
looking to the erection of such a monument.
This had scarcely gotten well under way
when the panic came, then the death of Sen
ator Morton, and then the effort, which has
been at last successful, to build a monument
to the memory of that great figure in our his
tory. But the soldiers monument was only
in allegiance, there being a desire to do moth
ing or to say nothing that would in any
wise interfere with the Morton statue. A
fund of something like 81, 200 had been
formed from the proceeds of a soldiers con-
v%ention held in this city, and that money is
still on hand and will be available now. The
project was, more than two years since, taken
up by George Fl. Thomas Post, G. A. R., of
lille CllJJ q pan oNOPOSo eeLhS Q OAliSoOOo o'AO
at one dollar each, a number of
which were taken by the soldier
boys belonging to that and other posts. This
movement received the Endorsement of the
State council, and only awaits the opportun-
ity, which seems to be now come, to be pushed
through to speedy completion.
NJ r 1900 L. e IL NJ,
ton statue seemed to be an appropriate time
for the revival of the project of the soldiers
monument, and in his admirable little speech
Senator Harrison kindled into an enthusiasm
the latent thought of every patriotic Indian
ian. The movement must be a peoples trib-
ute to the soldiers and sailors who fought and
died under the enlistment of Indiana
during the rebellion. It must be as broad
in its scope and wide in its meaning as loyalty
and patriotism were in the days when Indiana
boys bore so sturdily and grandly the banner of
the Nation. That the immediate control of the
work shall be in the hands of the Grand Army
of the Republic is so eminently fit
as to require no argument. There
are an average of three posts to a county in
the State, and the work of canvassing among
the people can be almost Immediately entered
upon with a t~horoughness which will insure
success. No one expects the surviving soldiers
to furnish the money, and it was a narrow
misconception that preached the idea that, be-
cause the Grand Army was asked to take
charge of the matter, therefore they were ex-
pected to contribute the funds. In such an
undertaking there must be organization, and
the Grand Army being at hand, and so palpa-
bly, the proper agency, the suggestion came
~involuntarily. The Columbus Republican so
well states the idea of the Journal upon this
point that we reproduce its words:
at is all very well to place the funds in the
hands of the Grand Army, and let them have
the general oversight of the work, but they
should not be expected or asked to furnish the
money. A sense of pride would suggest the
improperly of building a monument to them
selves, and the pride of the people should
prevent them from leaving to the living
soldiers the work of erecting a memento to
their dead comrades. Give the soldiers the
direction of the work, and if any of them de-
sire to contribute they can do so, but the peo-
pie who STAYED at home or who have grown
up since should have enough gratitude, pride,
and patriotism to furnish the money. The
Grand Army posts form a ready and safe
means of collecting the funds, and wherever an
organization exists it should be asked to take
charge of the funds, and the people go to work
at once to raise them"
L ~ - Ill .1-1.. ~. r.. H.
Department of State, outlininga plan of work,
addressed to the various posts throughout the
jurisdiction, and urging immediate action,
would probably secure the necessary funds for
the statue during the early spring. The order
for the monument could then be given, reli-
ance being placed upon a generous and proper
appropriation from the next Legislature for
the pedestal, as suggested by General Harri-
son. That the State woulddo this there could
be no possibility of doubt, and in one year
from the present time the Indiana Soldiers
Monument would be an accomplished fact,
standing not only to commemorate past glory,
but as an Indictment to future good citizen
ship.
The journal will be glad to acknowledge in
its columns whatever sums may be contrib
uted, no matter how small the amount. Thus
far there have been made public through our
columns the following contributions;
L. NJ. Campbell. Danville. $4,000
Benjamin Harrison 10000
The Indianapolis journal 10000
The Terre Haute Courier. 5000
G. l.. Holstein. 5000
SAN Francisco contributes the latest object
lesson for the benefit of the rising generation.
On the recent arrival OF John L. Sullivan, the