New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-26
THE oUFSTTON OF THE MONUMENT

THE QUESTION OF 1hE Mo"o
Now that it ia decided that General Grants
remains shall rest in Central Park, the question:
of the character of the monument 10 DC erec'eu
over them at once becomes important. Mayor
Grace has already taken the initial steps to""ru
financial ORGANIZATIONS and there can De no
doubt that the citizens of New-York Will De
ready to do their share of the contribution ana
the work. whatever it may be. But III the
monument to be erected is National one there
is the more reason that the utmost pains
should be taken to make it an artistic success
It is not too much to cay that in the past sue"
success has not always been attained IN sliii'iar
undertakings. There may be universal en-
tbusiasm. profuse subscriptions, 0verbowfng
energy and executive readiness, and yet, II the
RIGHT measures are not taken to insure the
necessary art knowledge and discrimination
tho outcome may be- such as to reflect httle
credit mon the National taste. Washington Is
unhappilv filed with too many crude anu
clumsy So called ait works to render caution OH
such subject unnecessary.
In this case it is of the greatest consequence
that there should be no mistake, fol never was
it more universally desired that the highest
honor sbou]d be paid to the dead, anu this
National feeling ought to find expression I'D q
triumnh of American art. The arrangement OF
this vital part of the undertaking demands
much more skilful handling than goes to the
collection of the necessary funds. The latter
indeed will probably be obtained with compare
lively little trouble but the greater the ioer-
atty of the people, and the more earnest 'heir
desire that their hero should have noble ana
fitting mausoleum, the greater VIII be the heeo
for care and discrimination III settling the dc-
tails. 1t is scarcely necessary to point out tnae
the contemplated monument ought To DO
magnificent tribute to the dead soldier; a
structure which will endure for ages, and
which future generations may regard with adj
miration. And it is to be hoped that it will be
so far as possible representative and example
of modern and especially of American art and
not mere servile copy of the antique. Con
temporary life, and in a notable way the career
of Grant himself, afford abundant suggestions
capable of being worked into the most striking
scnlptural forms and combinations. The monu-
mept is to record the honor in which the great
leader it incoses was held by fifty millions OF
Notwithstanding people. 1t is fitting, there
fore. that it should be modern and not classic
ediice. and that its emblems and friezes and
tablatures should represent scenes from the life
of the nineteenth century and Dn the physical
plane of the American continent.
The committee invited to meet Mayor
Grace is composed of citizens of all shades of
political opinion. and they are men who possess
the confidence of the community. We have no
doubt that they will use all their influence to
secure the completest success for the enterprise
they are called together to inaugurate.
THE TRIBUNE stands ready to aid them
with all its ability, whether in the collection of
funds for the Grant monument or in any other
accessory work. When the prtliminaries are
arranged and the plan is laid out 1t will be in
order to speak more definitely.