Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-07-02
4 SHAMEFUL EXHIBIT.
NO STATUE, PAINTING OR MEMO
RIAL TO SHOW THAT

Monument at the Expense of Com
gress to Each of Two of JIer Sons.
By ALFRED MOORE wADDELL.
F9r-t1c SeaHnel.
Traditions do not count for much
in this country. This preservation
and influence seems to be regarded as
inconsistent with the spirit of our /
| institutions" though exactly why such /
an idea should prevail Is not apparent. I
\ contrary sentiment would seem to /
be more IN accordance with the theory
Of our political and social life. IL Ger
tainly would not necessarily conflict /.
with correct IDEAS of progress, or the +
preservation of liberty. But it cannot +.
be denied that there exists among us
not only an Indifference but 4 positive
aversion to any serious recognition Of
tradition or precedent as a factor in
determining present conduct, and that
this tendency not unfrequently dcYel
ops into an almost brutal iconocI4sm
/ Nor is this spirit confined entirely u
( what has long been popularity called
+ 'Young America 1t doubtless
/ sprung from thaf, but It is not that
exclusively There is 4 restless impa-
! tienee of the restraints OF established
custom a contemDtpoas DISREGARD Of
/ everything im:,lied in the word Con
. sq,.rItis,n wbich constitutes 3 peculiar
characteristic of our civilization. anI
ono In tae contemplation oi' which the
tbon4i,tf3l observer can end very IiEtIe
coof,r4 tnd rbis ,ojrit prevails in
reonrd to important and trivial mat
tors ,liLo E'ron the c,rav-sf f.nexti.7
Of Constitutional construction or of So
ciaIoev down 70 fha littIe matters Of
local legislation. and the nonencl.turo
of fhinas sud places It's influence is
nsreepfibla. rs well in acts Of omission
:, af commission F6r illustration In
one nartiruIar reeaptIv took occ.
sion 10 call n1blic attention 10 the
shameful and ht,miIiafinr fact tbat
onr Stq+s has Absolutely ~ visible ey-
idence in fbo f.,rn, Of !, ,aonuaauf. or
starua or naintins, or other memorial
-sroctgI by the ,State-that alIe ever
produced man worthy Of remem-
branco. Her whole territory is SIM
pIY destitute Of any suc! sign, and it
l., perhaps, the only civilized land on
earth in regard to which So disgrace
fuI a statement can be truthfully made.
It cannot be said that public attc2-
ton WAS not sufficiently directed to
the subject, for Congress t'eIce passed
resolutions requesting North Carolina
to erect 4 monument at the expense
of Congress to each Of two Of her own
sons-in 1871 in regard TO Gen. Fran
els Mash, and III 1882 IN regard to
Gen. Wn DnYidson-nelthsr OF whleh
requests MAS ever complied with CT
seems to have recsiYed the slightest
attention. The sum. appropriated or
authorized by Congress for thi. pur-
pose were only $500 each, but $500
tombstone WAS better than oblivion
T for such men-and it is to be remem-
, bersd that $500 at that time was
equivalent TO 4 much larger sum now.
There may have been similar acts Of
Congress in regard to other revoiu-
[ tionary characters in North Carolina,
but l do not remember any such at
present.
1t is safe to say, however, that they
were not of such 'infnite variety" xs
TO render the tribute yalueless. and
THIS IS certainty one matter III Hnlcn
t the charge of being slow has been JUS
tilted against us, and about which we
need stirring up. [ was glad to see
| that some Of our papers took up the
, subject upon my recent aIlusion to it
; lin the memorial address at Raleigh
ard [ ara quite sure if the press gencr-
, aIv would discuss the matter until
: general attention was fixed upon it
; the rasult would be gratifying to all
who cherish any State pride. Such a
discussion would serve as an excellent
t substitute for some of the politics now
: dealt out. and would give new vent
: to any spirit of wrath that may be
.lunberiny among tho brethren.
They would then have standing
) object of attack, Il pertinent source Of
: inspiration for the utterance of live
: " and righteous indignation. They
could ask why North Carolina should
!; continue to throw doubt and suspicion
upon every claim asserted in her be-
: half by a refusal to preserve any evi-
. dence of it. and they could keep on
: askino It without eyer getting any
satisfactory answer. They could in