Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-10
A PLEA FoR aKEENE,s MONUMENT.
some Strong Reasons Why Greene's
Name and Image should be Placed

Name and Image should be Placed
Upon It. 20
The plain and simple monument IN
johnson square, begun By the hand OF La
fayette in 1875, has stood there a sort OF
mystery for sixty years, aud even to this
day our people differ in respect to whom
1t was erected. Two generations OF clti-
zens have disputed the name OF the par
tlcular hero il was intended 10 honor, and
it seems as if we ought at last to clear up
this doubt by afixing to the monument
the Image and the name OF the great
soldier it commentaries. The structure
was at first meant as
tribute to both Greene aud Pulaski,
with the hope, however, that IN time
there would come a separate monument
to the latter. All inscription, therefore,
was withheld, awaiting the realization OF
that hope, when the original column
would be dedicated by name TO Maj, Gen.
Nathaniel Greene. That hope became
fact 80 years ago, when IN Monterey
square rose the beautiful shaft to Pu-
laskPs memory, and yet the column OF
1920 now become Greene's by prescrlptVe
right, still stands, after another genera
tion, unnamed and unmscribed.
A monument to Greene is not with us OF
Savannah question of merit. We need
not show, what no one in the light OF his
tory will deny, his ability as a soldier
second among his associates only TO the
Chief himself-nOr prove his well-earned
title OF saviour of the SOUTH" nor recall
the high trust In which he was held by
Washington. These are facts; but TO us
Greene is more nearly related. lie was
an adopted citizen OF Georgia, practically
81 nf 4 al a r.
was buried by our citizens, and was hon
Ored on Lafayette's visit here with me-
mortal in one Of our pubiic squares, which
memorial does not even yet bear his name.
Is 1t not time that this neglect should
cease? Is 1t not a reproach to us that
after sixty years citizen and stranger
alike are forced to ask: "What mean
those stOnesY' because the pile Itself
does not telli Is there another m0nu-
ment in our land erected TO a military
hero that lacks its most essential feature
AN inscription? If this work is ever to
he done, the time is both urgent and pro-
pitiOus. We are on the eve
OF the centennial OF Greene's death.
On June u next, it will be 100 years
since the sad procession of SaYannah's
citizens, led by the cannOneers Of our
then infant corps-the Chatham Artillery
on its first burial parade, bore the body
OF this noble soldier through our streets
and laid it, with funeral hOnOrs, in our
city cemetery. Shall the centenary of this
sorrowtul scene come, and this bare,
mute, unsculptuTed column continue to
mock us with its doubt and delusiOn?
The attempt to supply this want has
been made before, but until now no at
tractiye and practicable scheme has been
suggested. A joint committee of the
City Council and the Georgia Historical
Society have had the matter under con-
sideratiOn for some time, and it's plan
was presented and approved az the socie-
ty's last meeting. The plan was pub
llshed in the MORNING NEWS of Aug. A..
| may be allowed to repeat its essential
features. Two rectangular bronze plates,
large enough to bear one, a ite-siZe figure
in alto relieves of the hero. from picture
commended by Lafayette; the other a
characteristic inscription, will be fixed
by bronze bolts to the North and
South faces of the pedestal.
Thus both our great citizens
image and name will be perpetuated
among us. The simplicity of the column
will be embeliished by the richness and
ornament Of these massive tablets, while
their fitness and beauty will soften its Sc
verify. The work will be done in the
highest style of art, and will be novel
speCl6s OI ueCOEaJlOu-
Ihe expense. as far az can be foreseen,
will be about $1,000, ADD TO secure this
sum will require tde cooperation Of both
city authorities and liberal items. Tne
resolutions OF the joint committee very
properly appeal to the City Council, who
have ample authority to promote such
object of public utility and ornament, ii
they will only exercise 1t, to vote a lib
eral sum, or least One-half this amount,
conditional upon the other half being sub
scribed by private hands. Nor need the
Council hesitate at so small cOntribu.
tiOn for the ad0rnment OF the city's chief
public square, as though taxpayers could
grumble at such iudiciOuy expense with
such close economy.
Surely the committee do not overrate
the public pride and the public spirit OF
our citizens in asking Of them, by private
subscription, the other 5000, so that before
! the close OF this year, the Greene mOnu-
ment, begun. as the cornerstone says,
sat the request of the citizens of Sayan.
nah," may. by other cltizens, native and
/ adopted, after more than a half century
be at last completed. We may all then,
with equal pride and pleasure, welcome
! in the coming year--the centennial Of
| Greene's burial day-by pointing to this,
/ their beautiful and artistic monument
/ standing in attractive dignity in our most
/ public thoroughlare, erected by the Off
/ cial and private gifts OF two generations
! of the citizens OF Savannah.
A MEMBER OF THE
GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
dug. 10, 1888.
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