The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-26
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
FRIDAY, 3; FEB. 70, 1855.
MONUMENTAL INJUSTICE.

MONUMENTAL INJUSTICE.
When Gen. u. S. Grant died the
APPEAL, in n lengthy editorial, en-
deavored to do justice TO his patriot
ism. his personal honesty, his public
services, and com mended the move
ment to erect monument 10 his MEM
DRY. The nation which ROUTES the
services OF its defenders with the
basest ingratitude--iails TO honor the
memory Of Its dead heroes, will soon
have no heroes. Since the world
began Il has been the fashion Of ma
tions ID heap honors upon those
whose conspicuous public services
have endeared themselves to the peo.
pie. Great Britain and Germany, the
two most thrifty Of modern great ma
tons are careful - 30 reward those
who render grea. services 10 their
country that their arms may be nerved
with strength while living and feel So
cure in a posthumous fame. England
has erected fifteen costly monuments
TO the Duke OF Wellington and about
thirty TO the memory OF Prince
Albert. France Commemorated the
Great Napoleon's achievements by
innumerable statues, towering
monuments and endless columns OF
triumphal arches. The history OF the
world shows that every nation which
is prosperous in peace and invincible
in war is dotted with monuments. Com
pared with other nations America Is
far behind in perpetuating the memory
Of their heroes In marble, granite and
brass. So little interest did the Ameri-
can people feel in honoiipg the
memory Of Washington that 1t took
nearly fifty years TO complete the
Warrington monument. But the re-
action has come, and the American
people seem disposed TO engage ex-
tensively In the monumental business.
On Tuesday last Senator Hosr intro
duced q bill appropriating $4,000 to
erect a monument in Washington City
to the memory Of Gen. Grant, which
passed the Senate. This means an APP
preparation OF 100000 before the
completion OF the monument, and IN
opposing Hoaf's bill Senator Plumb
thought 1t ought not to pass.
lie was sure he voiced the wish Ofthe Eroat
soldier whose fame the proposed monument
would commemorate when he (Plumb) said
that no such monument was necessary No
monument had been erected or thought poo-
ossary 10 the memory OF Lincoln. Gen.
Grants F AZ" did not SSPGSn md an &O SSS
Ltnooln was moro lasting than any monu-
mont could witness, A monument would be
idle as 9 testimonial Of the nations love and
regard for Gen Grant an, had cone to SI
money was the best way TO show regard for
the distinguished dead Senator Plumb
thought the widows Of the men whom Gen,
Grant commanded and who made Donelson,
Vickeburg, the Wilderness and Appomatt0x
possible were entitled 70 the grateful and
urgent consideration Of the government.
Yet, though the war had ceased for more
than twenty years, we did not ind Senators
urging the senate 70 set aside all other busi-
nose In order TO pass bills granting n pittanco
ofapsnsion.
Senator Plumb was right in showing
the injustice Of constructing monu-
ments to GEN. Grant while neglecting
the memory OF Lincoln aud the pri-
vate Union soldiers. Senator Plumb
ought to have said further that the
heroes who created the Union are as
much entitled to monumenti as the
heroes who saved II. While there Is
a erase TO erect monuments at New
York. aud at Washington in honor Of
Grant, Andrew Jackson is sleeping at
the Hermitage with nothing but Q
cheap slaS to mark his neglected
grave. The Jackson equestrian statue
at Warrington cost only few thou.
sand dollars. The name OF Zach Tay-
lor was oonce dear to the American
people, and his memory has been
shameiIlly neglected. No one seems
to know or care that his bones have
moldered in an obscure and forgotten
grave. Itis strange that some men,
Der Of the Senate did not move an
amendmenato Hor's bill appropriate
ing similar amounts to erect monu-
ments at Washington City to the
memory Of JRckf on and Taylor. Those
who defended their country from for.
eiRn invasion. an enemy on whose
banners was inscribed "booty and
beauty" deserve monuments as
costly as thOse who suppressed
internal war. in building mon
uments to our heroes there
fhoull be no injustice. HOnoring
the memories of the Union soldier
who conquered the rebellion tC
the neglect of the patriotic heroes
who made the Union worth saving il
an unWise and unjust discrimination
Some OF the extravagant honors con
ferred upon Grant should be bestowed
upon Lincoln and Union soldien
equally deserving, but forgotten in al
indolarous admiration for one man.