Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-16
TIE SOLDIERS MONUMENT


As member of the advisory committee on
the soldiers monument, and also one of Brat
teboro's old soldiers, desire to make brief
personal explanation. Aotusted by my own
taste in the matter, and the expressed desire
of large proportion of our most intelligent
citizens, l have advocated the adoption of
Meads Recording Angel for the browning
figure of the proposed monument. l believ
ed that the people-the voters OF the town,
including the old soldiers themselves when
they were informed Just what Mr.. Mead's de-
sign was, would agree with me as to its emf
nent and peculiar appropriateness for the pur-
pose indicated. In that belief the advocates
of the Mead design have made final appeal
to the people by the circulation of petitions
pro and con, and have been defeated. do
not know what the selectmen-upon whom
this decision, of course, like the informal
vote taken at the special town meeting, has
no binding force-may do in the matter, but
l shall make no further contest concerning it.
The voters Of the town prove to be at least
two to one in favor of the soldier design, aud
see no reason for believing that this deci-
sion could be reversed by any amount of ar
gument or by further delay. This is not
matter to quarrel over. The result of the
canvass now practically completed ought TO
settle the question, and believe it will.
The chief agents in bringing about this re
suit have been the old soldiers themselves.
While few of the number have favored the
Mead design, a very large number have OPP
| posed it-and opposed it strongly-on the
ground of appropriateness. They have
taken the ground that the figure of soldier
was the thing to have; and that, as they are
more interested in the matter than anybody
else, and had taken the initial steps in pro-
curing the monument, they ought to be per-
mitted to have leading voice in selecting the
| iuht haa had
great influence in deciding the matter, and
virtually has decided it. A great many peo-
pie who would themselves have preferred the
"AuRel," have signed the opposing petition
or RETAINED from signing either, because they
knew how deeply many of the old soldiers
felt about it, and did not care to oppose their
wishes.
While regret the old soldiers inapprecia-
ton Of the appropriateness Of the Mead de-
sign, and still more the unfair and narrow
spirit which some of them have shown in
this contest, believe that they have been &C.
tuated by purely honest and worthy motives.
II they have sometimes seemed egotisticsl and
anxious to glorify themselves and their own
deeds, it has been only in the seeming. They
have thought less of themselves individually
than of their comrades, living and dead
whose heroic deeds and sufferngs they vivid
ly remember, and of whose memory they are
|
nifty, who in the hour of their country's tria
only did their duty, they ask no monumental
tribute but they consider that the main OBJ
ject of the monument is to perpetuate to fu
ture generations the spirit and memories o.
our great national struggle, and for this rea
son they deem it right and proper that they
should not only have part and voice in erect
ing the monument, but have leading voice
) in its selection. To this view of the case thu
voters of the town have now given their &C
quiescence, and here l am content to let thu
matter rest. hope the selectmen, who ar
understood to favor the angel figure from per
] sonsl choice will accept the result and pro
coed to business" forthwith, 30 that the mon
ument may be ready for dedication mex
spring.
To the "mourners" let me offer this wort
of consolation Meads Recording Angel
3 appropriate as it would be upon a soldiers
I monument, is well able to stand upon a bss
? of its own and let us hope that at no distsn
, day way will open by which Brattlebor
will possess it and locate it upon the spo
where it ought to stand-the spot where Mea
placed it. d. b. STEDMAH.