The Portland daily press., 1886-04-05
THE MONUMENT QUESTION.
An open Letter to Major John M
Gould.

NY D6UT 4uutJOTs
Your letter in the PRESS of April 2, con-
tains some statements which think should
not go out unchallenged. At least the spirit
is scarcely to be commended. fully agree
with you that memorial hall, where inter-
esting "reminiscences of the war could be pre-
served would be more desirable. When the
question of monument was first raised
contended for this as against granite shaft,
&c. &c. l argued the matter SO long as it
was an open question. Gen. Shepley and
did what little we could to prevent erecting a
monument and in favor of memorial hall.
Where were you Major, at that time? You
were conspicuous only by your absence. Had
you come forward then you could certainly
have done much more effective work than
you can now when the question is settled
| think all three even could have done some
thing at that time to change the sentiment
have no doubt ours was the wise plan, and
that we were the wise men of Portland! Bat
my dear Major, we were in a most hopeless
minority. Wise men always are. The car
di9dL virtues are always scarce in any city
You remember the ''Cities of the Plain, =" Ma
jor. Be that as it may we did not have even
an expression of your wisdom in public at a
time when it could have been of any avail.
Public opinion manufactured" or otherwise
decided upon monument and very unani-
mously too, and had you taken any active
part in canvassing for money (Which you
did not you would have become convinced
that the people wanted a monument. When
the time came for location of the monument
public sentiment very significantly pointed
to Market Square as the spot. Many men,
bers of the Executive Committee, myself in
Guided, did not at first favor it, but after
many days, weeks and months of careful,
thoughtful examination, all came to the I'M
animous opinion that for the kind of monl-
ment we should be obliged to build that
Market Square was by far the most desirable
location in .all respects. Why ibid you not
volunteer some of your sage advice to the
committee then and tell us of better place
You say that only the "fuss and feather
soldiers and non-combatants' are in favor of
tearing down Old City Hall $50 historical) If
by fuss and feathers you refer to men who
have honestly and heartily given their time,
money and talents to maintain well trained
and effective militia system since the war,
so that we may be prepared for any invasion
| can only say that | consider it, to say the
least, bad taste. | was a nOn-combatant Qn
an, army sense during the war, but |
e 6elIeye NOV did nd my duty whenever
always in as much danger to life and
limb as majors, we were quite frequently
left at the rear, and next to the enemy when
majors and other officers of the field were
''skedaddling.' At such times we stood by
sick and wounded and often went much far
ther into the Confederate lines than majors
ever got.
But 'fuss and feather soldiers" and mon
combatants" were not the men who were
most nightly enthusiastic to tear down
Old City Hall" but the rank and file of the
Grand Army of the Republic. There are a
few wise soldiers who agree with you, | adj
nit, but had you been in the meetings of the
G. A. r. (where think you never do go) you
would have found that public opinion was
soldiers, but by the real veterans, who
fought long and hard" and who are now
spending their time, money and talents to
provide for the sick and destitute of their
comrades. They were the men who stayed
votes that decided the result in favor of
tearing down Old City Hail." Where were
you Major, that you did not use your best
endeavors to prevent this?
1t is not good spirit to call your compan
ions in arms Hfuss and feather" soldiers, when
you are not even doing anything in any one
of the various veteran organizations that are
providing such charity for the destitute sol
der and his starving family. You have
right to do as you please, [ know. By stay
ing away from them one saves his money,
has his time for more useful purposes, and
can be more at home in the bosom of This
family. (For this latter reason / do not at
tend meetings mueh.)
But the browning act of your plan is to
"build monuments at Gettysburg and other
places in Virginia" What noble tribute
to the Sons of Maine? Nothing selfish
about that. How many Sons of Maine who
fought long and hard" would ever be able
to see these monuments. How many Sons
of Veterans would ever be able to see them.
No Mayor, this will not satisfy the fathers
mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and children
of these "Sons of Name" They want these
tributes to the loyalty of their soldiers in
some place where they can keep their memo,
ries fresh, and where the .'Sons of Veterans"
can read lessons of patriotism and loyalty
and where the poorest child of dead soldier
slain in battle perchance) may read his
fathers name upon the memorial tablet,
erected in his own City, through the energy
and valor of surviving comrades and as
tribute of respect on the part of the grateful
people Yours fraternally,
S. G.. GORDON,
A non-combatant