The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-19
The Soldiers Monument.


To the Editor Of the Press:
was one of the two members of the Soldiers
Monument Association who at the meeting last
Monday evening, voted against the proposed loca-
tion in Market square. The reasons given for
erecting the proposed monument upon the ruins Of
the Old Town Hall are, believe vastly outweighed
by those against it. Ihave yet to hear the cogent
and eloquent arguments OF Judge Webb and Gen.
Dow successfully answered.
From an economic point of view the pro-
ject is indefensible. Already bowed down by the
weight of crushing taxes, and languishing under
the consuming shadows of two gigantic railroad
schemes the city of Portland can i'll afford to take
a step which will virtually take $4,000 from
its treasury and entail upon it the expense of con-
structing a ward room, drill hall and armories
for three militia companies. Such course would
be suicidal, and fraught with direst evil to the
highest interests of the city.
But there is still higher reason against it. A
monument made possible only by the destruction
of the Old Town Hail. with all its sacred associa-
tions will not honor the memory of the heroic
dead. The Old Town Hall is the only public link
within our limits which connects the Portland of
tne Win s1e th OF Ine past the
town meeting, ''the most perfect Democracy
which the world has ever seem" With what
pride, with what tender and loyal reverence
should we not save from change and dissertation
that hall which so eloquenty teaches us the prin-
ciples Of self government tested so successfully by
the founders of New England. Is there grander
place on the peninsula than this cradle of that
institution of the Puritans, which is the sheet
anchor of free institutions? What school is so
eloquent, what monument can inculcate such les
sons, as these old walls dedicated by the fathers
OF our city to liberty, and consecrated by the
earliest and most hallOwed memories? Let us
then think twice before we touch these old walls.
The Old Town Hall is to Portland what Faneuil
Hall and the Old South Church are to Boston A
few years ago some Of the mercenary vandals of
that city attempted to destroy the Old South
Church, but the patriotic spirit of Boston rescued
the sacred building from sacrilegious hands, as l
feel that it will preserve the Old Town Hall from
those who seek to destroy it.
But the most extraordinary argument ~ yet
thrown into this discussion Is that advanced by
His Honor Mayor Deering at the meeting last
Monday evening. 1t will be remembered ne
practically proposed TO commemorate the centeh-
NAL anniversary Of POrtlandS Incorporation as q
town by tearing down the Old Town Han! Ihink
for moment OF the terrible absurdity OF Sueh q
propOsiton Celebrate the incorporation OF
Portland as a town by the wanton destruction of
the only public building in the city which COM
memorates that EVENT. AS well might enc propose
to celebrate the anniversary OF the Declaration
of Independence by tearing down Old lndepend-
ence Hall or to commemorate the glorious revo-
Iutionary struggles by destroying Faneuil Hall
and the Old South Church.
7 do pat believe the people Of Portland will
vote to destroy the Old Town Hail. | am conf
dent that the sentiment OF large majority of our
citizens is against II.
WILLIAM H. LooNEY.