The Portland daily press., 1888-01-09

Ing7 The Points Of tho Subject
Briefly Considered. Every Living
Soldier Interested In a Building.
For some time past a memorial OF some
sort to our soldiers who participated in the
war of the Rebellion, has been under dis
cussion, and plans all more or less worthy Of
consideration have been before the commit
tee chosen to secure something worthy Of
Of Portland and the men whom she desires to
honor
In studying the subject several considera-
tions present themselves, some Of which may
have escaped the attention of those who
have not been able to participate in the dis
cussions which have taken place in the
meetings of the committee having the mat
ter in charge.
The question which arises at the outset Is,
what do we desire to perpetuate, the men,
ory of the dead only, or of the living as well;
of those who fell on the field Of conflict, or
Of all who did battle for the country?
The answer to this question in the minds
of many, will have an important bearing in
deciding the character Of the memorial to be
reared.
If the memory Of those only who died upon
the battlefield is to be perpetuated; then
tombstone of massive proportions and
sumptuosuly decorated, like many others
which have been reared all over the coun-
try, will de deemed bysmany more appropri-
ate than anything else. But do we desire to
perpetuate the memory Of those only who
fell? Certainly no citizen who appreciates
the services, which our soldiers so worthily
performed in the war, will answer this ques-
tion affirmatively. On the contrary, he will
say that the claims of every soldier who
took part in the great struggle. must be con-
sidered, and such memorial secured. as will
serve to perpetuate his memory. as an indi-
vidual, and not as an indefinite atom OF
mere mass known by one common name OF
soldiers. If then, we desire to perpetuate
the memories Of our soldiers, those who fell
In battle and those who survived, what is the
best way in which we can do it?
Will massive and ornamental tombstone
best serve our purpose? When the war closed,
many were called to mourn the loss of rel
atives and friends, and quite naturally their
minds were turned to those who had fallen.
Over these they wept, while over those who
returned they rejoiced. The latter were living
monuments and needed nothing to keep their
memories alive; so they reared monumental
stones to the dead, and these-many Of them
unsightly in the extreme-are scattered
abroad over the whole face OF the
continent. But it is many years since
the first monumental stone was
reared to our fallen brave, and since then a
larger number of our soldiers have passed
away than fell in battle. Is it supposed that
monumental stone such as was reared in
the first days of grief over the latter, will
suggest to the mind of the beholder anything
connected with the former? Certainly not
and if we place ourselves at point some
what distant in the future, what will such
monumental stone indicate to the mind?
Will it indicate anything more than war OF
a certain period represented by the date. Not
if we are to judge from stones reared in
Europe in the more or less remote past to
commemorate particular events In great
struggles. They now present themselves to
the mind of the beholder simply as symbols
of the great struggles themselves. Now 1t
does not seem that this is what we desire to
do. If we do desire to put up symbol OF
the war of the rebellion, in which we
triumphed, let us erect a grand statue OF
Victory, or something which will properly
signify to the future beholder what we de-
sire to commemorate. If, however, we wish
to perpetuate the memories OF our soldiers
those who survived the war as well as those
who fell in battle-let US consider thought
fully what is the best way by which we can
attain our purpose. The old way, we know.
has been to rear monumental stones; the
new way is to erect buildings, in which me-
MORALS appealing directly and definitely
to the eye and thought can be preserved.
The former, as is well known to those who
have studied the subject. has failed Of its
purpose; the latter it is easy to see. VIII
perfectly secure it, for in such building can
be gathered portraits, busts, statues, the
records of regiments and companies, pictures
of battles diaries of events, books relating
to the war, and relics innumerable, which
have been preserved as mementoes. Every
Irving soldier must favor such plan, since 1t
is in his interest, as well as In the
interest of every dead comrade who
died since the war, or who fell
in battle. Such memorial, worthy
of the men and of the city should Portland
provide for her soldiers: A place where
they can gather, and where tneir descend
ants can gather after them. Some OF our
citizens believe that the Old City Hall can
be remodeled and beautifed so as to make
suitable building for the purposes here set
forth, and friend of the cause has gener-
ously devoted time and labor in preparing
suggestive sketch of what might be done
with the present walls and foundations OF
the old building, and others are ready to un-
dertake to work In order to raise fund
sufficient with what has already been
raised to remodel the building. As this
building would serve as permanent
Headquarters for the Grand Army, it would
gather about it associations which would be
pleasant and useful to that organization,
which could have it under its charge. Should
this plan or any other looking to memori-
al building be adopted, it will meet with
support from those opposed to monument
al stone, and this should not be overlooked,
since we want, If possible, to secure the
good will and help of the entire community.
Desiring to see erected the most useful and
common sense memorial to our soldiers,
which can be obtained, l present these inn
perfect suggestions to those who care to
read them, desiring only that they may re-
ceiye thoughtful consideration.
JAMES p. BAXTER.
Cardinal Tascherau Opposed.