New-York tribune., 1891-09-27
MONUMENTS FOR OUR DEAD HEROES

A few weeks ago In the presence of vast
concourse of people the city of Troy formally
dedicated the noble granite shaft which she has
erected in memory of the soldiers and sailors
of Rensselaer, County who laid down their lives
that the Union might live. About the same
time q similar memorial of pride, gratitude and
affection was unveiled at Yonkers and a little
earlier in the season still another at Mount Yer
non, Westchester County. Next month the
splendid monument which Chicago has raised
in honor of General Grant is to be unveiled.
A movement has been started in Albany, which
is heartily supported by the Mayor and other
leading citizens, looking to the enrichment Of
the capital-in whose defence the flag OF our
Union was first given to the breeze-with fit
pmembrancer in bronze or stone of the valiant
part which her sons played in defence OF that
"emblem of sweet liberty"
These examples are worthy of emulation 1t
would be well, it would make for the public
welfare, if all the other cities Of the State which
have not already given expression to their
patriotism in this concrete manner should at
once begin to devise measures to make good the
remissness. For a remissness it is. Every city
Of this great Commonwealth sent many brave
men to the front who helped put down the great
Rebellion, but who did not survive to enjoy
the fruits of their unsefsh, whole-hearted SER
vice for their country. These men deserve to
be held in perpetual remembrance, and that they
may be, an enduring record of their names and
deeds should be placed on some coign Of van
tage in the communities which rejoice to claim
them as their own. And this should be done
not less for the sake of the dead than of the
living. Every such monument is potent OBJ
ject-lesson In practical patriotism to the rising
generation; and in these piping times of peace
when love Of country in too many American
boSoms is perhaps little more than cold alb
straction such lesson is sOrely needed. II
cannot be taught too often nor at too many
points Whatever tends to make our country
men Of to-day pause in their mad pursuit of
wealth and position and ponder on the career OF
those who found their account, not in looking
out sharply for number one, but in striving unto
death for the common veal, is most heartily 10
he welcomed The Troy monument was paid
| for largely by popular subscriptions of one dol
| lar each OF the worSingmen and wOrkingwOmen
of Troy and the other parts of Rensselaer, COun-
| ty. This also is hint worth acting upon. OBJ
viOusly, the easiest and the best way to succeed
in such undertakings is to rely, not on the sub
scriptions of the rich few, but of the poor
many, or rather on both For the more general
the giving the quicker is the whole amount
needed a'sed, and the more truly representative
is the Offering.
The times are good. 1t is an era of great
/ National prosperity. But let us not forget tC
make provision for counteybalance. Let State
and National Advancement along the best line:
! 90 hand in hand with material advancement
Now. when the average citizen is doing well
and therefore is inclined to take liberal views
Of things in general, is the time to pass around
the subscription paper. 1t will not take much
urging to get him to put his name for some
thing in aid Of a monument fund. II may be
urged that there are better and more effective
methods Of serving the country just now thar
by setting mp memorials for our heroic dead
Very possibly, but all the same let us have thu
monuments, for they are long overdue. "Grat
ituGe," says Dr. Parr "is q virtue which, ac
J oordjlg 10 the general apprehelsion of man