The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-27
PURPOSE OF THE MONUMENT.

Driven from every other position in
it's defense of the marring and dwarfing
of the soldiers and sailors monument,
the News now claims that the appropri-
alton by the Legislature made the mon
ument "a State affair. touching every
heroic historical epoch in the State"
Let the records of the Legislature speak
for themselves. Neither the act itself
nor any speech made in favor of it con-
tains the slightest reference to any other
war than the war of the rebellion. Col.
b. c. Shaw says:
have car efully examined the State Leg
islation, including the act approved March
g. 1887. providing for the erection of State
monument Ito the soldiers aud sailors of
Indiana" "or memorial hall, as the CON-
missioners to be appointed might deter
NINE" as we'll as read the speeches made
In support of and against the apprOpria-
tion by the members OF the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Flfty-fifth
General Assembly, and do not find hint
In any speech made that the erection OF the
monument was intended 10 tYplfy hdmira-
ton of or to commemorate deeds done by
any Indiana soldiers and sailors" othor
than those who served Ill the Union army
from 1861 to 1866. The summing up of the
great services to the country and the hon.
ors won for the State by her patriotic
citizens rs soldiers. by the Senator repre-
senting Parke and VermilliOn counties, the
Hon. Robert b. Sears in the Senate. Feb.
Is, 1887, seems to be- the most compre-
hensive recital of records and substan tial
reasons that justified the State in confer
ring on her citizen soldiery the grandest
testimonial ever erected on earth TO COM
memorate heroic deeds of valor. Thatgrand
record, as recited, began with the fact that
the Indiana soldiers were the first to open
the battle for the Union on Virginia eoiL in
the sprIng of 1851, and showing all along
the line for four years that the Indiana
regiments and batteries did q most noble
part in all the great struggles that resulted
in the restoration of the Union. and that an
Indiana regiment fought the last battle of
the war for the Union on the Rio Grande.
In Texas. Unfortunately for thoae, who
think this grand monument Is erect
ed to commemorate any "skirmish"
in which any Indianian had ever en-
gagged, no other soldiers or sail
Ors" of Indiana, except those who
served in the Union army IRON 1861 to 1865,
are directly or indirectly referred TO any
where. At. tine close of that patriotic Sen
ator's recital OF Indiana's splendid record.
he demanded. in imprisoned words: "Pasa
this bill. appropriate the money to erect
this monuments, plant its base broad and
deep. let it tower toward heaven, and on
it's summit plant the old flag these men
loved so well IN their lifetime. and In
scribe upon ir in letters of living light.
This is done by the grateful people of the
grand old common wealth of Indiana 10
commemorate the sacrifices and death of
her sons that the Nation might live"
Throughout every speech made on that
bill during it's tendency in the Senate and
House of Representatives there is not q
word or line that can be construed To mean
any other purpose or design than TO honor,
by the erection of this monument, the sol
dlers of Indiana who so heroically assisted
in preserving this great Republic. s.o"
There is no reference here to any In
dian war or any war of conquest. Yet
in the face of this record and of all the
facts which go to show that the attempt
to divert the monument from its orig
inal purpose was mischievous after
thought, the News refers to the present
movement of the old soldiers as trying
to capture the State monument and
make it sectional shaft"