The Indianapolis journal., 1892-07-11

nOuOT. ElOry neruefuify
people, with one country. underone Constitution
and one nag.
General John Coburn said:
The people of Indiana intend 10 erect this In
memory OF the soldiers and sailors Of all the
or IL which the men OF Indiana have been en-
gagged. whether in the war or the revolution, or
% or the or war OF the OF reeoS or
As much 70 the men who marched under the
lead or George Rogers Clark I'm 177s, when he
British and rescued the Northwestern terri
tories from their grasp. as TO the men who fol-
lowed the flag Of Grant
And yet the mere figures of 1S46-s are all
tho commissioners 10 cover these events AZ
tho action OF the commissioners has been
30 grossly misrepresented. and such
az unnecessary indignation displayed by
publish my card and this supplement-
RICHMOND. July y i. w. BENNETT.
What the Monument Was Meant To BE.
iO Tie Editor or the Indianapolis Journals
In your issue OF last Saturday morning
you do me the favor of reporting me TO
have expressed q belief that there might
have been come legislation which justified
the placing of the figures complained of in
the resolutions unanimously passed at the
regular meeting of encampment No. 80.
Union Veteran Legion, on the second Fri
day night of this month. In which the
placing of the figures 1s46-1s4s and 1861
1S65 on the Indiana State soldiers and
sailors monument was declared . great
mistake on the part of the monument COM
missionera now beg to say to the readers
of the Journal and the public that 1 have
carefully examined the State legislation,
including the act approved March 3, 1887,
providing for the erection of State mon
ument 'sro tho soldiers and sailors of In
diana, "or q memorial hall as the comnlis-
sioDers to be appointe5 might determine"
as we'll as read the speeches made IN sup
port of and against tho appropriation by
the members OF the Senate and House of
Representatives of the FIfty-fifth General
Assembly. and do not find q hint In any
speech made that the erection of the mon-
ument was intended TO fypify admiration
of or to commemorate deeds done by any
Indiana soldiers and sailors" other than
those who served III the Union army from
1851 to 1865. In the summing up the
great services to the country, and the
honors won for the State by her patriotic
citizens as soldiers, by the Senator
representing Psrke and Vermillion coun-
ties. the Hon. Robert Il. Sears, in the Sem
ate. Feb. 10, 1887, It seems TO be the mose
comprehensive recital of records. and SUBJ
stantial reasons that justified the State IN
comforting on her citizen soldieTy the
grandeet testimonial ever erected on earth
to CONNIE memorate heroic deeds Of vaior.
That grand record. as recited, began with
the fact that the Indiana soldiers were the
first to open the battle for the Union on
Virginia soil. In the spring of 1861. and
showing all along the line for four years
that the Indiana regiments and batteries
did most nobls part In all the great etrug-
giles that resulted In the restoration of tie
Union, and that an Indiana regiment
fought the last battle OF the war for
the Union on the Rio Grance. IN Texas.
Unfortunately for those who think this
grand monument is erected to commemo-
rate any ''skirmish' IN which any Indian
lan had ever engaged. no other soldiers
or sailors" OF Indiana, except those who
served in the Union army from 1861 10 1860.
are directly or indirectly referred 10 any,
where. At the close of that patriotic Sen-
ators recital OF lndianss splendid record,
he dem anded. in impassioned words: Pass
this bill, appropriate the money TO erect
this monument. plant its base broad and
deep, let 1t tower toward heaven, and on
It's summit plant the old fag these men
loved so we'll in their lifetime, and jn-
scribe upon it in letters of living light,
This is done by the grateful people of the
grand old commonwealth OF Indiana to
commemorate the sacrifices and death or
her sons that the Nation might live"
Throughout every speech made on that
bill during Its tendency in the Senate and
House of Representatives,. there is not q
word or line that can be construed to mean
by the erection OF this monument, the sol
dIers of Indiana who so beroically assisted
in preserving this great Republic. There
fore. there should be no figures, words or
emblems not in harmony with the inten-
tion OF shat noble act any where on Its
surface. 1t 10 not evidence of narrow
miBdedness that cmblems are not permitted
to DO placed on the monument, referring
to any particular war OF incident con-
nected with the settlement and progress OF
ludiann-the battles of Vincennes. Iippe-
canoe, Buena Vista or Chickamanga, Gen.
George Rogers Clark, William Henry Har-
rison, L. A. HackismaD Cor other heroes.
This monument is erected TO the Indiana
soldiers and sailors without other name in
the law of association, consequently plac-
inc any of rhe figures on the upper part OF
that structure is not warranted. They are
unsightly, look tawdry, and when inter-
preted make another name not authorized,
and all should DO taken off as
once. Let it stand simply noble
tribute to Indiana soldiers end sailors.o
The Indiana Union soldiers believe every
stone. from foundation TO dome, has now
inscribed on them by the law. lin letters
OF living hight" the story OF their atty.
the sacrifice and glorious death OF their
comrades that tho Nation might live"
and If some choose to believe It also COM
memorates other noble deeds done by lndi-
snians they can afford TO permit them the
delusIon without challenge. But they
don't want the dates 1861 10 1875 any
" here on the structure to identify 1t. as
all the world knows. and will know for
ever, that lie typihed, in inception and
completion. the gratitude of the people OF
Indiana Ito bor sons that died that the Ma.
tIon might live"
To the Indiana heroes of the Mexican
war who. with cleaning swords and glls-
teninC bay yopets. led the unframed sons Of
Indiana 10 tho fore front of battle IN 1861
to 1873 against the hosts of rebellion who
made war against tho United States this
grand testimonial of a grateful people is q
twice-told tribute. Around this sacred
shaft. in time TO come, let the admirers of
personal hcroism group IN heroic eqnes-
trian statuary. with others. all these Mex
lean soldiers who made their names inn
mortal by their deeds of valor in 1s6i to
1866, and crown them heroes of Indianas
two wars. But keep the Indiana soldiers
and sailors" monument without other
name. don't pretend TO be authorized To
speak for all the living Union soldiers Of
Indiana on this or any other subject. but /
do believe. from expressions heard that IN
this matter / voice the feeling and senti-
ment of 80 DER cent. of them, and of the
people of the State. ID. 4. SHAW.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 10.