The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1894-09-01

monument to John Brown at Harper's
Ferry, think it would be ill-advieed to
start another movement for one at his
grave. One at q time is all and more than
Wa are likely to undertake and success.
sfully accomplish. Either, in my opinion,
is ill'timed il attempted now.
Fourth and last. I believe that in a
field Of achievement where tho superior
(?) race with all its advantages has 80
signally failed. it would be worse than
folly for US to enter with any hope of
even reasonable success, except with
the best advice and ability obtainable.
Disclaiming anything of merit for my.
self in professional way, I think can
Justly insist that have been q serious
student of art. and I trust shall give no
oftense when say that work of art
never was and never can be produced
under the conditions you have outlined
to me. Probably at no time in the his.
tory of art has 80 much that is thorough
ly bad been produced IN architecture and
sculpture as in the United States during
the past eeventy.6ye years, much of it
during the past fifty years. and-strange
to say,-most of it during the last twenty
five years. These are notorious facts,
familiar to everyone who has given at.
tention to the matters in question.
The Soldiers an d Sailors monuments,
erected since the war, are recognized
with ecarcely single exception-as be.
ing denominations, which we would glad.
ly be rid of, but unfortunately it is easier
to build bad monuments than it is to get
rid of them when once built.
Knowing this to be true, I should for
the races cake condemn, oppose, and
endeayor-as far as in my power-to
defeat any and all attempts from what.
ever source, to make the race RESPONSE.
BILE for, and the country suffer by, such q
conspicuous failure as would be per.
petrated and perpetuated in a monu.
ment built under other than the most
favorable auspices.
Whatever may be said in disparage.
ment ofthe race it cannot yet be said
that we:have dis6gured Gods earth with
monstrous creations in enduring
marble or bronze. That has been all Of
white mems doing, and in Gods name
let US be wise enough to be wiser than
they, not in doing, but in not doing.
We have within our reach the chance
to win distinction as the only Americans
who have not committed the of1ense of
imposing upon generations yet unborn,
denominations under the name of Art.
Shall we miss il? Let US be sure we
know. before we attempt that in which
our betters have most signally failed.
This plea make for the races sake.
Personally must again request that my
name be not used in connection with the
monument. I appreciate the compli.
ment intended by being named as its
designer, but even did possess the re-
quisite ability to design it, the conditions
under which the work would in all
PROBABILITY De executeu, would uttu1ly
preclude it's being work of art. I, or
any other man of the race, might we'll
consider it great honor to be known az
the designer Of a monument to John
Brown if it were work Of true merit,
but neither money nor desire for dis.
tinction could induce me to lend my
name to the creation of that which was
ALPHABETICALLY when the work is to be
of that irrevocable kind we are now dis
cussing. I should not want this sin
chargeable to me, and I shall pray the
race may be saved from like misfor.
tune.
When we build our monument let il
have the approval of the highest au.
thority in matters of art, and if we have
not at that time among our own people
the genius to produce it, then let US get
an artist outside the race, let US forege
the honor and win the yet prouder dis.
tinction of having been too wise, toe
respectful toward Art, too reverential
toward our heroes to dishonor them by
dlsfguring the earth in our desire to
honor them.
To return to my first objection, I be.
lleve We are at one of those crises in
our races career when we can make OF
mar our future by the course We shall
adopt at the present time. five do moi
act wisely, or worse, do not act at all at
this critical moment, then, as Senator
Blair has said in reference to bis
resolution in Congress: IF tho Colored
people do not see it to embrace thie
opportunity to reach the truth regarding
the wrongs Of which they complain, let
them forever after hold their peace"
for they are not worthy Of better than
they receive.
l am most respectfully yours,
WILLIAM A. HAZEL.
49, lNoTE. The above article was to have
appeared in The APPEAL of last week,
but at the special request of Mrs. Lyes,
the writer consented to defer it's publica.
ton to this issue. Ed
A wealthy Chinaman is rarely seen
in the street with his wife. and never
~'das in the same :'arria~a with he- -