Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-24


The proposed monument to the women
OF the South meets with objection. The
Dispatch has received several letters pro-
testing against the expenditure Of any
money In that direction. The directors
are women-women who were devoted to
our cause; who worked their fingers al
most to the bone TO clothe our soldiers
in the field: who nerved many faint hearts
for endurance to the end; who nursed
their own and others sick and wounded.
and even helped to bury the dead.
Some Of these directors say that the
money necessary to build such o monu-
ment would better be applied TO endowing
home for the wives and daughters OF
our deceased soldiers Others prefer that
the monument TO President Davis should
first be erected before the women's monu-
ment is started; and one argues that the
idea does not at all meet with womanly
favor being abhorrent to southern ideas
Of woman's modesty and retirement.
To us not one OF these reasons seems
unselfshness. and give new proof OF their
self-sacrlfcing spirit, but Trey orer no
good reason why the movement should
be abandoned. Thee objections will not
find lodgment with our veterans, or the
sons of our veterans. A monument TO
the women must be built. Hitherto In
our monumental building we have had the
co-operation--the leadership. We would
better say--of our women; In this undGr-
taking we men have got TO show how
well we can succeed in our own un-
aided work. Yes. the women's monument
must be built. The Richmond Howitzers
have inaugurated the movement, and they
will not fail
So we have on our hands at this time
monument and for the women's monu-
ment, too. We are anxious to see an
arrangement made by which both enter
prises may be forwarded. We should not
like to see one interfere with the other.
1t Is clear that to build the womens
monument our men are not going to re-
ceive much help from the women But
the women would willingly go to work
TO raise funds for the Davis monument
These are suggestive facts.
The circumstances under which the
body of Mr.. Davis was removed here
from New orleans by order OF his wife
put us under obligations OF the most
solemn character TO erect to Mr.. Davis
here in the city Of Richmond a suitable
monumental monument which shall be
an everlasting memorial TO him and to
the Confederacy as well TO this Rich
mond is sacredly pledged.
Several untoward occurrences have
greatly interfered with the work OF
raising money for the Davis monument.
First, Mrs. Davis, bowed down with grief
at her husbands death, took a long
time in which to decide where her hus
bands body should be given permanent
sculpture.
When, at last, Richmond was decided
upon as the place, and an active move
ment for the collection Of moneys was
begun, the Barring panic came on. When
the stress Of that panic was somewhat
relieved, the Davis Monument Associa-
ton found the Soldiers and Sailors
Monument Association In the field here
canvassing the city for subscriptions. and
1t was deemed unwise for the collectors
of the Davis Association to enter the
field at the same time. The Davis Asso-
citation left the Virginia field entirely
to the Soldiers and Sailors Association.
1t would now be a peculiar hardship for
the Davis Monument Association IL they
should have to compete with the
collectors Of the Women's Monument
Association. And TO postpone their
work any longer is not to be thought
of. Mr.. Davis died In December, 1889,
and his body was reinterred here last
year, but, as yet, the real, systematic
work OF the monument association has
not been begun, though the nucleus OF the
fund has been obtained by quiet efforts.
The Davis Monument Association should
make haste TO call to its help the women
of the South. There ought to be an
auxiliary committee Of women In every |
county and city in tho South, and by |
the Sd of next June. the anniversary of
Mr. Davis's birth, enough money should |
be in hand to justify the association in
selecting a design and proceeding with |
the work.
1t is reasonable to expect that We shall
be able to get more from the other |
Southern States for the Davis monument |
thar we have gotten for any other
monument. A systematic method of col |
lecting should be adopted. and the Sd of
next June should be fixed upon as the |
day when the offerings of our people |
shall be heaped up in every community |
in every State where the name of Jeffer- |
son Davis Is honored.