New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
MONUMENTAL IBSCRDIIIES.
THE DISCONTINUED MAN VENTS HIS BITTERNESS
Upon THE sENsELEss RAISING OF STATUES
10 NopODIFs AND FOREIGNERS

THE DISCONTINUED MAN VENTS HIS BITTERNESS
Upon THE sENsELEss RAISING OF STATUES
TO NOODLES AND FOREIGNERS.
"rbers is no direction believe" said the dscon-
tented man lin which the taste and energy OF this
country are more industrously and persstently mis-
applied than in the making and the placing OK
monuments
The compiacent man waited FOL more spec'no
charges before making any comment He knew
that he was in danger Of making the wrong one.
II &c his nature 10 be so complacent as 20 approve
everything as It Is till the discontinued man comes,
and then 10 approve the discontinued mans discon-
tent.
I'VE neglect the great men who have made our
city and our State and country" the discon-
tented man went on 'or we give them Insignificant
memorials in obscure places. and then we give up
the finest sites am rich men who happen 10 want
TO perpetuate the memory OF their we-meaning but
unheard-of friends There are several monuments
and statues In New York. OF course. with which no
fault need be found Such are the Columbus monu-
ment at Elghth-ave. and Fifty-nnth-st; the statue
Of Admiral Farragut in Madison Square, Washing
ton and Lafayette. In Union Square; Nathan HAZE
in City Hall Park, Franklin, in Printing House,
Square: Washington, in front OF the Sub-Treasury;
and Ericsson In the Battery Park. without going
into any discussion OF artistic details. 1t may be
said that these are all good and well placed Bue
now think how many more sites for statues tnere
are IN New-York as good any of these. or bet
ter and consider how they are misappropriateo q
unappropriated. Such the Fifty -ninth-st pazes
the junction of Broadway Sixth-ave ana lhifty-'
fourth-st the junction of Broadway and Fifth-ave-
and the Bowling Green. These are among the nnese
places in the city statues. yet those that occupy
them now are far from the finest statues that inc
city has to say nothing of those 1t ought TO have
1.-The city is reasonably supplied with monumenu
to Washington. yet there ought TO De one more, An
equestrian statue right in the middle Of the Bowling
Of l.a1rUa
that was melted into rebel bullets. Would not thas'
he poetic Justice? But have many heroes VINO
are wholly unrecognized. Where are the Dutcn'
Governors? Why have We no monument 10 fe'o'
Stuyyesant? The only statue OF him In the city y
a wooden one In front OF an insurance once IN io"~
broadway Crude as that is. IL is striking OBJECT
but what a figure for really nne monument she oio
fellow would make with his Dutch costume and hD
wooden leg! But. instead OF recognizing sucn
man as he was they are now at work Tor great
monument to occupy what Is perhaps the aosoiu'eV
best site in the whole city. the Fifty -nnthst plaza
to the memory Of poet who was not an American
never was in America. never had anything 10 90
with America. and did not even "H'S =" 'ie ~
guage OF America
How would 1t do" the complacent man susges'e0'
ito use that site for a statue OF Washington IRVING
with statues of the four Dutch Governors at the
corners and the pedestal representation OF
Fame In the person OF Anthony van Corlear bow-
proprate and local
YES" said the dscontented man. 1T would GER
tainy be a joke for future but this is serious
matter Why has New-York no statue OF Hudson!
There ought to be statue OF him somewhere ID
Riverside Park. looking out on the river that bears
his only that wps hs s s river
was also called the North River and he would give
H the ssns Of
would say privately: 'ot course WE don't want H.
but & nss sS yoa na sn you on So
and there the statue would be forever.
man went on. II wish that when Americans are
going to spend their money In setting up artistic
II breaHs my heart to Vhem turn their backs on
America. which is suffering for genuine works Of
Americans are rich enough and generous enough
s shns s" seems to be msspped They should build
their monuments at home and then they should cs
whom There are dozen or twenty good old Ind
ians who fought hard and we'll for their peops~
but after ALL" said the complacent man what
difference does It make who gets the monuments?
Can stored urn animated bust
Back to Its mansion call the neeting breathf
Can honors voice provoke the silent dust
Or hattery soothe the duh. cold ear OF ieathf
NO. OF course not. but that is not the point.
Monuments are not for the dead: they are TO the
dead but they are for the Lying hsy are 10 noss
and beautiful lives OF the men TO whom they are
raised How can they make v US sk k snSS nas tney
about? Let us have a. many OF them as we can
get but let the sst be to ne best ANA aar ss S Ss
memory OF whose lives. when we see their statues.
may inspire US. with some little wish to make cur
French lady staying in America. who was
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