The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
FOUR WAR STATUES
IDEA FIRST BRoACHED by WILL
LIAM H. ENGLISH.
He Named All hut the One to Repre-
sent the Mfxican War Period I'm
an Address In 1902.

tracing a good deal of attention, and is
generally spoken OF with commentator. it
may be of interest to give some account of
It's origin. The first formal movement in
favor of the construction of the statue of
Clark and other representative men of the
principal war periods on Monument Place
was made by Hon. William III. English in
an address before the Indiana Society OF
the Sons of the American Revolution, Feb.
%, 1892 being the anniversary of Clark's
capture of Vincennes from the British in
1879. This was evidently a. carefully pre-
pared address, full Of historical remnis-
cence, and an earnest appeal for the con-
struction of these statues Mr.. English be-
gan the address with some general remarks
upon the soldiers monument. which are
worth reproducing. He said:
1.-The object of the Society Of the Sons of
the American Revolution is not alone to
cherish the memories of honored ancestors
who periled their lives for the independence
and union of these States, but 1t extends,
alike, to all who have fought in its defense
or for its preservation. Its purpose is TO
and admiration for the men, of all wars,
who have stood in its defense in times of
no doubt, that Indiana was inspired to cause
to be erected, in the center or her capital
city. great monument that should should sta 1ha
soldiers and sailors connected with her his
tory. was an undertaking worthy Of anv peo-
pie, and especially noticeable and commend
able in a young community, organized as
.agOg as state but few months
seventy-five years. 1t was the dawning . OF
from with the harG sSRs a nat
of pioneer life 1t was a bold. forward
movement into the light Of the grand and
more encouraging because it was an indica-
tfon of an awakening of State pride, where;
before. it is to be feared, there was a sad
deficiency. If this monument is completed.
s i. as s snd it saGoa
.S with have a. bers they epeai
garded as Hst thing Of beauty y ana Joy for
favor az the irresistible years sweep by,
and all who are now living have returned
the e snd fHsure
dianians with patriotism u, and State pride;
by a multitude of strangers, thus causing
the State to be more favorably and gener-
ally known in other countries.
but the monument Is not yet completed.
In fact, a great deal remains to be done to
make it what it should be-. The stone shaft
and beautiful and. 1 presume, faultless in
construction. But, grand and beautiful az it
Is. 1t would not alone make z distinctive
Indiana manument such as It should be. 1t
a California monument il set down in either
do just as well for a foreign country, if
placed there. The important thing, then.
to be- done. we ' must look to the bronze
groups, the statuary and other ornamental
lions yet ta 6e for q snK %
tary history. 1t Ii here. we shall find de-
ficiencies or the browning. glory Of this
tune it would be to have mistakes made at
let us examine what the commissioners
are proposing to do in this regard, and
what they outline the monument is to be
when completed"
Mr.. English then proceeded to describe the
ornamentation of the monument and
grounds as then determined upon, and what
would be the effect If there were no changes
and additions to the plans as they then
stood He continued:
THE commissioners are to be commended
for saying, as they have. In one place, that
ment. 1t should be more. 1t should be an
Indiana monument, commemorative the
history e does not do s fearful
mistake will have been made, It will not
% $ + now ese y do Ne b to Of hsf
kind will be specially commemorated but
the Mexican and civil wars. / submit to you
that 1t woulu be unjust and a grave mis-
take to send Indiana down to posterity, SO
far as her great military monument can do
Numbering. except as connected with the
Mexican and civil wars. Indiana is not
period, and + Of at least two her people are
Justly proud. 1t is not at all likely they ex-
pected these events would be ignored in the
construction of this monument--that it
would commemorate no event prior to 1916.
They did not expect 1t would cover a few
years only, or from the State organization
only, but from the beginning of Indiana
history, just as anv historian would have
s In the drkes peod of
the war of the revolution one of the most
important and far-reaching events Of that
ha hon
aries of Indiana
1T was then part of the British domin-
ions, but by the brave and adrOt manage
army. it was taken from them by the capture
surrender took place Feb. 25 177s-113 years
ago this day. The British flag was taken
the next morning the American nag was
thank GodI has that nag been lowered
to an enemy on Indiana soil.
Can it be possible that such an event as
this is to be entirely ignored In the con-
and sperpetuate Indiana military history?
Why, the very ground on which this monu-
that great event. The land given Clark and
MS brave soldiers as some recompense for
in clark. Floyd ana Scott counties. and
Clark himself was long a citizen of Indiana
residing IN clarksyille. Clark county. as I
house and erected mills there, and was
an active participant IN county affairs. /
held In that county In the first decade Of
Indiana Territory, when the voting was
done iby word Of mouth. The election re-
ferred to was one which had an important
bearing in shaping Indiana affairs. and the
poll-book, OF course, shows how Clark voted
I shall not produce it now or explain further
here, but hope to give to the public before
the close Of the present year. not only
that, but much other original matter relating
to Clark and his great campaign which has
never yet been published.
My only object now is to point out that
Clark, at one time, was citizen of Indiana
That his great campaign is one of the most
important and welI-known military events
I'm her history, and should not be entirely
ignored in the construction of this monu-
ment- That 1T was a campaign of vast i'm
portance is not my judgment alone. So far
as know 1t is the Judgment of all who
nave written upon the subject. AS the won
derfui development of the great Northwest
which he enabled this country to acquire
becomes more manifest 1T will be still more
appreciated. John b. Dillon. the father of
Indiana history, says of Clarks campaign
that with respect to the magnitude of its
design, the valor and perseverance with
which 1t was carried on, and the momentous
results which were produced by 1t. the ex-
petition stands without parallel in the
early annals of the Mississippi
But pass on TO another great historical
epoch Intimately connected with Indiana's
tA