New-York tribune., 1896-05-04
FOR A STATUE OF GEN. GRANT
A NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON
PROPOSED.
SENATOR SQUIRE SECURES AN ENDORSEMENT OF
HIS PLAN FROM THE SENATE COMMITTEE

HIS PLAN FROM THE SENATE COMMITTEE
on PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
[nY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
Washington May 3-Senator Squire. of WASH
ington who has been struggling for some ume 10
draw the attention OF Congress to the propriety Oh
erecting a statue of General Grant In this CITY, mas
at last secured an Endorsement Of his praseworthy
project from the Senate Committee on Public Buid-
incs and Grounds The committee has voted to re-
mort fayoraby a bill drawn by Mr. Squire whch
provides for the erection Of suitable mehof'a' ~
the great Union General The bill directs that the
Secretary of War. :he chairman OF the JOINT oohi-
nittee on the Library and the Architect of the Cap-
tol shall contract for an equestrian statue III pr'n~
of General Grant be erected on ground belonging
10 the United States in this city. and to pay the en-
fire cost of the the pedestal and the prepara-
ton Of the Site the sum of 10000 Is appropriated
"It has been great disappointment to me-
said Mr. Squire that this proposition has peeh
neglected and the expenditure postponed Tor one
excuse and another. mainly. however. on account OF
the state of the Treasury. conceive OF no more
patriotic thing that Congress could do ana no more
appropriate act than to pass such bill ana 10 pro-
vide for the erection OF this statue in this city Inc
only question Is to the proper form ana characer
Of the memorial which the Nation should erect. IN
some cases 1t Is well to commemorate fame py
practcaI objects of everyday use. such buildings
and bridges which are called by the names or the
men who are to be thus immoraized. but IN the
case of Grant DOUBT II such Is the proper course
TO pursue. 1t has been suggested IN TINS case 'ha'
the memorial bridge for the erection OF when the
Senate has already passed bill. would be me
proper medium of expressing this sentiment on the
pa rt of the peope toward Grant But | take a dii-
ferent view and in the bill which have prepared
| have broken away from this idea ana nave sus-
gested a statue in bronze that. II designed III tne
proper spirit and with sufficient breadth OF treat
ment will give ample room for expressing the seh-
ment of the Nation.
1t has been said that public commemorative d''
in washington has run too much to the equestrian
statue idea and that future monuments OF thls cnal
acter should depart from this rule l. nowerei w.
favor the equestrian statue. In the case ol ma
of military fame such as General orah,t te n ~
fran statue Is most appropriate. ana tnat ioriii o
expressIon has been found to be far more striking
than other forms At the same time think 1t would
be well to depart somewhat IRON tle p pau ,nnria
about To be unveiled. where the simplicity OF the
pclestal and surroundings gives to the statu. puI
ly and simply the character OF represenMaor M ,iS o
a man on horseback, however beautiful ana arts
tic The bronze itself may be. | have noted with
pea the beautiful designs that were supmltteu
for the Sherman statue In some OF thos' uestns is
Tho nedesfal rlans were exceptionally beautiful
and perhaps II Is In that respect that woulu prefer
TO this memorial excel $500 . 49,.
IL would like to the competition open 10 the
artists of the world. | would prefer. OF course
that the memorial should be the WORK oi an hfierl
can but in a case Ike this the Nation snould nave
the best, the best that can ne opthlneu i nc
finest talent that the world anord should be
summoned suggest plans and IDEAS for ms great
work which. II undertaken. must be carried out on
what are the prospects OF passing this measure
For some time past have hoped TO secure acton
this year slender. yet there is chance that
before tho session Is sufficient attention may he
attracted to the proposition 10 cause the members OF
Congress TO agree to enact this iong-deiayed propo-
cit ffop'