New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-11
A DEFENCE OF THE PLAZA SITE.
SHOULD BE WHERE MOST PEG
PIE WILL SEE 1T.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Your facetious article OF this morning on
my views as TO the location OF the Soldiers and
Sailors Monument affords me the opportunity de-
sire to publicly express my ideas upon the subject,
which did not feel at liberty to do while acting
as a member OF the Board created by the Legislat-
ure. with exclusive power over the subject
Following in the wake Of all other loyal cities OF
the Union. the State of New-York nearly nve years
ago. authorized the expenditure Of s25oooo for the
erection Of "a suitable memorial arch or monu-
ment IN memory Of the soldiers and sailors OF New
York who died In tho service Of their country In the
late for the Union. which monument or arch
shall be called the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial
Arch OF NewYork."
The Board to whom is intrusted the adoption Of
designs and to whom Is TO be appropriated the
to carry the wish Of the Legislature. con-
sists Of the Mayor. the Commissioner OF Public
Works the president OF the Park Board. the
Recorder the Controller and the chairman OF the
Memorial Committee Of the G. A. r. OF the City OF
New-York.
Gated the location Of the monument to suit their
selfish views. and Of soldiers whose desire II was
10 locate the monument somewhere near the centre
Of population II was unanimously decided by the
Board 10 place It in the Plaza, near the junction OF
Fifty-nnth-st with Fifth.ave., and this consider
definitely settled II the pledge OF the city authoil
ties given by resolution Is At al sacred :,
You have evidently obtained your inlormatlon IN
regard 10 what transpred at recent msetng ~
tho Mayors office lat which was acci9entdi.!
presently from current newspaper reports do not
remember anything taking pace which al an re,
sembes your account OF IT, j. O.. A ward stated
that the subject OF the location or monuments re-
Qured great zeal Of thought. and instance ina.
Of the tomb OF General Grant. but think he was
satisfied by the Mayor and myself that the seiec-
ton Of that superb site was made IN rev houi
by three or four gentlemen. none OF thefh ca''N'"s
to be professors OF art . . - -,
/ viii be frank, and say to YOU that in my opin-
ion, artists and art critics are the very Worst po
pie to whom could be intrusted the selecton OF lHs
site for soldiers ana sailors , 0rofession and
their professions. they will natura y sno 3
everything TO the aesthetic. and II Is lot ms reaso
this appropriation OF the LEGISLATURE Whlch wa
granted upon the appeal OF the soldiers VINO served
the Union In New-York regiments. Tor the acorn
ment Of the Park. or for contributing 10 ne at
tractiveness OF Riverside Drive This would be
gross misuse Of public money. IN my opinion ) no
object of soldiers monuments Is TO inspire pattiot-
made by the dead and they should be located rea-
sonable consideration and treatment being given 10
surroundings where the people most 90 conSre-
The Nation was saved by the young men whose
incomes did not average $500 per ennum; not by the
people who drive through the parks and along the
banks OF the HUDSON. To the latter the monu-
ment might be admired as thing OF beauty. but
the common people. who are TO be depended upon
when other emergencies arise. would seldom see Il
The holiday OF Washing,on's Birthday Is the
Of his country. Just the observance OF Christ
mas Day is his irlest lesson in Christianity.
Monuments communicating the sacrifices OF the
volunteer soldiers should be the commenccment OF
a lesson which would lead UP TO a history OF the
trials and heroisms which saved the Union.
No one will go further than l In ADVOCATING the
adornment OF the Park and Riverside Drive. but
shall always remain an advocate OF pacing this
monument where IL can be seen constantly by the
soldiers now surviving and by their postertty Yours
Sew-York Dec {. 1887