The record-union., 1898-04-04
A QUESTION OF GOOD JUDGMENT

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that it springs from a laudabe feeling
and speaks of a warm and generous
sympathy But, it is asked, if in all
reason it is the right thing TO do, since
nations should not rear monuments
that will cause future generations to
smile at our taste and judgment.
Without one whit decrying the spirit
that prompts contribution by any one
to the effort referred to, it is pointed
out that the men who persisted on our
ships at Apia in the midst of a storm
were just as much on duty as those
who died at their posts in Havana
their death bravely. and singing the
national hymn, and with full knowl-
edge of their doom. But it has never
been thought the proper thing 10 do
In both cases the men were victims
of disaster. 1t is suggested, therefore,
that a far better thing to do, and
loftier monument to raise to these men,
is the collection of generous purse
for every one of the people dependent
upon the service of these dead sailors
and marines, officers and subalterns;
a purse for every widow and orphan
made by the wrecking of the Maine
that they may not know want for an
hour. Outside of and above what the
Government gives, these purses from
the generosity and sympathy of the
people should go to the bereaved to
tighten the lonely struggle they must
now make. S&
There are two sides to the matter, it
must be admitted. 1t is true that pos
terity will not judge us gently, if the
monument is erected for the men Of the
Maine, and no similar shafts are reared
in honor of other men who died in the
service by accident, disaster, or other
means than war into which heroism
enters. On the other hand should
we not. encourage service in the army
and navy by such public recognition as
lis proposed by the monument move
ment? Will not men be prompted the
more to enter the service of a people
fwho show that they are mindful of
such sacrifice as, enlistment means?
The reply to this is,--that it would far
more encourage men tQfenter the army
and the ,navy,e TO prove to them that
I in case they fan in battle or by dis
Iaster. those dependent upon them will
not be uncared for, or left to struggle
through life in, poverty and want. Of
course, it will be said that both things
should be done, the monument be rect
ed as a patriotic manifestation, and
the purses raised as a duty. This re-
duces the whole question to one Of
judgment and good taste. Is it good
judgment to erect a monument to the
men of the Maine and neglect to do
likewise for the men of the Vandalia,
or to lesser groups of our soldiers and
sailors who perish in disaster?
Is the distinction justly drawn be-
tween cases where forces of nature
were contending when the men went
to watery graves, and those in which
there was the ferment of threatening
war between two Powers of the earth?
If the monument proposed is raised,
however, it ought to be the result Of
spontaneous action on the part of a
sympathetic people, and not the out
come of the pleading and shouting OF
sensational newspapers, which will
crow over accomplishment as jour
nalistic achievement In the latter
case the monument will always have
about it the atmosphere of advertis-
ings In the former it will speak the
profound and spontaneous sympathy of
| a generous people. q .s.. a.
Right here it may be suggested that
the soldiers who persisted at Trestle
No. 2 in 1894 as much died in duty
doing as the sailors and marines on the
Maine, but no one has even suggested
| that a national monument fund be
raised for them. Least of ALL did the
work in their behalf? Their memories
are commemorated only by a simple
monument purchased by patriotic citi-
zens Of Sacramento. But beyond all
question, SO far as the men themselves
were concerned, they died as much in
gallant service as did the men of the
Maine or the men of the Vandalia.
A custom appears to be growing in
America which the sooner frost bitten
by public sentiment the better. 1t is
now quite the fad to announce certain
lines Of events to which the general pub
lie has access and in which it is invited
to participate as given under the pat
ronage of named members of the com
munity. This is done probably with in
nocent intent, and as a means of i'm
pressing the public with the fact that
the function has the Endorsement OF
/ those whose tastes and judgments are
recognized as refined and cultivated
However, patronage" when expressed
in that connection, inevitably carries the
mind back to the period when trades
men We're dependent for notable success
in business. upon aristocratic pleasure
and preference. In monarchical coun-
tries it is the custom, though far less
than in the last century, to announce
that business has the patronage OF
mobiles and princes, as indicative of in.