Evening star., 1898-05-21
FOR THE MEN WHO FOUGHT
Memorial to Be Raised in This City to the
Rank and File.
Work of the National Reunion Monu-
ment AssOcintion-Bill Signed
by the President.


thorizing the Secretary of War to desig-
nate an eligible site in this city for a mon
ument to the rank and file of soldiers,
sailors and marines who served from 1851
to 1855 This PATRIOTIC york is in the hands
of the National Reunion Monument Asso-
citation, which was organized in 1892, and
chartered under the United States laws for
the District of Columbia. Its work up to
this time has been bprsliminary. but now
that the recognitiqns of Congress and the
designation of sjte for the monument
have been accomplished the work of col
lecting funds will begin in earnest The
officers of the association are: President
Vim. H. Michael. chief clerk of the De-
partment Of State; vice president. John Nc
Elroy editor of the National Tribune; treas
't1ter, Colonel Marion 2: Anderson, and sec
retary, l. w. Stenei The board of directors
is composed of distinguished gentlemen,
whose hearts are thoroughly in the work.
and there is every reason to believe that
large sum Of money will soon be raised Tor
the purpose Of erecting the monument.
y An address to the people of the country
has Been prepared BY the association, from
which the following extracts are taken:
To Soldier and sailer. ,.r
ne An org ana1ationi arnossnv as the National
Reunion Monument Association, zhas been
formed In Washington f0r the purpose of
executing the long-neglected work. of rails
ing in the national capital proper and
fitting testimonial to the men who. on land
and sea, and by unprecedented valor. for
titu1e and self-sacriace, rescued the. ma
ton from destruction during the critical
wears of 1875, and established more firmly
for all time the foundations OF greatness
and prosperity. These men deserve
monument eQuahng any ever ereGteo VI
conceived In any age OF country Ihey oe
serve that 1t should be erected In the capi-
tai city Of the country for which they
freely gave everything that the highest
manhood and patriotism had to oner
''It is the object of the National Reunion
Monument Association to secure such
monument for them in the city of Wash
ington, where, among the stately buiidlngs
and other evidences of the nations great
ness. it will forever testify to the visitor
and sojourner that. though wealth may
of land Is based upon the exaited patrl-
otism and unconquerable courage OF Its
manhood and womannood.
Monument to the Rank md File.
This association contemplates the erec-
ton of a monument which will be an
eternal testimonial to the lofty patriotism,
the self-forgetful devotion, the sublime
courage Of the common people OF America
Monuments have been erected In Washing
ton to great leaders, to generals and ad-
mirals but there is absolutely nothing to in
dicate that anybody save these ever fought
for the country. There Is no monumental
recognition of the men whose valor and
self-sacrifice made possible the monuments
to the generals and admirais. The aSSoc1a-
ton proposes to memorialize these in way
that shall be forever a most impressive OBJ
ject lesson to generations yet unborn, In
patriotism, courage and all the CIVIC Vir-
tues
by inviting to the work the highest ar
tistic talent, the association hopes to be
able to procure design for monument so
original and noteworthy as to rank among
worlds history, and be for this reason
alone source Of Just national pride, ana
an adornment to our already beautiful ma
tional capital. =
Appeal to Every American.
''The association urgently invites the
sympathy and aid Of every American in
this great work. 1t is national enterprise.
In which every one who dwells In peace and
happiness under the beneficent aegts of Old
Glory should be personally represented by
a contribution proportionate to his or her
means. Every onefYhodld give something,
no matter how littie. tt be personally rep
resented in the great work, as contribu-
ton to an object Of national merit and as
a tribute to patriotism and civic virtues.
THE National Reanion Monument Asso-
eiation has been nagnlarly organized and
chartered under the United States laws for
the District of Colunbia, and Is composed
Of men representing every corps of the
army, squadron of dthe navy and marine
corps, organized blythe government for the
suppression Of the rebellion. They are men
Of character. stalsdings and national ac-
The association has as IFeeceiyed tho fun in.
d"rsement Of the natioisal encampment Of
the Grand Army az the Republic, the APP
proval OF the commander -in-chief of that
order, the Endorsement Of the national en-
campment of the UHi6rb Veteran Legion Of
the Department of the Potomac, and other
veterans organisations.