The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-03-23
A COMMUNICATION.
What R. F. Roberts, of woodwGrth, Has
to say on the Monument Question.


to Say on the Monument Question.
There is no doubt of the patriotism
Of the people OF Kenosha county. When
the union of the United States was
menaced in 1861 citizens of this country
responded instantly to the first call TO
arms by President Abraham Lincoln,
Every succeeding call was responded
to by contributing it's quota. Hundreds
of Kenosha county heroes Gll soldiers
honored graves on southern battle
fields and in beseging camps. Graft
tude for their sacrifices still lives and
moves our hearts, We who live to
enjoy the benefits and blessings of
restored Union can at least give a
thought to the remembrance and
appreciation of the lives given, the
suffering endured, the defeats sustained
and battles won by the brave soldiers
and sailors of Kenosha county. The
time has come now, and the opportunity
is afforded Us to show our patriotism
and express our veneratlon of our braves
by erecting to their memory fit mon
ument to commemorate their noble
deeds. One of the.foremost citizens of
Kenosha county has offered to take
large part in erecting a monument to
to commemorate their brave deeds,
with the cooperation of all the citizens
of the county, contributing much the
larger share of the expense himself.
Are the citizens of Kenosha county
willing to have it GO down in history
that but one of all it's citizens wanted
to honor the brave soldiers and sailors
of Kenosha county by erecting a monu
ment in honor of their memory and
their bravery? The county board,
presumably representing the people,
have said they are willing, and that the
people are unwilling to tax themselves
for a part Of the expense so that they
may have an interest and part in the
| laudabe effort of perpetuating the
memory of it's heroes in suitable
monument. If Mr.. Simmons was will
ing and determined to erect a forty
| thousand dollar monument instead of
the ten thousand proposed, it would be
nothing to the credit of Kenosha county.
He desires to be one of the citizens Of
the county to unite in the expression
of it's gratitude and honor for the
patriotic services and sacrifices of
Kenosha county soldiers and sailors
who perilled life and all for their
country. 1t seems to me that no one
citizen has moral right as private
citizen to erect public monument OF a
character that allies itself to the very
existence of the nation as a monument
to the memory of it's defenders would do.
/ It is the duty of each and every
loyal citizen to have part ia pT0Vid-
ing for this monument erected in honor
of our nations brave defenders, dead
and living OF Kenosha county. If Mr..
Simmons had proposed to erect the
monument if the county would buy the
Fisk lot, on which to erect it, the
proposition would have been extremely
fair and the people would have been
glad to accept it as it afforded them an
easy opportunity of decharging %
pleasant duty from which they can only
absOlve themselves by its execution.
There remains one course for the people
of Kenosha county to take If they
wish to write on the pages of the his
tory of Kenosha county that the monu-
ment to the grateful memory of the
nations defenders of Kenosha county
was erected by its citizens they must
now speak out and say so. The repre-
sentative officers are soon to be elected
The chairman of the several towns will
represent the people in the legislation
of the County Board. If we are willing
to pay the trifing tax required of eacn
one by an appropriation Of $3.50 for q
monument lot let us see to it and elect
men who will vote for the appFopria-
ton, and the acceptance of the monu-
ment. r. F. ROBERTS,