The San Francisco call., 1899-05-18
A MONUMENT FOR DEWEY.

Il
! ! I provide Admiral Dewey with a stately mansion
! house and home at the national capital. 1t is
right that this should be so. The nation owes mucn
to the Admiral and since our laws do not admit the
! large rewards which monarchca Governments, and
notably that of Great Britain give to great men, 1t
is but proper a grateful and generous people should
undertake the duty themselves and by free gift pro-
vide the hero with home worthy Of his dignity and
his honors
Admiral Dewey, however, merits more than a
home His service should be commemorated by
something of monumental character which will
stand for ages and perpetuate the memory OF the
gratitude and admiration which his fellow citizens Of
this generation feel toward him. There is no reason
why the Admiral should not receive monument for
his fame as well as a home for his family He has
meed both and the wealth and the liberality OF the
American people equal to the patriotic task Of
providing both
The home OF the Admiral is to be in the East, his
noblest monument should be in the West His man.
sion is to be in Washington, let his memorial statue
stand in San Francisco The people OF the Eastern
States can be relied upon to subscribe promptly
than the amount of money required to provide and
furnish the mansion, and upon the people OF the
West and particularly upon those OF California;
the duty OF contributing the funds needed for
him monument which will serve to keep his great
deeds fresh in the memory of successive generations
as long the republic endures.
The glorious victory in Manila Bay was essentially
Western triumph. The anxiety felt along the Pa
chc Coast the outbreak of the war is still within
the memory OF all 1t be easily recalled that each
successive rumor OF an approaching Spanish feet was
received IN every city along this coas. with
less suspense. There were fears for our ships upon
the sea, for our coasting vessels and even fear in
In the very midst OF that suspense, while rumors
Of the coming of Spanish warships and prvateers
were rife, came the glad news of Deweys victory
and at once the sky cleared By single mighty
blow the Admiral had struck and destroyed the en-
tire naval force of Spain on the Pacific Ocean At
once all fears banished Even the most timd
no longer felt anxiety 1t with rejoicing unal-
loyed by any doubt whatever that people gave
themselves up in those glad days OF early May to
celebrate the triumph OF the victory and glory the
hero
Nor did the service rendered the Pacific Coast by
the Admiral end with the preservation OF our ships
and cities from menace OF Spanish attack The
far-reaching effects of the victory will be felt in the
future than in the past The battle gave
lis opening way into what promises to be the com
mercial empire OF the Pacific. 1t will be- therefore,
Western victory in its consequences more than
history the point at which San Francisco ceased to
be the back door OF the republic and became its chief
portal OF entrance for the great trade OF the greatest
OF the oceans OF earth.
1t is useless however either to multiply reasons
or to engthen the argument on the subject for the
effects OF the victory, we'll its glory are we'll
by all who capable of appreciatng the
value of historic events The one thing now is to
provide for adequately concentrating
Calfornias gratitude to the hero. That cannot be
done by any contributions we may make to his home
at Washington. What is given to that purpose will
be lost in the larger giving of the East We should
have a memorial that will be clearly and distinctly
Western that will represent the gratitude and the pa
triotism OF this section OF the Union.
The movement for the erection of the monument
moreover, should be started by San Francisco, and
we therefore urge the Mayor to appoint committee
OF patriotic pubc-spired and energetic citizens to
take it in charge The Call will give it every sup
port. All contributions to the fund will be acknow-
edged and published they are given, and every
other assistance and aid that great journal can give
to a public measure will be cordially extended.
The undertaking should be postponed Ad-
nlira Dewey's home is to be at Washington His
most impressive and most enduring monument
should stand in San Francisco, the city that has
prohted most by the service he so brilliantly rem
Gered to his country