The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-11
Communicated. |
OVE-1 = = =
Vandalism and Folly.
To The Free Lance

To The Free Lance
The proposition to build new court
house for Spotsylvania county is &C.
compAnied by the attractive suggestions
thst the money is in hand TO pay for tie
work; that the old building is unsafe
that the Records should have secure
and fre-proof vault; that there is not
room for county officials accommoda-
tions, etc. etc.
At the first glance these reasons may
appear good, and they are plausible. but
all circumstances surrounding case
should be examined and considered be.
fore any action be taken involving
grave issues.
In the first place, to pull down the old
courthouse would be simply vandalism
shameful In any case, but especially
atrocious and silly on the part Of men
who are petitionlng for national park
and highway. The veterans of both
armies and thousands Of patriotic oiti.
zeus are trying with every hope Of
sucoess) to get y government to make
a great appropriation of money to pre-
serve the relics, sites and glorious men,
ories of the battle6elds for future geni
erations to see and remember, and to
provide a splendid highway for the COM
fort, convenience and attraction Of the
- st.o TTnfkaA Tot nd ufofk.
ors from every country who love pa
triotism and admire yalor, and would
teach generations, yet unborn, those
ideal principles, which have raised the
world from barbarism and are the
foundations Of civilization and honor.
To intelligent people throughout the
world and to students of history, espeo-
ially, Spotsylvania Oonrt.house is a
historic building, monument which
marks the site and enshrines the mem.
ories of the greatest battles Of all:times
for Fredericksburg Ohancellorsville,
the Wilderness and spotsylvania Court
house are indissoluby bound together in
the minds Of men, and will be for all
future ages. with all their associations
and sacred ties.
The suggestion Of destroying that
historic building comes as a shock 20
every thinking person. 1t is absolutely
incredible as coming from any set OF
men outside OF a lunatic asylum. In.
stead Of destroying that building, every
man Of ordinary intelligence, and every
man Of average business sense ought
not only 90 disoWn. stamp out and de-
nouuce auy such action, out should be
ready and willing and anxious by every
honorable means In his power, to pre-
serve that building. which, Of ell others,
is the monument Of history in Spotsyl-
vania county.
| Let Il be publicly and generally known
that IL Is merely suggested TO destroy
this building. OF pull down. or efface
the surroundings, and storm OF criti-
cisms and protests will be heard, no'
only from our own county and State,
but from right.minded people in every
civilized country In the world. snonio
anv such vandalism be permitted oy tne
people of Spotsylvania and FredericKs-
burg. they will not only win the name
of barbarians, but inJure the pros
meets National Battlefield PARK Inc
more this matter Is considered, the
strouQer the reasons Will be FOUND
against destroying the building.
The building should be preserved, and
Il can be done at small cost and made
absolutely safe. and will answer all the
requirements Of the people Of Spotsyl'
vanis. One room can be converted into
a FIRE. proof vault for records and the
other into q suitable Office for the clerk,
whilst comfortable offices for other
county officers can be built at moderate
cost In convenient place.
Let wiser counsela prevail end all
eecred memories and relics be preserved.
Jno M Holiday,