New-York tribune., 1900-12-02
PLEA FOR A PERMANENT ARCH
WOMEN CALLED UPON TO PREVENT ABAN-
DONMENT OF THE PROJECT

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In the midst of the present agitation on
behalf of good government in New-York City one
work has been deliberately abandoned. which,
though IL may appear OF lesser Importance, is not
without the deeUest National significance. For
artistic and patriotic reasons. for the honor OF the
city and for the glory OF the Nation. the Dewey
Arch should have been perpetuated. The tearing
down of the temporary arch with all It's associa-
tions OF beauty of ardor and OF enthusiasm. will
be an eternal loss. If the plan for the permanent
arch be abandoned Can nothing be done TO re-
store the feeling OF people for this monument
of our greatness? Should work OF such artistic
loveliness be flung away like valueless rubbish?
Should 1t be preserved for beautys sake alone?
Shall the metropolis of great Nation place it,
self on record as showing cOntemptuous indif-
ference to the highest conceptions OF the noble art
of sculpture? And more. a thousand times more
shall this great city go down to pOsterity as
despising the achievements OF our magnificent
Navy and of OF its bravest and noblest officers?
Where is civic pride. our love for the best and
highest among us? Has Admiral Dewey justly
loved and admired. and worthily welcomed only
short year ago, reason TO deplOre the pro-
verbal ingratitude OF republics? What pitifUl
detraction can ever take away one jot little OF
one S of us? Is 1t "o' p'e'OuS 10
And more. This arch was not intended to celebrate
Deweys fame alone, but that Of a long list OF
naval heroes The name OF Farragut alone should
for a record OF untarnished glory. The war with
Spain tested its efficiency and forever established
country much of that efficiency? To her
greatest son Theodore Roosevelt who. Assistant
Secretary of the Navy. did so much to prepare that
Of the National service for It's perfect work
Indirectly. the honor of our Governor is also in
vOIved in the perpetuation OF the Naval Arch
But II the of New-YOrk willing to let
this noble and lovely monument pass out of exist
ence. cannot We women be reused to the work?
AS a club woman of New-YOrk and New-Jersey, I
appeal 10 every wOman's club in the country. and
TO every individual woman to save the arch,
the women OF Boston saved the Bunker Hill Monu-
ment.
That project also abandoned: the funds were
Insufficient: the enthusiasm langUiShed Mrs.
Sarah JOsepha Hale. Of the strongest women
OF her generation. reused her sisters 20 the task,
and by earnest. organized effort. they raised the
Tnonev and completed the monument. There
no WOnen's clubs in those days. This great thing
was done by special individual endeavor. Think
how much greater is the power of woman to-day!
And surely the IS not lessi
We have lately been stirred to the deepest and
bitterest Indignation by insults TO soldiers who
were stigmatized 'idlers" What on earth should
we prize, IL not the self-sacTicing and glorious
National and Of the safety and honor OF
individual American? For the sake OF that simple
and grea. hearted sailor. who won the purest
laureIs war with Spain; for the sake of the
man who best uphOlds and emphasizes our Amer
lean ideals by tongue, by pen and by action; for
the sake of all those who are our pride at home
and abroad: for the dead and the living; for the
of the great city that keeps the gate of the New
World and for the honor OF the foremost Nation OF
the earth let raise the beautiful arch and let 1t
stand forever. . - -.
East Orange n. j., Nov %, 1900