The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-05
MGR. DONATE SBARRETTI

the erection of such a monument was
by Governor Morton, in his message to the
Legislature at its special session in 1860.
The Legislature, at that session, enacted
a law authorizing County Commissioners
TO contribute toward the erection of monu-
ments to the memory of the soldiers who
rebellion
IN HIS MESSAGE.
I'm his message in 1867 Governor Morton
returned to the subject, and strongly
urged that monument to the dead of the
civil war be erected in Crown Hill Gene
terry. This met with much favor, but 9TH
ers objected on the ground that the monu-
ment should not be to the dead alone, but
to all those who fought both living and
dead. Nothing was done at the time
AT a reunion of the veterans held in
Indianapolis in 1875, the matter was
brought up, and it was determined to start
a fund for the erection Of grand State
monument, and $1,000 was subscribed. A
Monumental Association formed, and
scheme for raising the necessary funds
by private subscriptions evolved. The as
ISOLATION did not accomplish much, and in
1888, the Grand Army of the Republic took
the matter up, and grand musical festi-
val was given in Indianapolis, which netted
for the monument about $1,000
THE next step was to secure appro-
priation of $4,000 by the commissioners Of
Marion county. By this time the G.. A. r
had a fund amounting to nearly If not
quite S20,0 The question was .agitated
before the people. and I'm 1885 the Legisla-
ture enacted a law authorizing County
Commissioners, on petition, to build such
monuments at a cost not to exceed s25, 900,
to the memory of those who fought in the
rebellion.
I'm 1885, both of the political parties de-
clared in their platforms in favor of the
erection of such monument by the State.
The Democratic platform used the follow
ing language: Resolved, That il is due
to the memory of the brave men who gave
their lives for the preservation of the gov
be erected at the capital of the State, and
for that purpose, we ask of the General
Assembly a generous appropriation.
1.-The Republicans held their convention
three weeks later, and in its platform said:
Lapse of time does not weaken the graft
tude due the soldiers and sailors of the
liberal appropriation for the erection of a
Soldiers and SailorS Monument at the
capital of the State
PLEDGED BY CONVENTIONS.
THUS, before the members of the Legis-
lature were elected they were pledged by
their party conventions to favor an ap-
preparation to erect a monument TO the
soldiers and sailors who fought to preserve
the UniOn-nothing was said about any
this a little further: When the Degisla-
ture met, memorial was presented setting
forth, among other things, that the Grand
Army OF the Republic had a fund, which
the erection of a monument to the mem
DRY of what Indiana had done during the
civil war if the State would take upon
itself the construction Of the monument.
Every post in the state petitioned the
Legislature asking that body to erect the
monument, using the following or similar
language: TO be expended in erecting a
state soldiers and sailors monument to
be built at Indianapolis. TO commemorate
the patriotism of the heroes of Indiana
who aiGed in saving the government from
dissolution by armed treason in 1861 and
1865
These memorials and petitions having
been presented. bill was introduced and
became law appropriating TO erect a
monument soc. zoo. TO be used, so the law
says, in connection with such other funds
as have already been or hereafter may be
donated and contributed for said purpose
What other funds could have been in
tended? The only funds that had been do
nates or contributed were those given
IL the @. a X. for the purpose OF erect
ing a monument to the soldiers of the civil
war. But this is not all. When the COM
missioners. appointed in pursuance of the
law OF 1881, came 10 asking for designs
( they caused TO be printed monograph
architects might fully understand the pur-
pose for which the monument was to be
erected and make their designs in conson-
ance Herewith. The monograph, after
describing the site selected for It, gave i'm
detail what Indiana had done during the
nor of any intention that il was 10 COM
memOrate some event that was to take
place in the future.
THE CIVIL WAR.
According TO this monograph. designs
were submitted and one selected. and that
dssixn- as submitted and approved. dis