The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-15

Probably nearly every State in the North
OF a monument to the honor of its men who
served IL during the war for the Union,
but only one has carried that purpose into
e~xecution-the State of Indiana. The larger
cities have monuments. but they are not
great works Of art and massive structures
like that in Monument Circle. Soon after
the close or the war the matter OF building
a monument was often spoken of. 1t was
IN the mind Of all patriotic people. In a
speech very soon after the war Governor
Morton spoke Of the debt of gratitude
which Indiana owed its soldiers who fought
for the Union, and urged the building Of a
monument in what was then known as
Governors Circle. In fact, there was never
airy question OF locality TO disturb those
who had the project in mind. The Circle
was regarded as the spot where such a
monument should be built. No other city
was thought of but indianapolis. even be-
fore It became the commercial as well as
the political and social center of the State.
Aside from it's appropriate locality, In
dianapofis is. of all the capital cities in the
country. what a capital city should be.
There is not a county in Indiana which is
not represented by families who were
raised therein. 1t is a peculiar fact that
the people in other counties can find rela-
tives or old neighbors who are residents of
the city, and tha few families whose
names are well known in Indiana could
come to Indianapolis and not find some rel
alive whom they can visit.
1t Is unfortunate that all the speeches of
the great war Governor were not secured
as he delivered them. and published. for if
we had them we could quote his eloquent
appeals for a monument to commemorate
1ndiana's part in the great struggle which
kept The American people a nation. 1t is
particularly fitting that the State of Indi-
ana should have a monument to it's sol
diers for many reasons. No State of its
class sent into the war so large a percent
age Of its sons who were Of the military
age. Massachusetts sent SOS per cent. of
her men of the military age. or to S4 of
her population; Pennsylvania sent SOS per
cent. of her war population. or 1 to Sc of
the total population; Ohio contributed 6Sl
per cent. of her military population atG to
IA per cent. of her total population: Indi-
ara contributed III per cent. of all ire males
her population. on the basis Of three years
service Massachusetts gave 81 per cent. of
her military population. Pennsylvania H.2
per cent. Ohio 49S per cent. and Indiana 81
per cent. These figures are certainly a rea-
son why Indiana should build such a mon
ument as she has to the honor of the men
Of the military age who so freely responded
TO the call of the Nation.
Another reason why Indiana should have
a soldiers monument Is found in the fact
that no State would have suffered more
had the cause of secession triumphed. In
stead of being the center of population in
a great Nation as it now is. it would be a
southern border State of a country made
up of the Northern States. Instead of being
a great center Of transportation and indus
try. it would be a border State in a coun-
try weak in every way and lacking the
power which has made Indiana what it is
to-day.