The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-14
INCEPTION OF MONUMENT.
Action Of the Late state Senator l.. vi
Campbeu Recalled.

An interesting fact in connection with
the monument to be dedicated tomorrow is
that the splendid shaft which now stands
as the tribute of an entire State to the
memory of its patriotic dead had its in
ception in a project to erect a memorial
smaller, but no less commemorative, wholly
by private subscription. The idea, as gath
cred from old records, seems to have been
TO construct a statue of heroic size that
should be symbOlical of the type of man
that so freely gave his life as a sacrifice
TO the honor of the flag.
One OF the leaders in the original move
ment TO erect such a memorial was the late
State Senator J.. NJ. Campbell. of Danville.
Ind. father OF Mrs. John T. Barnett, of
this city. Mrs. Barnett has among her
cherished membranes of her distin-
guished father a letter which he wrote TO
the editor of the Journal bearing upon the
subject OF a monument to Indiana soldiers
both dead and living. The letter is of I'M
usual interest on account OF its fllumina-
tiOn OF the origin of the monument and its
allusion TO one of the late General Harri-
sons most notable public addresses. Sena-
tor Campbells letter was dated Jan. Il,
1884. and. as its contents show, was called
forth largely by General HarrisOn's famous
Grafton Of Jan. Is, the same year, urging
that a monument to Indiana's soldiers in
the civil war be speedily erected.
SENATOR CAMPBELL'S LETTER.
The letter read as follows:
"a monument TO The Indiana Soldier
will be built and IL will be placed in the
Circle in the capital of the State as a fit
companion TO that of Senator Morton;
Divers plans have already been proposed
for raising money for that purpose, all of
which IL may be well to consider. but the
leading object in every mind should be the
accomplishing of the work. When the
statue is placed IN position it will stand as
the representation OF the soldier-nOt the
dead alone as at present. but the living as
well. II seems to me to be in bad taste TO
ask contributions from soldiers for that
purpose either directly by solicitation from
members of the G. y. r. or indirectly by
taxation. We erect such a monument TO
the soldier because he has already earned
IL by his patriotism. his privatiOns, his
heroism and by what his service has ac-
cOmplished for his country. There are
hundreds Of men in the State who were of
suitable age 20 serve In the army who did
not tOr good reasons, dOUbtleSS). who did
at the time and who now fully appreciate
the great service rendered by our Indiana
heroes and who could donate the amount of
money necessary without denying them
selves or their families a single comfort. I
could name fifty from memory in Indian
apOiis who could give $500 each in an hours
notice and not feel the loss. The proper
thing to be done is for nifty OF that class
OF men 20 come forward at once and say
20 the Grand Army of the Republic. Here
are $500 cash We freely give il over to
you that you may, under yOur own
auspices, through your own committees, go
Immediately 10 work and. If possible. by
the 4th day OF July put up such a statue as
described Dy senator Harrison on the 18TH
i shall be happy 10 be one Of fifty men to
forward the money. Certainly no patriotic
man could invest the same amount OF his
surplus IN a way that would give him more
pleasure or himself or his pOsterity more
honor. That which we I'm the
shape OF property soon loses its distinctive
character as drops OF water lose their
Identity when they fall into the sea The
suggestion OF Senator Harrison was not the
first. or course, nor was il pretended TO be
for many had thought OF the monument he
fore. but the Incident OF the 18th was one
that rarely occurs when the right man and
the occasion meet, and his eloquent words
doubtless moved other hearts as they did
my own. / have one brother and four
brOthers-in-law who rest in soldiers
graves. provided one before Richmond
and another in eastern Tennessee found
graves deep enough 10 cover them until
now. II the two latter could have been
brought 10 the family cemeteries and beau
tiful erected over them. what
money would have stood In the wav2 Hum
dreds OF thousands Of people I'm Indiana are
similarly situated and the one monument
must answer for all. Then let II be erected
al once and the class OF men 7 have de-
scribed should furnish the money"
MONEY BY SUBSCRIPTION.
The suggestion. thus forecfully put by
Senator Campbell. brought ready response
and something like 10000 was raised by pri-
vate subscription towards a monument OF
the kind he described. More mature re-
Fiction. however. brought the conviction
that the monument 10 the patriotic dead Of