The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-08-26
QUO MFRcER MnNrMENr

iilt MI ~ ELK MONt MENr
1t is with real pleasure that THE
FREE LANCE announces To hepeople
ofthis section that Mr.. W. ). Embrev
has offered TO donate a piece OF land
on which TO locate the Mercer monu-
ment. Liberal citizens like unto the
worthy Recorder of our city are al
ways looked upon with ewes of affac-
ton by the people.
While we thoroughly appreciate the
offer OF this noble citizen. yet we con-
tinue to feel that the very best site
on which TO locate the proposed
monument Is at tine intersection of
Washington avenue and Fauquier
street. We have been asked to give
our reasons for advocating this par
ticular spot, and it Is with pleasure
that we do SO.
First OF all, 1t is the prettiest loca-
tion in the city ON which to erect a
marble shaft in memory Of the hon
ored dead. We do not believe that
there isanother section of Fredericks-
burg from which the surrounding
view is more historic, more beautiful.
or less Obstructed. Washington ave
nue. is the widest thoroughfare in the
city and the only one on which there
is room for a large monument and
also driveways arouudit. Indeed. it
Is more than twice a. wide as any
other street in the city.
Secondly, we think it the most an
propriate location, for within a
stones throw one can reach the Ken
more house, an old homestead around
which cluster sacred memories: the
City cemetery i'm which lie the
remains OF many men who were prom
inent in their day. among them being
Hugh Mercer, son of the pa
triot forwhom the present monument
Is to be erected; and the Mary Wash
ington monument, an imposing shaft
erected to the memory OF the mother
of George Washington. With these
historic surroundings. eau there be "a
more appropriate spot on which to
locate a memorial To the noble and
brave Mercer?
Thirdly, it is the most popular
spot. We believe, were it found wise
and practicable To submit all OF the
proposed sites TO a popular vote Of
the citizens of Fredericksburg, that
nine out OF every ten would select
this location.
Shall those who are connected bv
ties of relationship haveaughttos say
as to the location OF a monument 10
the departed patriot?
Are we 10 consider the wishes of
those, through whose veins. Mercer
blood Is tingling TO day? Ifso. then
the site we recommend will be chosen
Tor we have read "A letter from direct
descendants Of General Mercer and
they have urged that the monument
be located on Washington Avenue.
The principal argument used by the
advocates ofother sites is. that bv
placing the monumente elsewhere than
on Washington Avenue, VIZ will in
crease the taxable values OF the city
and thereby cause an influx ofmonev
into the city's treasury. If this were
true, has Commercialism 50 lar
over-reaehed itself as to 90 to the /
monument erected to the memory Of
a departed spirit and seek from shat
sphere the shekels OF taxation?
But enough, Te believe we see a /
happy solutionto the whole problem. /
Let City Council appoint a Com
mittee to wait on SIR. Embrey and
extend to him the thanks OF the peo-
pie for his noble tender ana REQUEST
him to so change the wording of his
offer that we may accept the land
and provide thereon a public park in 4
which the little ones of our city NAV 4
roam durlng the warm summer davs
and letus then all unite as one man
and notify the honorable Secretary
o; War that we are ready for the
monument and wonld be glad TO
have him or his representatives visit
our city and inspect Washington
Avenue, the site which we, the people
OF this section, believe to be the most
suitable on which to establish a mon
ument TO brave General Mercer.
What Cuba needs is not so much aIoap
York Tribune NO"