Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-02-28
affairs As To
Soldiers MONUMENT

Editor AMERICAN Can you
tell US what has become of the prop
ositOn to build soldiers monu-
ment? One hears nothing more about
it. Has the project been abandoned or
have those behind it simply be come
discouraged and are they now lying
back waiting for something to turn
up.
CITIZEN.
In reply to tie above 1t might be
stated that the outlook for the suld-
iers monument is not promising. This
carries with it no reflection on the
soldiers monument committee. whose
struggles have extended through many
years and who have labored with o
single heart to bring about the erec-
tion of memorial that would reflect
credit on the gratitude and patriotism
of our citizens and stand as a fitting
memorial to the fallen heroes who
offered up their lives on the altar of
their country.
Time and again the work of solicit.
ing was taken up and pushed with
vigor and enthusiasm. Now and then
the results were highly gratifying. but
there were other long periods, when
the responses were not encouraging,
when there was general lack of in
terest and when the work of canvass
ing Jagged or was actually suspended.
Long ago point was reached when
the soldiers monument committee
could not but realize that it was in
losing fight That it did not abandon
the struggle speaks we'll for its pat.
riotism and enterprise. The cost OF
soldiers monument would be little
less than ten thousand dollars. After
gathering in the large and willing
contributions heavy balance repre-
senting considerably more than one.
half of the cost remains, to be covered
by comparatively small subscriptions.
Whether or not this big balance
could ever be raised by popular SUBJ
scriptlon, may admit of difference OF
opinion. Certain it is that every at
tempt covering number of years past
has ended in failure, not the least diff.
Guilty being to keep corps of canvass
ers IN the field.
1t is scarcely secret that point
has now been reached when the sold
iers' monument committee begins to
despair of ever raising the money
needed by working along the lines for
merly pursued and is about ready to
abandon the proposition. One of the
principal obstacles in the way OF sue
cess lies in the fact that the county 10
small and whatever is contributed
through popular subscription would
have to come almost exclusively from
the people of Danville. Another cir
cumstance that initiates against gen
eral success lies in the fact that VIE are
now living forty years after the close
of the war. As rule the soldiers
monuments erected were built years
ago, Immediately after or soon follow
| ing the Rebellion, when that great
struggle still remained fresh on the
minds of the people. The long lapse Of
time has practically brought II new
generation, on the carpet, who while
not deficient in patriotism or in res
| pect and veneIation for the fallen
brave, nevertheless do not feel the same
| incentive as those who lived in war
times when examples of heroism and
self sacrifice were constantly before
their eyes.
Although discouraged the soldiers
monument committee has not as yet
abandoned the struggle. 1t still has
one hope left and that is that some
person of means may come to the re-
scue and contribute the balance need
| ed to build the monument. Unless this
is done the committee has little hope
of succeeding.
1t would, indeed, be much deplored
| if little Moutour, which has such
magnificent war record, should be one
of the few counties of the State. that
is to have no soldiers monument. II
is indeed, hoped that the help needed
to carry the project through may come :
from some source, whether from the
masses or from au individual. II the
former have already failed, then the
opportunity remains for the latter.
The person who comes to the rescue in
| this crisis will be twice honored; for
not only will he carry through to COM
pletion memorial that will honor the
nations dead. but, unconsciously, he
will build a monument that will pro-
claim his own patriotism and liber.
atty and make his memory bless
| ed