Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-08-01

II,
OF the lack of it, in the recent appro-
priation by the legislature of 100000
Tor Wisconsin soldiers monument
IN the national military park at vicks-
burg, many veterans of the civil war
and other people, too, no doubt
have been led to think more than
common about the value Of such
monuments in general.
Concerning this monument. in par
ticular, the feeling and judgment of
men who served through the famous
siege OF vicksburg should have no
little weight. Two regiments of those
men were holding reunion here just
at the time when the bill for its cree
ton had come from the legislature
to the governor for his signature.
Though it had passed both houses
almost unanimously, some newspapers
were intimating to the governor that
he would do we'll to veto the pro-
posed appropriation. To those who
did this a hundred thousand dollars
seemed large sum of money for a
monument so far away from home.
1t is not likely that any of them
were much opposed to the matter in
principle, though one of them said
Governor Davidson would make no
mistake in vetoing all propositions
for soldiers monuments.
These newspaper comments were
read by the old veterans as they sat
and visited and talked about the
great siege. Not a few of them,
though growing old, are men of af-
fairs,-men of Intelligence and the
highest type of American citizenship.
They could turn aside little while
from their "reminiscences of war times
and talk seriously among themselves
concerning this monument question.
It became to them a matter of public
policy of special Importance. They
lelt much more deeply than others
upon the subject, and they felt, too,
that they had a peculiar right to pos
tive opinions.
When Colonel Villas spoke upon
Vicksburg-the siege, and the pres
ent appearance Of the siege lines,-at
the campfire held at the courthouse,
he had most appreciative audience.
Many of that room full of eager list
eners had been in the siege. They
knew then that the campaign closing
with the surrender there July 4, 1868,
was of very great Importance; and
they, in their best judgment as young
men, believed that in the conduct OF
that campaign General Grant had
shown himself one of the greatest
military men of the war; yet they
could not know then the greatness of
the enterprise and the man as they
know now; and as the colonel became
eloquent in his consideration of the
siege and its relation to the final out
come of the war, then described
graphically the present conditions
there,-the restored lines of works
facing each other as during the siege,
the many monuments erected by both
north and south, the splendid drives
along those ridges over which our
army advanced day by day to better
and yet better points of vantage,
spoke of certain parks of the lines of
special interest to members of the
18th and the 23d regiments, he re-
ceived the most intense attention,
not only of the men who were there
in '63, but of every other old soldier
and the few present who were never
in the army.
What wonder, then, that strong res
olutions were eagerly adopted in ia
vor of a suitable Wisconsin monu-
ment in that park! What wonder
that at the meetings of the 18th and
23d the next morning similar resolu-
tions were adopted. and three COM
mittees of three old soldiers each
called upon Governor Davidson with
those resolutions, respectfully. yet
earnestly, to present the matter to
him from their point Of view. Those
men were received by his excellency
most cordially, and they came away
with a higher regard than ever for
Governor Davidson and his patriotic
spirit. Having seen him and talked
with him they felt sure he would sign
the bill, that it would become law.
and that the monument would in due
time stand at vicksburg to tell in the
centuries to come of the generous pa
triotism of Wisconsin as well as the
loyalty and bravery Of her soldiers In
the war for the union
II is. OF course, question OF hon.
est difference OF opinion whether this
monument should be erected at Vicks-
burg. where comparatively few Wis
consin people win ever see IT, or here
in Madison. II 1t were to- be mon
umen. 10 al, wisconsin soldiers In