Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1907-07-10

Captain O'Neill Rough Rider Monu-
ment, and which made a generous APP
preparation in aid Of the project. No
limitation or restriction otherwise than
as thus expressed was made In the act,
but the kind, character and scope of
the monument were left to the sound
discretion and judgment Of the Com
mission. Agreeable to the act, Gov.
crnor Kibbey appointed and commits
stoned Mr.. Morrison, Judge Wells, Mr..
Goldwatcr, Mr.. Hickey and myself, as
members Of the Commission. Immedi.
atcly after its organization, the Com.
mission took up the matter determining
the general character Of the monument,
whether IL should be in design and ex-
ccution sculptural or architectural. The
first named was the unanimous choice
Of the members Of the Commission.
Happily, as we think, IL was found that
the appropriation made by the terri.
tory, supplemented by generous dona.
tions Of many citizens and friends Of
the movement at home and abroad,
would admit Of the execution Of this
general plan and choice Of the Com
mission. 1t was felt that the subject
Of the monument, its surroundings, and
| the f1TfuIuNtuUctb fDuU''ttu WIN 10
| erection, demanded that, within the
limits Of artistic necessity, IL should
depart from the conventional, be es-
sentially modern in treatment, and,
without undue exaggeration, be typical
Of and cmbody the spirit Of the west;
and futher, that an artist should be
selected whose work and proven talent
would insure its successful execution
along the lines thus marked out by the
Commission. After mature considera-
ton, Mr.. Scion II. Borglum, of New
| York was commissioned to erect an
equestrian statue in keeping with a
design which ne had submitted and
which met with approval. Mr.. Borg.
lum was selected, not alone because Of
his design, but for the additional rea.
son, that he IN recognized as one OF the
most distinguished among the younger
group Of American sculptors, a group,
which in the judgment Of contemporary
critics, for talent, originality and
technique, since the age OF Pnidias, ~
unsurpassed by that Of any time or
country.
| Since the award Of the Commission
the responsibility has necessarily been
1
after many months of anxiety and an
ticipation, We are here today to com
pletc the work thus assigned us, and,
with you, TO pass judgment upon the
manner of its execution. We have rea-
son to believe that the work OF Mr..
Borglum mas been in this instance
worthy Of his fame, and that IL will be
found to be executed with that con
scicn,ious thoroughness which marks
the true artist and sculptor, and con
fdently hope that IL may not only meet
with the approval Of all who are here
today. but that, tested by any just and
impartial standard Of art IL may not bs
condemned.
So much for the history Of the monu
ment. PERM, me now 10 say some
thing as to its meaning and signifeanc.
Sentiment more than We are apt Il
think is q potent factor In all human
affairs. Without sentiment literature
would be bereft Of its interest An,
, charm, and art would lose it's inspira
. ton. II is the sentiment OF patriotism
which is prompting the erection, nortl
: and south, east and west, of NO man.
memorial statues, columns and arches
concentrating the services and char
acter Of our great, heroic and might
:. dead. The same sentiment, mingie
with pride, that this commonwealth, =
: early in her history, has exhibited
o type of manhood worthy TO be compai
> ed with the best examples Of America
|. bravery. valour and patriotism, ha
furnished the inspiration for the cre'
ton Of this statue, has prompted Ia
e tribute TO the Rough Riders who's
q names are inscribed upon one OF u
Q. tablets, and this endeavor to perpet'
~ ate, IL not the exact face and forr
yet the name and fame, and TO repr
~ duce in bronze somewhat Of the spir
* and bearing Of the illustrious lea
a whose name IL bears.
NJ There have been many distinguish
military organizations, typical of u
times and sections from which thu
were recruited. IL Is easy to reca
Morgan's Virginia Rifemcn, Jackson
Tcnneseeans, Davis's Mississippi Boy
and Terry's Texas Rangers. None 4
- less distinctive than these were o
Rough Riders. They were distiueti
not because they were individually
any one class, not because they we
mountainecrs, plainsmen, hunte
nc miners or cowboys, but because tn
to were for the most part truly represe
i, tativc of the virile, adventurous, d.
y" ing, and yet kccnly intelligent RAJ
ks that. in one generation, has build
10 this empire of the southwest. Typle
ly western, they exhibited at their b'
III the manly virtues of tne Aemric
pioneer. Never perhaps in any war
lc. the future will there be another such
mt regiment. The unification Of our p
re pie, the vanishing frontier, the eonv'
In tionalization of manners, eustoi
,is habits and life, which is rapidly d
10 placing sectional characteristics, hith
its to 80 marked feature Of our natiol
ae life, will not admit IL. In this sci
ms the Rough Rider was Of tne past rat
A than of the future. lie has slres
ser passed into history. Soon myth 9
ice legend will gather about the story
be the Rough Riders. A., in the ca