The National tribune., 1909-07-01
THE MONUMENT TO STEPHENSON.

Next Saturday there will be added to
the many monuments in Washington as
! important a memorial as the National
Capital has This. in its first inception.
was a monument to DIR. B. F. Stephen
son. the founder of the G. A. r AS the
enterprise developed from its first in
dorsement 10 years ago by the National
Encampment it took larger form. and
became at the same time monument
| to the soldiers and sailors who had
fought to a triumphant termination the
great war for the preservation of the
Union.
There was a need of such memo
/ rial in Washington. The city abounds
| in statues of Generals and Admirals.
but nowhere is there any public exhibi-
ton that any but these men fought for
the Union. There is no testimonial
whatever to the 100000 gallant men
who gave everything to the cause of
their country
This monument will repair in some
degree this omission. 1t is a fine work
of art of which every veteran can be
proud; it pays a deserving tribute to
the memory of Dr. Stephenson, whose
| brain conceived the idea OF our illus
trious Order, and also puts in enduring
| bronze and granite the memory of the
men who composed our armies and
manned our battleships. and who fought
as never men fought before for the
great principle that all men are created
equal. and that government OF the
people. for the people and by the peo-
pie shall not perish from the earth.
The work of collecting funds for the
monument was largely accomplished by
Past Commander-in-Chief Louis Wag-
ner, of Philadelphia The National Trib-
une collected a considerable sum by
appeals thru its columns for contribu-
tfons. and Comrade Charles A. Part
ridge. Past Assistant Adjutant-General
of Illinois, was invaluable in his assist
ance. Much the larger portion of the
funds, however, were collected by the
indefatigabIe efforts of Gen. Wagner
and thru his wide acquaintance with
moneyed men. AT every National En-
campment Comrade Wagner took the
| matter up. pressed the collection Wig
| orously. stirred up the Departments to
emulation in the matter of contribu-
tions, and between National Encamp-
ments solicited his liberal friends for
generous donations. Three-fourths, IL
not more. of the money was collected
by his personal efforts. He was also
effective in getting thru the bills au-
site for the monument and to appro-
pirate $4,000 for pedestal. In the
work of securing the site and getting
the appropriation he was assisted by
the other members of the committee,
Charles q. Partridge. James Tanner,
Thomas s, Hopkins and John McElroy.
Gen Wagner also secured the artist,
and gave personal attention to The
prosecution of the @ork.
Artistically considered. the monument
| is a fine piece of work, with the ideas
of Fraternity. Charity and Loyalty ar
tisticaIly personified and eloquent in
meaning 10 all who will study them
The monument will stand in the central
| part of the city. where every day many
thousands of citizens and visitors will
pass il and have their attention attract
ed to its simple beauty and impressive
ness
| The monument has many wcighty
lessons TO teach all who shall look upon
it in the coming years. 1t will remind
them of the man whose mind conceived
the plan OF continuing the solidarity
of the MEN who had saved the Union,
to preserve in peace that which they
had secured in war at such fearful
cost to themselves. 1t will be visible
emblem and reminder of the 1000. 900
men who fought the greatest war that
/ the world ever saw and who on every
field of battle. land or sea. showed
courage. fortitude and high patriotic
devotion unequaled in the annals of
time. 1t will tell of the men who made
| Gettysburg. Chickamauga, the Wilder
ness. Appomattox. the passage Of the
forts nj New Orleans and the battle OF