Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1912-04-19
TO PERPETUATE THE
MEMORY OF LOYAL WOMEN
OF THE CIVIL WAR

A monument TO the memory :, {
the loyal women of the Civil War
will become an enduring reality if
Congress enacts into law a joint
resolution just introduced by Hon.
Elihu Root of New York in the
Senate and Hon. James l.. Slayden
of Texas in the House. This pro-
ject, which has lain dormant in
the minds of the people for almost
half a century. has been put into
concrete form by the generosity
ond patriotism of the Commentary
of the State of New York of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion
OF the United States.
1t is not proposed to make the
monument merely a remembrance
of persons and deeds, not merely a
memorial of lifeless stone or
bronze. but a noble building full
of the spirit of helpfulness, of
tender sympathy. of humane and
patriotic devotion that lived In The
women to whom tFis monument is
to be erected. This spirit is the
spirit of the Red Cross, and for
this reason the memorial is to be
given to the Red Cross in per-
petuity for its headquarters in
Washington.
Toward the carrying out of its
purpose the purchase of a site in
the pose the cOmmendery has
pledged itself to secure and give
the sum of 100000 on condition
that Congress appropriate an equal
amount AS a contributor of the
United States toward city of
Washington, the improvement of
the grounds, etc. Thus the
memorial will be made truly
national, the tribute of all the
neople to the sacred memory of
the loyal woman Of the war. The
Red Cross. on its part, is to agree
to secure an endowment fund the
income of which will be sufficient
to maintain the building for all
time.
At the banquet of the Loyal
Legion held in New York, October
1, 1911. Hon. James NJ. Beck in
urging the creation of the monu-
ment. gave an address from which
the following tribute is quoted:
I'VE need not fear the verdict of
the future as to what we now plan
10 do. There are many memorials
to the deathless valor of the brave
men, who in the four years from
1861 to 1865 responded to the call
OF their country and in many cases
laid down their lives for its preser-
walton; but not less worthy of
commemorative art is the equal
patriotism of the women of
America, who as truly threw
their hearts into the great struggle
for the Union. and who freely
gave their lives at the no less
dangerous posts Of duty of the
fever-stricken camps, which fol.
lowed with the scythe of death the
march of our mighty armies.
ITO the mothers who gave their
sons, to the wives who gave their
husbands. to the women who be.
came nurses, to those who in the
privacy Of their home gave their
earnings and all the work Of their
hands, to one and all, let us erect
this noble memorial and in paw
ment Of long.deferred debt, let
our memorial be more beautiful
than any memorial known to man.
Let II stand for all that woman has
been in Ameri an history"
The resolution introduced by
Mr.. Root and MIR. Slayden is the
first step on the part Of Congress
toward acceptance of this generous
proposal of the Loyal Legion of
New York. Appealing as the pro.
iect does to all that is tender and
sacred in the memories of the old
and the gratitude of the young, It
is believed it will receive the
hearty support of a large majority
of both houses of Congress.