The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-24
Acts of Vandalism

The Tribune believes that IL the
people OF Florida understood what is
proposed to be done at the capitol
building, by the way of Improve
ment" and enlargement, there would
go out such storm of potest that
the plans as announced would be
changed.
Briefly, this is a description of the
Florida state capitol: An imposing
white structure extending north and
south. on the general lines and design
of the capitol at Washington. On the
east is great pillared portico over
looking the capitol grounds in that di
rection. and faced by a monument to
the heroes of the Confederacy. On
the west another pillared portico
looks out over the hills that roll away
to the north. and into the face of a
monument to the heroes of the Indian
war. From that eastern portico has
been heard the inaugural addresses
of practically all the governors of
Florida. And thousands of the dis
tinguished sons of this state have trod
that way in the years that are behind
us
The board of state institutions pro-
poses to tear away both the porticos,
and build from the center, at right
angles to the present main structure,
two wings, Transforming the present
stately Roman Capitoline style of
architecture into a cross.
It will be a work of vandalism, a
dissertation of sacred memories. to de-
stroy the beauty of this building.
with the history. resentment, tradition
and glory over and around its grand
porticos merely for the purpose of
permitting some architect to design a
front that will be of questionable
credit to him and only him.
"It was our forefathers' brains that
designed these beautiful porticos,
writes a reverencer of Florida's sacred
memories clustered around that state
house ut was our forefathers' hands
that erected them" Our forefathers'
feet have trod them From them
their voices have reverberated and
gone forth in war and in peace, In
times of fullness and in days of want.
1t was from that east portico in 1876
that handful of Democrats challen-
ged the carpetbaggers with all their
negro followers, and placed white SUI
premacy upon the throne in Florida.
All of this to go, unless the people Of
Florida are aroused and a strong pro-
test made! With the new fronts"
we will think of BLANK, the Archi-
tect" What name to inspire by
to that of Madison, Perry,
Broome, Walker, B1oxam-i
The Tribune has been a strong adj
vocate of the removal of the state
capitol from Tallahassee in case the
state be not divided But in the case
of that ultimate division, which win
come, why should we lose forever the
beauty and the tradition, with all that
memories calls up when visiting that
fine old building? It is said to be one
of the handsomest state capitols in
the United States. It IS too small, 1t |
is true: but other state capito1s are
by enlarging. or adding to, |
the senate and house wings, never, so
far as we have information, by de- |
stroying the central front and rear Of
them, and sticking out wing" from
the middles.
The Tribune. recommends this pro-
test strongly to the Rotary and XII
wants clubs of Tampa and the rest of
the state. to all civic organizations. /
the historical societies. and the wo-
mems clubs. Surely we will not ST. |
lently and without protest permit this
vandalism to become a facti