Year: 1876

A Monument to Custer.


The underlying thought in this massacre
of Custer and his command is duty and
valor. General Custer sought this duty like
a true man and performed it like brave
man. These are qualities we can never
honor too much in this hard, mean, money
seeking age. Even those who would criti-
else the judgment of Custer, or who would
think if they had been there they would
have done so much better, will not deny
him the highest qualities of manhood and
soldiership. 1t is for this that n monument
should be raised to his memory. France
raised monument to Desaix, after his fall
at Marengo, battle which he saved by his
valor and enterprise. England raised monu-
ments to her sons who served her SO we'll in
The reason is that England and France de-
sire to hold up the deeds of their brave sons
as an example to all time. For this reason
oil honor should be paid to Custer. Long
after this generation has passed away,
long after every vestige of the merci-





long after this Yellowstone country has be-
come the seat of towns and cities and q pros
porous civilization, the name Of Custer and
the story of his deeds will be fresh in mems
memories. Tho story that comes to us to-
day with so much horror, with so much
pathos, will become part of our national life
If, as has been said, all the world loves a
lover, so we may say that all the world hon
ors a hero. What name is brighter than
that of Leonidas, who died as Custer died.
The deeds of our young captain and his lit
tie band are worthy Of as much honor as
those of Leonidas, and will be remembered
as long, unless we, in our selfshness, allow
them to die.


The Crimean war is almost forgotten,
although it happened only twenty years ago,
and its results have been dispelled by
by diplomacy and the march of events. But
the charge of the Light Brigade has IN eter-
nal freshness in the memory of Englishmen.
Men have long since ceased to ask, s'Was
Lucan careless" or ''was Cardigan rash p
They remember only that an English brigade
in the high pursuit of duty did not hesitate to
ride into the batteries of an army. This is
magnificent" said Bosquet, looking on,
''but it is not war" 1t was something
higher than war. 1t was the utter consecra-
ton of ones life to his duty. the sublnest
thing man can do. This is why tho blood
Of Englishmen always leaps in manly adora-
ton when it thinks Of the charge of Bala-
- - g ;,~
that noble achievement to say that the
charge of Cardigan was not as daring n deed
as the charge Of Custer There was the
chance Of captivity, of gentle, considerate
treatment, OF kindness and tender care in
the event of wounds. Many returned from
that charge to be honored by their country
men, to see their names blazoned over all
the world. But the charge of the Yellow
stone was victory or death. From it there
c-dld be no retreat, no escape. no captivity.
These men knew that if they failed there
would be no rescue no safety. Ifthey fell into
the hands of their enemies their fate would
be lingering torture such as no tongue can
describe. When men, therefore, in the dis
charge of duty. calmly, firmly and even
with enthusiasm ride upon n tate like this
we say immortal honor to their name.


1t is for this reason that we call upon tho
people to unite and build monument to
Custer, such monument AZ will COM
memorate his deeds to all time. We owe it
to ourselves and our national character that
such dced should not be passed idly by.
An example like this of Custer is legacy to
a nation rich reward which We should
accept with thanks and reverence. Let this
monument to Custer become a national, n
peoples movement. Let the people take it
up, for valor like his and the pursuit OF duty
TO the death even as he and his men have
shown are dear to the humblest Let
every village and town form its Custer mon
ument association and let the contributions
be widespread We should much rather,
for instance, have q monument representing
the smallest contributions possible, coming
from the hearts of the people, showing their
veneration for valor and duty than a mon
ument voted by Congress and paid for out of
the Treasury. The Custer monument
should be the peoples appreciation Of valor