Year: 1875




Al INSULT TO THE NATIONAL


Editor Of tie Herald: Inyour issue Of the
2Sth inst, over the signature Of Hauth, !"
appears communication, which l cannot
allow to 60 unnoticed. The fence enclos-
ing the the monument grounds, erected by
my efforts he denounces as vulgaFly
patriotic, and compares the pickets on the
fence enclosing the grounds to barber-poles.
1t is very evident from the tenor of his
communication that the national colors are
not the colors he sails under. And have
no doubt but what the author was favora-
bic to the rebel stars and bars that faunted
the faces of our brave soldiers who sacri-
feed their lives on many Southern battle
field during the late rebellion, and to whose
memory the monument on Delaware ave
nue. was erected. The author seems very
.al9ch concerned about the citizens Of Della
ware avenue being disgraced by the ma
tional colors on the monument fence. Now,
let US look at this matter for moment, and
compare the monument grounds with what
I,found them one year ago. At that time
found an unsightly, crumbling, uneven
piece of earth, on which stood the monu-
ment. A more unsightly object did not
disgrace the city than the monument
grounds. found this monument with a
debt of over 81 200 against it; $927.5s of
this amount found in the Sheriff7s hands.
The monument was seized upon for this
amount. then determined to save the
State the disgrace Of having the monument
sold at Sheriff7s sale. undertook the task,
and with the corporation of the noble de-
tenders of the Republic accomplished that
object. paid off the claim in the Sheriff's
hands. This left the grounds still in the
same unsightly condition. l at once set to
work and secured by contribution, princi-
pally from the patriotic ladies of Delaware,
funds to grade and sod the grounds, which
L
protect the grass from struggling COWS and
goats, it became necessary to speedily en-
close the grounds. This l have done with
a neat fence, which will compare IA
yorably with many others which sur
round aristocratic residences on Delaware
avenue, whose owners did not con-
tribute. one dollar to enclose, grade or
sod the grounds. But do not wish it un-
derstOod that the masses of the residents
on the Avenue are of that class; far from
it; there are many honorable, high mind
ed patriot ladies and gentlemen residing
there who did contribute literally to the
work, and they are not the scoffers at the
National colors on the pickets. One family
alone (residing some two miles from the
monument grounds) were the largest con-
tributors, and they are perfectly satisfied
with what has been done. The croakers
are those who never had a ten cent piece for
any patriotic purpose, but gave aid and
comfort TO the enemies of our country in
her hour of peril and calamity. Such
men should be thankful that they are per-
mitted to have the liberty guaranteed to
them by government they at heart op-
posed and secretly tried to destroy; SYM
pathy with the rebels, but too cowardly to
take up arms, This is the class of men,
Mr.. Editor, that is SO disgusted with the
red, white and blue colors, on the pickets.
They are equally as much disgusted with
the monument itself erected in men,
ory of our fallen heroes, but they have not
got the courage to say so. If they had it
in their power there would remain no
monuments Of our victory over the rebel
hordes who sought to destroy our great
and good country; nothing but public SEN
timent keeps such traitors from openly
opposing the marble shaft, as the national
colors on the pickets. Such men are dis
grace to Republic, and iftheir record
Should he handed down on history's page,
their grand children would disown any
connection with the family name, as did
the descedents of Arnold and Burr of the
Revolution.


Yours truly,


s'u-