The Indianapolis Journal

SOLDIERS ENTER PROTEST
Meeting to Object to Diverting the Monument Over Former War Periods.
Respectful Request Made of the Monumental Commissioners to Embody the Sentiment Originally Intended for the Shaft.

About one hundred soldiers of the late war, made up largely of the members of the Grand Army, Veteran Union Legion and a few who are not members of any organization, met in the Criminal Court room yesterday afternoon to take action which would bring out a protest against the diversion of the soldiers' monument from its original design of commemorating the war for the Union and the part which Indiana took in it. George W. Spahr was chosen chairman and Irvin Robbins secretary. Rev. Dr. Lucas offered prayer. A committee on resolutions, composed of one member from each Grand Army post and one representing veterans who are not members of that order, was chosen, as follows: B. C. Shaw, Post 17; O. N. Willington, Post 165; Henry Seaton, Post 70; Charles Wheat, Post 209; James Byrne, Post 281; W. M. Cochran, Post 369; J. A. M. Cox, Post 539; Geo. W. Kountz, for outside veterans.

While the committee was out, the chairman explained the situation, setting forth what had been done by way of making formal objection to the dates of the Mexican war upon the monument by a committee of the Union Veteran Legion, of which he is a member. He believed that the wrong could be righted by firm and united action without harsh words or criticism. W. H. Tucker said that the commissioners received the committee courteously and was informed that the figures could be changed after the scaffold had been removed. He said that two of the commissioners were opposed to the Mexican figures.

In response to a call, Rev. Dr. Lucas spoke of the surprise which the sight of the figures gave him and he felt that the hostility to the change is general. A monument stands to commemorate some one event and not a State's history. Massachusetts would not have listened to a suggestion to cover Bunker Hill monument with dates and tablets commemorative of her Indian wars because the great event at Bunker Hill would have been lost sight of. The monument here was designed to enforce the great fact of the grand participation of Indiana in a war to save the Republic. Change it to anything else, it could have no significance, except as a work of art.

The committee then came in and reported the following preamble and resolutions through the chairman, Colonel Shaw:

Whereas, By an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, approved by the Governor March 3, 1887, there was a liberal appropriation and provision made for the erection of a state soldiers' and sailors' monument on the Circle Park in Indianapolis; and,

Whereas, The Union soldiers of the State, led by the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic, were the original promoters of the scheme for the erection of this monument; and,

Whereas, In the passage of the act providing for the erection of the monument, the only object in view, and the only matter considered by the legislators in the passage of the act, and the only thing thought of by those favoring the monument, was a suitable recognition of the services and sacrifices of the soldiers and sailors of the State of Indiana in the war for the preservation of the Union; and,

Whereas, From a mistaken notion of the authority vested in the State monumental commissioners under specious plea for generosity, historical events of comparatively small interest have been industriously and, as we believe, persistently pressed on their attention, which, if permitted to obtain prominence in this grand central structure, would pervert the intended and authorized testimonial of the people to the memory of those who so freely offered their services to our country in 1861 to 1865, and to whom alone the tribute was offered; and

Whereas, The sentiments of diffusion seem to have gradually obtained control of a majority of the State commissioners charged with this sacred trust, until, in a mistaken notion of generosity, they have put the figures 1846 and 1848 on the upper bronze astragal of the monument to commemorate an event not considered in the original conception of the monument or in the passage of the act, which was intended to commemorate the one and only grand and heroic military epoch in the history of the State; and,

Whereas, The generous consent of the Grand Army of the Republic at its last State encampment, as well as other well-meaning Union soldiers, who have expressed themselves favorable to the proposition, that four bronze statues may be placed around the monument commemorating epochs of our history and other events, and other times and wars than that memorable period from 1861 to 1865, does not, in our opinion, justify or authorize the State commissioners in the decoration of this great monument itself with figures representing another event; therefore

Resolved, by the Grand Army posts of Indianapolis and other ex-Union soldiers joining their interests in this meeting, That we respectfully request the monumental commissioners to take from the astragal referred to all the figures now on the four sides thereof, that harmony may prevail among all who have contributed to the honor and glory of Indiana, as well as among the people who desired to pay this magnificent tribute to the memory of our illustrious comrades who died in the Union cause.

Resolved, That the proper inscription, and the one indorsed by implication by the General Assembly that authorized the monument's construction, was enunciated in the speech of the Hon. Robert B. Sears, delivered in the State Senate Feb. 15, 1887, as follows: "This is done by the grateful people of the grand old commonwealth of Indiana to commemorate the sacrifices and death of her sons that the Nation might live," or other appropriate inscription embodying the same sentiment.

Resolved, That we request the honorable board of the State monumental commissioners to cause this said proper inscription to be carved on the beautiful memorial tablet, placed on the south base of this magnificent structure, thus completing the intelligent service of our comrades, the commissioners attesting their grand conception of the people's will, and its faithful execution.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the secretary to each of the State monumental commissioners, and a copy to all G. A. R. posts, and every other soldier organization of the State, asking them to indorse these resolutions, or make an expression of their own in addition thereto, and forward them to department headquarters, G. A. R., Indianapolis, before Aug. 1, 1892, that such evidence of their will may be presented to the honorable board of commissioners on Aug. 2, 1892.

Resolved, That we accept the invitation of the committee of Encampment No. 80, Union Veteran Legion, to join with them by a like committee, to meet with the commissioners on the date already arranged, Aug. 2, 1892, to present protest and request for the removal of the objectionable figures, and we invite all Grand Army posts in this department to join in with us for that purpose.

Quite a discussion followed, which was participated in by Irvin Robbins, Rev. Dr. Lucas, President Butler, of Butler University, and several others, and the resolutions, with a few verbal amendments, were unanimously adopted. A resolution was passed requesting each post in the city to appoint one or more members of a committee to appear before the monument commissioners, Aug. 2, and another making B. C. Shaw and Adjutant-general Robbins, of the Indiana Department G. A. R., a committee to see to the printing and sending out of the resolutions.