Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1884 — READY FOR WORK. [ARTICLE]

READY FOR WORK.

ommiATitiN or ths a. a, r. IKONUMENTAI. OUnXMITTEB. Now Ready to Receive Contributions for a Soldiers’ Department of Indiana, Grand Army of lhe Republic, met at Adjutant General Carnahan's office, Indianapolis, March 11, alld organized by electing Geo. J. Langsdale President, Geo. W. Johnston Treasurer, and James R. Carnahan Secretary. The articles of incoration were completed and ordered to be filed with the proper officer, to make the Committee a legal body-. -It was decided to_rcquest each post . of the G. A. R. in the Slate to hold a camp-lire on the evening of May 2, for the benefit of the monumental fund, and to ask the pastor of each chur ch in the State to preach an appropriate sermon on the last Sunday preceding Memorial Day. It was decided that as rapidly as the contributions accumulate ‘in sums of SSOO they shall bo invested in registered government bonds in the name of the committee, to be held until the monument is built. t Details were arranged for a thorough canvass of the State, by townships, to begin May sth. Meantime contributions may be made to the committee. or to posts of the G. A. R. as directed in the f ollowing address .’which was adopted—--7b Hee People of Indiana: la response to a generally expressed wish on your part, the Department of Indiana, (fraud Army of the Republic, has been incorporated under the laws of the State and the undersigned committee formed in acdordunce .with the articles of incorporation, and hereby’ assumes of building a monument to the loyal soldiers and sailors of Indiana, and will at once proceed to collect moneys for that purpose. The character of the monument will depend upon the amount received. It is our desire to build it in the form of a Mem--orial-Hail, of the moat enduring materials, with appropriate statuary in bronze. The hall will be divided iuto compart nents for trophies, company and regimental memorials, 1 a library for pictures and books, jtnd an assem-“trty-room, wherein may be deposited any thing relating to the wars in which Indiana soldiers .or sailors have been engaged, and where they may hold their meetings and reunions commemorative of their sacrifices and the triumphs of the Nation. It will be a school of patriotism, teaching that love of country to the preseut and future generations on which The perpetuity of our Government depends. Its silent influence and the memories which it will keep alive will make loyalty popular. Tljjjs, this monment will not only be a tribute to the men in whose honor it will be erected, but institi:iio’.,s in the future, ami for this reason, the money which you invest iji it will redound to yotir own benefit and tli.lt ol your descendants, as well as to tue glory of the soldier. It will be local eh in a pubjc place at- Indianapolis, Jbethe .Sxaic^...where, all the citizens cf Indiana, as often as they visit the capital, can have the satisfaction of looking upon.it. It will be the people's monument, embodying their noblest sentiments, and s j placed that every part of the State may have easy access tp it. Such, briefly, is the plan of the committee, but, if the responses are not suflicieut. to enable us to carry it out. we will then use the means which have been placed at our disposal in erecting such a shaft t;nd statue as will fittingly represent your generosity. In either event our services are at your command. Contributions may be made direct, by drafts, postal money orders or registered letters to the treasurer of the committee, Geo. W. Johnston, at Indianapolis, or to the (Quartermaster of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic in your county. With this statement we leave the care in your hands. Tne success or failure of the .enterprise now depends upon you. We do not believe that it will fail. Indiana was among the first of the states that rallied to the defense of the imperiled Union. Indiana soldiers stood among the first on every battle field. For four years they were on every skirmish’ line. On the march, the picket, in the light—wherever duty called—and in the hospital, they gave their lives to their country, enduring umold hardvhips and sufferings, and shedding their blood without a murmur or r regret. They have made the brightest page in the history of the s tHta, ana their memory is revered •vWever valor Is honored among men-

And, as they were among the first in war, so, now, Ipt Indiana be among the first in peace to build a monument to her soldiers of such nolfle/ proportions that it will be typical of tKeir achievements. In honoring them you honoryourselves, and in building this monument to them you erect the surest fortress around your own liberties. Geo. J- Langsdale, James R- Carnahan, D. C. McCullum, Geo. W. Johnston, T. W. Bennett.

press comments. Indianapolis Journal.. The Grand Army of the Republic has fully organized its committee to receive contributions for the Indiana soldiers’ monument. The people should now respond promptly with money, pur State, in population, wealth, progress and education is about the sixth in the Union. In art it has but one public monument—the Morton statue. This should not be. It.is not creditable to so great a state, nor to the liberality of its citizens. There ean be no worthier monument than the proposed soldiers' monument. In other States, North and South, soldiers’ monuments stand immovable and imperishable, like sentinels, guarding the memory and honor of the dead. Indiana, almost alone in this regard, is still laggard— Indiana, whose sons fought on land and sea, in every battle, and whose dead are sleeping upon every battlefield. How much longer shall our gallant dead lie uncovered by a glorious monument which shall attest the gratitude of republics? Let every man, woman and child who can afford it do something. Let our rich men set an example of liberality that will redound ti the ctedit of the State. ‘ For all you can take in yourlcold, dead hands _ Is what you baregiyen airay,’; The monument committee is ready for business- Now let the people make good their promises. -Let the contributions come in promptly. They may be increased at any time, if found too small. Indianapolis Ne ws. The soldiers of Indiana who took their lives in their hands and went to war, made a personal matter for the defense and safety of everybody who stayed at home. We who survive them should make it a personal matter that with the same promptitude and earnestness we raise funds for a glorious monument to the valor of Indiana soldiers.