This weekend I learned through the grapevine that the Congressional Commission, charged with all “Department of Defense items that commemorate the Confederate States of America,” will recommend the removal of the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.
Perhaps they can move the memorial to Virginia Military Institute, that could preserve it as an example of the art of its first Jewish Cadet, Moses Ezekiel, who fought in the Battle of New Market as a cadet. I agree that it is out of place where it stands, but I'd like to see the art preserved. VMI already has another of Ezekiel's artwork on campus.
Maybe it could be given to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, which is where VMI has transferred its statue of Stonewall Jackson, also by Moses Ezekiel.
I think it is important to understand that the memorial served a purpose for those individuals/organizations that benefited from its placement in Arlington National Cemetery. For President McKinley it helped to fulfill his initial goal of gaining southern political support and fostering feelings of sectional reconciliation at a time of overseas expansion. For white southerners it reinforced their belief that it was possible to both embrace the Lost Cause and claim a place in a reunited nation as proud Americans.
Some time ago at work, I received a call from a researcher from South Carolina. Removal of Confederate monuments, etc. was not her primary reason for calling, but we ended up talking about it. She told me that she had heard of a plan to dig up and remove Confederate graves. I told he "that is not going to happen;" though I don't know if anything I said got through. But if she's reading this news about the Confederate monument at Arlington Cemetery, it will probably only underscore her greatest fears.
I suspect that without the memorial, the Confederate graves at Arlington will simply blend into the rest of the landscape. Perhaps some interpretive markers are appropriate.
I’m not a Classics scholar, but I believe Cato the Younger’s lost cause was the Roman Republic. “Marcus Porcius Cato, byname Cato The Younger, (born 95 BC—died 46, Utica, Africa [now in Tunisia]), great-grandson of Cato the Censor and a leader of the Optimates (conservative senatorial aristocracy) who tried to preserve the Roman Republic against power seekers, in particular Julius Caesar.” https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcus-Porcius-Cato-Roman-senator-95-46-BC
One could make that argument. Meigs died in 1892, well before the initial planning that went into this memorial during the McKinley administration. There were a few Confederates buried in Arlington before the dedication of the Confederate memorial in 1914, but they were the exception. Families and white Southerners generally were prevented from commemorating their service during the early Decoration Day ceremonies in the cemetery.
Kevin, what are your thoughts on these memorials remaining in graveyards? I’ve read that some people support keeping these monuments in graveyards where they can be better interpreted and where they actually honor war dead.
This monuments location in Arlington is problematic….but what about other cemeteries?
A number of communities have made the decision to relocate Confederate monuments to local cemeteries. I have not heard about any noticeable fallout as a result. It seems to be a viable solution. I think what most people want, who advocate removal, is for the monument to be removed from its very visible location in a public park, on the grounds of a local courthouse, etc.
Thanks for the comment, Guy. I think it's important to acknowledge that this monument was controversial from its inception. Many Union veterans thought it was disgraceful to place the very men who attempted to destroy the nation in the same cemetery.
We don't know what Lincoln would have thought of such a monument given the timing of his death even given the tone of his second inaugural address.
https://youtu.be/I7CJovhhVq8
Perhaps they can move the memorial to Virginia Military Institute, that could preserve it as an example of the art of its first Jewish Cadet, Moses Ezekiel, who fought in the Battle of New Market as a cadet. I agree that it is out of place where it stands, but I'd like to see the art preserved. VMI already has another of Ezekiel's artwork on campus.
Hi Emy,
Perhaps parts of it could go on display in a museum setting, but it will take a serious effort to properly contextualize this particular monument.
Maybe it could be given to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, which is where VMI has transferred its statue of Stonewall Jackson, also by Moses Ezekiel.
Ultimately, it is the Army's decision to make.
My hope is that, at a minimum, the US Army’s recommendation is adopted. The placement of that memorial should never have happened.
You are certainly not alone.
I think it is important to understand that the memorial served a purpose for those individuals/organizations that benefited from its placement in Arlington National Cemetery. For President McKinley it helped to fulfill his initial goal of gaining southern political support and fostering feelings of sectional reconciliation at a time of overseas expansion. For white southerners it reinforced their belief that it was possible to both embrace the Lost Cause and claim a place in a reunited nation as proud Americans.
Some time ago at work, I received a call from a researcher from South Carolina. Removal of Confederate monuments, etc. was not her primary reason for calling, but we ended up talking about it. She told me that she had heard of a plan to dig up and remove Confederate graves. I told he "that is not going to happen;" though I don't know if anything I said got through. But if she's reading this news about the Confederate monument at Arlington Cemetery, it will probably only underscore her greatest fears.
Oh no, not her greatest fears, whatever shall we do
I suspect that without the memorial, the Confederate graves at Arlington will simply blend into the rest of the landscape. Perhaps some interpretive markers are appropriate.
I tried an internet translation of the Latin inscription but it was not satisfactory. Any Latin scholars, please help out. Thanks.
"The Victorious Cause was Pleasing to the Gods, But the Lost Cause Pleased Cato."
And thanks, Mr. Levin.
And now a Classics scholar to explain the context, especially re Cato.
I’m not a Classics scholar, but I believe Cato the Younger’s lost cause was the Roman Republic. “Marcus Porcius Cato, byname Cato The Younger, (born 95 BC—died 46, Utica, Africa [now in Tunisia]), great-grandson of Cato the Censor and a leader of the Optimates (conservative senatorial aristocracy) who tried to preserve the Roman Republic against power seekers, in particular Julius Caesar.” https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcus-Porcius-Cato-Roman-senator-95-46-BC
Also https://classicalstudies.org/annual-meeting/153/abstract/confederacy-cato-younger-and-lost-causes
Thank you, Ms. Crockett.
Hurrah!!!
Wasn't Meigs' original idea for Arlington explicitly pro-Union and anti-confederate? This removal will return the cemetery to that original vision.
One could make that argument. Meigs died in 1892, well before the initial planning that went into this memorial during the McKinley administration. There were a few Confederates buried in Arlington before the dedication of the Confederate memorial in 1914, but they were the exception. Families and white Southerners generally were prevented from commemorating their service during the early Decoration Day ceremonies in the cemetery.
Kevin, what are your thoughts on these memorials remaining in graveyards? I’ve read that some people support keeping these monuments in graveyards where they can be better interpreted and where they actually honor war dead.
This monuments location in Arlington is problematic….but what about other cemeteries?
A number of communities have made the decision to relocate Confederate monuments to local cemeteries. I have not heard about any noticeable fallout as a result. It seems to be a viable solution. I think what most people want, who advocate removal, is for the monument to be removed from its very visible location in a public park, on the grounds of a local courthouse, etc.
Interesting. Thx, Kevin!
Thanks for the comment, Guy. I think it's important to acknowledge that this monument was controversial from its inception. Many Union veterans thought it was disgraceful to place the very men who attempted to destroy the nation in the same cemetery.
We don't know what Lincoln would have thought of such a monument given the timing of his death even given the tone of his second inaugural address.