Continuing my overview of Hollins Nicolas Randolph's address to the United Daughters of the Confederacy:Next, Randolph presented a brief description of work on the actual monument:
"We commenced the work of actual carving on June 18. 1923, with appropriate exercises. to which were invited the President of the United States, the Governors of all the Southern States, and a large number of other prominent and distinguished men and women of the South and elsewhere in the country. It was a notable occasion. The work of carving has proceeded steadily and uninterruptedly since, and on January 19. 1924. the head d General Lee was unveiled, likewise with appropriate exercises, to which were invited a similar group of distinguished men and women of the South and of the Nation. Mr. Borglum has proceeded since, toward the completion of the figures of General Lee, General Jackson, and President Davis, and this work is now advanced to where the Association can unveil General Jackson and President Davis at any time on very short notice. " (Oh, how things would soon change!)
He then discussed the three plans developed by the Association to continue to raise funds in support of the Monument's carving/construction:
"The Association adopted the Founders Roll Plan. which requires a subscription of not less than $1,000, payable over the course of five years in equal installments. Each one of these subscribers is entitled to one of the Memorial Tablets in the Memorial Hall. The Founders Roll subscriptions amount at this time to approximately 150 and on quite a large proportion of these the second payment has been made.
Borglum's Children's Founders Roll Medal
"The second plan adopted by the Association was the Children's Founders Roll, under which children under the age of 18 subscribe the sum of one dollar and receive one of the medals which were designed by Mr. Borglum and which are very beautiful. Each one of these subscribers receives a certificate of membership in the Children's Founders Roll, in addition to one of the medals, and likewise they have the right to have their names enrolled on the Book of Memory. each subscriber on a line to himself or herself and opposite his or her name is inscribed the name of the Confederate soldier, or woman of the Confederacy, selected by the subscriber and to honor whose memory his or her subscription or gift is made. The Book of Memory itself is unique and very distinctive. It is proposed to make this Book of Memory very large in proportions and it will possess unique and distinctive features above and beyond any other book ever made, so far as can be known.
"The third plan devised by the Association was a Memorial Half Dollar, to be struck by the United States mint, This plan was brought to the Association by one of the South's most noted authors, Hon. Harry Stillwell Edwards. He first conceived this plan and worked out most of the details. To carry this plan into effect, a proper act was drafted and, after having been submitted to the President, Mr. Coolidge, and his approval obtained, the same was introduced in Congress in the Senate by Senator Smoot, he being the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and in the House by Congressman McFadden, he being the Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee, these being the appropriate Committees to which such bills are referred. The Association appointed a Committee to wait on the President, Mr. Coolidge, about this matter, with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Borglum as two of its members, These two gentlemen, and particularly Mr. Borglum, were actively connected with the passage of the coinage bill through Congress, with the assistance, of course, of the officers of the Association and the other members of the Coinage Committee. It is but proper to state here that we received a warm and hearty welcome from the President from the very beginning, and I want to take advantage of this occasion to express the profound appreciation of everyone connected with the Association for the fine and splendid as instance the President has extended to the Association all the way through the handling of the Coinage Act from its very beginning. The Association is likewise deeply indebted to the numerous members of the Senate and House and to a large number of other public officials in Washington for the great kindness they have shown the Association in the handling of this matter in all its phases, and for the splendid aid they have rendered. "
After covering additional details about the planned production of the coins, Randolph returned to discussing Borglum:
"Mr. Borglum then commenced the making of a proper design for the coin and, after the preparation and submission of no less than nine different designs, the same was finally approved by the Director of the Mint, the Secretary of the Treasury, and The Commission of Fine Arts, all of whom, under the law, are required to approve the design of a memorial coin before the same can be turned out by the mint. On or about the first of November, Mr. Borglum and the Association were officially advised that all the requirements of law had been complied with and the design of the coin had been finally approved and sent to the mint, which at the present time, as we are advised, is making the necessary dies for the mintage and we hope to obtain the coins on or before January I, next." (The first coins would be struck by the Mint at Philadelphia in January 1925; a total of 476,256 (with additional calendar Q1 production in February 1925 (1,314,453 coins) and March 1925 (540.000 coins). The Association set a May 1, 1925 date for the start of distribution.)
Randolph proceeded to share several insights into the coin's designs and symbolism:
"On the face of the coin will be the figures of General Lee and General Jackson and just above them the words "In God We Trust." What words more appropriate than these could have been selected to appear just above the heads of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Both of them always invoked God's aid before entering into battle and evidenced their faith in Him after it was over by prayer and thanksgiving. On the reverse side of the coin is a picture of Stone Mountain, with an American eagle raising in flight therefrom, and above this the word "Liberty." Also. there is engraved the words "To Commemorate the Valor of the Soldiers of the South." There are other details, all in excellent taste, but these are the essential features. The whole design is wonderfully well-done and I am sure when you see one of the coins you will agree that it is very beautiful, very finely worked out, and thoroughly appropriate in all respects."
"The war of the '60's, when it came, was a terrific struggle between the North and the South, the Confederate States and the United States; but here, some sixty years afterwards, we witness our National Government striking from its mint 5,000,000 coins to commemorate the valor of the soldiers of the South, with the figures of two of its greatest captains imprinted on the face thereof, and a picture of the Mountain, whereon this great Monument to the "Lost Cause" is being carved, on the obverse side, with the king of all American birds, the American Eagle, rising in flight from its top, under the word "Liberty." And all this pursuant to the terms of an Act passed by the United States Congress without a dissenting vote in either branch thereof.
"I challenge the historian to cite a like example in all recorded history where any Government or any people have so demonstrated their magnanimity. It proves as nothing else could the greatness of our country and the noble and spiritual nature of our people. It also demonstrates that our country is in fact united in the indissoluble bonds of union and is moving forward to its high destiny under Divine guidance. It demonstrates to what extent the spirit of true tolerance obtains in the national life of descendants of an Anglo-Saxon race. I predict the future historian will point to the receipt of this coin from the mint by our Association as the final burial of disagreement and division-the triumphant resurrection of union and brotherhood." (A passage that lacks today's political correctness.)
Randolph then went on to discuss other aspects of the Monument and the UDC's involvement, but I'll leave that for another time. Among his concluding remarks, Randolph referenced how the UDC could continue its assistance to the Association:
"As individuals and through your chapters, you can be of great assistance in securing additional Founders Roll subscriptions, in the sale and distribution of the Children's Founders Roll Medal, and in the sale and distribution of the Memorial Half-Dollar."
Leave no opportunity untapped!
1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar
For the first part of the summary of Randolph's speech, see:
-
1925 Stone Mountain Memorial - Randolph Speech to UDC Convention / Part IFor other of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including much more on the Stone Mountain half dollar, see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 04/27/2023 5:07 pm
