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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > Civil War Preservation > A Great Injustice has been done |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > Civil War Preservation > A Great Injustice has been done |
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| A Great Injustice has been done | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 3rd, 2007 07:14 am |
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1st Post |
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susansweet Member 
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 Rev. Thomas Starr King When Thomas Starr King first walked to the pulpit of the San Francisco Unitarian Church in 1860, the eyes of the congregation turned to this small, frail man. Many asked, "Could this youthful person with his beardless, boyish face be the celebrated preacher from Boston?" King laughed. "Though I weigh only 120 pounds," he said, "when I’m mad, I weigh a ton." That fiery passion would be King’s stock in trade during his years in California, from 1860 to 1864. Abraham Lincoln said he believed the Rev. Thomas Starr King was the person most responsible for keeping California in the Union during the early days of the Civil War. California was headed into a crisis. At hand was a showdown between the free states of the Union and the slave states. California’s governor and most members of the state legislature were sympathetic to the Confederacy. The only effective voice against slavery, Sen. David C. Broderick, had been killed in a duel the year before. Southern states soon abandoned the Union. The crucial question on the minds of many Americans was: Would California join them and deliver the state’s immense natural resources into the hands of Confederate President Jefferson Davis? Support for secession was strong in southern California, where the Confederate flag had flown over Los Angeles’s main plaza on the Fourth of July. At that time the U.S. Congress was so convinced of a secessionist plot that it required Easterners to secure passports for travel to California. Justifying Congress’ fears was a secret paramilitary California secessionist organization of about 16,000 members, called the Knights of the Golden Circle. On George Washington’s birthday in 1861, King fired an opening salvo in support of his country. He spoke for two hours to over a thousand people about how they should remember Washington by preserving the Union. "I pitched into Secession, Concession and (John C.) Calhoun (former U.S. vice president), right and left, and made the Southerners applaud," King recalled. "I pledged California to a Northern Republic and to a flag that should have no treacherous threads of cotton in its warp, and the audience came down in thunder. At the close it was announced that I would repeat it the next night, and they gave me three rounds of cheers." Speaking up and down the state, King visited rugged mining camps and said he never knew the exhilaration of public oratory until he faced a front row of men armed with Bowie knives and revolvers. His friend, Edward Everett Hale, who made a similar contribution to saving the Union through his moving story, "The Man Without a Country," said, "Starr King was an orator no one could silence and no one could answer." King covered his pulpit with an American flag and ended all his sermons with "God bless the president of the United States and all who serve with him the cause of a common country." At one mass rally in San Francisco, 40,000 turned out to hear him speak. A group of Americans living in Victoria, B.C., sent him $1,000 for his work to preserve the Union. King was beginning to turn the tide. In 1861, he threw himself into the gubernatorial campaign of his parishioner, Leland Stanford. King and author Bret Harte often accompanied Stanford on speaking tours. Stanford won an overwhelming victory and King sighed with relief. Starr King immediately pitched in to help. Out of $4.8 million the commission raised throughout the U.S., King raised $1.25 million in California. About $200,000 came from San Francisco, a figure all the more impressive because of a series of natural disasters in the state, including a massive flood that turned the Sacramento-San Joaquín Valley into a vast lake and a drought that wiped out the wheat crop. But King’s Herculean efforts had taken a toll. Only devotion to what he considered God’s will and "being mad" kept him going. On Feb. 28, 1864, he came down with diphtheria, then pneumonia. A few days later his doctor told him he had only a half-hour to live. King glanced at a calendar. "Today is the fourth of March," he said. "Sad news will go over the wire today." Across San Francisco, flags dropped to half-mast. The state legislature in Sacramento adjourned for three days of mourning after passing a resolution stating that King had been a "tower of strength to the cause of his country." As King lay in state, wrapped in an American flag, a military honor guard stood by his casket. Twenty thousand people came to his church to pay tribute. Cannons boomed a memorial tribute and Bret Harte composed a eulogy, "Relieving Guard." King’s body was buried in the front lawn of his newly completed church, where it remains today. In 1913, the state legislature voted Thomas Starr King and Father Junipero Serra, the Catholic missionary, as California’s two greatest heroes and appropriated funds for King’s statue at the U.S. Capitol. In the 1960s, the state designated King’s church and tomb as a historical monument. Adapted from an article written by William H. Wingfield for Real West Magazine, August 1972. This week end the state legislature here in California decided Starr King was not important any more and has voted to replace his statue with that of Ronald Reagan . I really think they thought nobody would care. I care as do several of my Civil War community friends here in L.A. Orange County area. Ronald Reagan has other monuments . They should have left this one alone . I hate to think one day Father Serra might be replaced with Arnold.
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| You have chosen to ignore JDC Duncan. click Here to view this post |
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| Posted: Thu Jan 4th, 2007 03:54 am |
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3rd Post |
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susansweet Member
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JDC I will never tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me .
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| Posted: Thu Jan 4th, 2007 04:32 pm |
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4th Post |
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Widow Member
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Susan, thanks for a most informative post about yet another famous person I've never heard of. The California legislature evidently doesn't know the significance of Rev. King's contributions. Just think, without his efforts, California might have left the Union as an independent republic or joined the Confederacy. What would have happened then? Our country divided two or three ways? You're right about all the monuments and memorials to RR. Heck, our airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. We oldtimers still call it plain old "National." We see a lot of presidents here, ho hum. double chin-grin ---> ((: Patty
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| Posted: Thu Jan 4th, 2007 11:53 pm |
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5th Post |
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Fuller E Pluribus Unum 
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Susan, I moved from Simi Valley, California recently. High atop a hill there, overlooking the Simi and Thousand Oaks Valleys, sits a multi million dollar library and memorial for the former President Ronald Reagan. I have visited on many occasions. Some visits were to see artifacts and collectibles of his he had collected over the years, other times to view an exhibit that happened to be there. And also other times just to enjoy the view. His burial spot is on prime California soil. A chunk of the Berlin Wall sits directly north of where he is buried. There are many statues of him on site. A beautiful bronze of him in his Hollywood glory days greets you at the entrance. The library in my mind represents so much of him. He loved California. And he is remembered there fondly. In a long winded sort of way...I am fully agreeing with your concerns. There is absolutly no reason to tear the statue down. And thank you for bringing this person to light. Fuller Last edited on Thu Jan 4th, 2007 11:55 pm by Fuller |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 12:43 am |
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6th Post |
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susansweet Member
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Fuller thanks for your lovely reply. I have not made it to the Simi Valley yet to see the Reagan Library. I was at the Nixon today to see the train exhibit. That is my thought , these men have libraries dedicated to them. Others deserve this one statue in Washington . Seems after someone dies they go crazy naming everything after them lately. Mainly it seems Regan and Martin Luther King. They were both great men, but how many statues and streets do we need named after them. Spread the wealth is what I am saying .
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 02:08 pm |
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7th Post |
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David White Member 
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As Widow said, who had ever heard of him even in the company of CW buffs (well I had but he is still a minor historical character). Reagan's legacy will have a much greater impact on history than King's and if someone comes along who tops Serra's accomplishments (who is now politically incorrect BTW), than he should be replaced too. The monuments in the hall of stautary should not be stagnant. Last edited on Fri Jan 5th, 2007 02:08 pm by David White |
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 02:44 pm |
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8th Post |
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susansweet Member
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 How many of these people can you name what they did to deserve to be honored in the Hall? Then using your politically correct statement about Father Serra read the list again and see how many Confederates are honored in the Hall. I have no problem with this myself being a member of the UDC . Then read the list again and see how many are religious leaders . That is a surprising number. Just throwing out some questions . From what I have read the statues are of STATE importance as much or more than national. We have aother ways to honor National famous figures. Geeze Reagan has a whole library just up the road a piece. Okay stepping down off my soap box now.  Architect of the Capitol · Feedback Form
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:03 pm |
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9th Post |
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Fuller E Pluribus Unum
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At some point, enough people thought King was important enough to be displayed as a statue. Time has worn and probably so has the statue. How many people have passed that statue not giving it a glance? Many passed by it and probably thought "Hmmm, he must be someone important but I don't know who the heck he is" And I can guarantee there are others who pass by and want to find out more about him. I had never heard of him. Susan educated me on that one. I agree the wealth needs to be spread. This is preservation and education at work. Fuller
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:20 pm |
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10th Post |
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susansweet Member
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Fuller , King was a very young Unitian minster that came to California in 1860 to preach in San Francisco He took up the cause of the Union in California. He was said to be an impassioned speaker , that would hold people captive with his voice. California was a very divided state right before the war. It actually was going to be two states , North and South Caliornia . The state had actually voted to divide in half but Washington D.C. put a stop to it Southern California would have gone Confederate most likely as there was very strong support for the southern cause. Many that lived in the southern part of California were from the South. Abraham Lincoln said he believed the Rev. Thomas Starr King was the person most responsible for keeping California in the Union during the early days of the Civil War. King traveled up and down the state speaking for the Union and his given credit for helping to keep the state in the Union. He also covered the state speaking on behave of his good friend Leland Stanford for Governor of California he also helped organize and raise funds for the Sanitary Commision. This took a toll on his frail body . He became ill and died 1864 . His funeral service was huge. He also was a great naturalist. A peak in the Sierras is named for him . There are several schools in California named for him. I just think it is a shame to delete him from the hall .especially after reading what some of the other state selections have done to be placed in the hall. BUT it is each state's choice. A friend decided that statue should be returned to California and placed on the state legislators desk that introduced the bill and he be required to learn all he can about King. The guy stated he introduced the bill as he didn't know anything about King . When offered information he didn't want any. Just the kind of guy I want making decisions for me. I do like the idea of the statue on the guys desk. Poetic justice.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:26 pm |
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11th Post |
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Fuller E Pluribus Unum
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That would be some paper weight! Thank you for all your info. Fuller
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:28 pm |
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12th Post |
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susansweet Member
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Fuller I just love the visual image I have of it . tee hee
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 03:35 pm |
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13th Post |
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Fuller E Pluribus Unum
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Susan, I would demand a photo of that one!!!  I would like to retract a statement of mine...After seeing a photo of the statue, it most certainly is in good condition. Time has worn on, but the statue has been taken care of. As far as now that is. Fuller
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 05:32 pm |
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14th Post |
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younglobo Member 
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Susan I fear the whole deal is a PC thing , the man represented in the statue believed in GOD and worst yet was a priest (gasp) and in todays world of seperation between church and state is a no no. Had he had nothing to do with the church I would guess that the statue would stand for years to come. Welcome to the political climate of our age. Just my 2 cents Michael
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| Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 05:46 pm |
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15th Post |
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susansweet Member
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Going to be more purges then read the list and count how many ministers and priest are on the list and have statues in the hall . Then to be PC all the Confederates would need to go. Jefferson Davis represents Mississippi. ( I am not encouraging this being a UDC member myself) actually both UDC and DUV. Many of the men have civil war or revolutionary connections . Was interesting to read about the people from vairous states and why they are there . I remember when I was in Washington how excited I was to see California's statues. I also loved wandering around the statues and seeing who was there. That was back in the 70's . That's when I learned about Thomas Starr King first . IJo wanted to know about the man who represented our state. No doubt about who Father Serra was. There are other Californians that had a big impact on the state that I would rather see than Reagan, Any of the Big Four or a combination statue of all of them would do . Crocker , Huntington ,Stanford and Hopkins would be nice. Earl Warren John Muir , Sutter, John Steinbeck,Eugene O Neil , Jack London, even William Randoph Hearst. So many to choose from . Nixon and Reagan have their Library's .
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| You have chosen to ignore JDC Duncan. click Here to view this post |
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| Posted: Mon Jan 8th, 2007 05:47 pm |
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17th Post |
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younglobo Member
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Susan Just give the ACU and all the other groups time , they want to wipe out the existance of God in all Public places, these folks preach (a tongue and check pun) but really are intolerant. I am totally with you Reagan has his libary so he has his recognition. fight em keep our history Alive.
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