To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

There has been a great deal of discussion recently among graduates and undergraduates as to whether it would be appropriate to place tablets in Memorial Hall commemorative of Harvard men who fell during the Civil War in the Confederate service.

Those who believe it appropriate seem in most cases to be of the "younger generation"--those who only know of the struggle from history. It is most natural and right that we should desire to wipe out the bitter fact that there ever was a division of our country, and also to express in some fitting way our esteem for those who fell in the Confederate service. It seems to me that Memorial Hall is a very inappropriate place to express this sincere sentiment.

The dedication tablet reads as follows:

"This Hall commemorates the patriotism of the graduates and students of this University who served in the Army and Navy of the United States during the war for the preservation of the Union, and upon these tablets are inscribed the names of those among them who died in that service."

It is evident that those who gave us this building dedicated it to those who fought as United States soldiers to preserve the Union. The exclusion of Harvard Confederate tablets from Memorial Hall does not lessen our esteem both North and South for those who fought for what they thought right--it means simply that Memorial Hall is to continue to be an abiding memorial to those who fell to preserve the Union.  G. W. HALLOWELL '10