Evening Star Newspaper, September 21, 1892, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR: ‘WASHINGTON. D. THE ENCAMPMENT. Gen. Palmer's Address to the Grand Army. REPORTS AND SPEECHES. The Gathering at Albaugh's Tors fug Proceedings of the National the Grand Army of the Republi General Phisterer’s Statistics. Albangh’s Opera House was the central point Of interest ay toa large number of @rans of the G for here t @f the twenty-sixth annual en Begun. As is well known, the b ©f the encampme: of the Grand A iness sessions are open only to members aud all admission is by the ‘The time fixed for opening the us 10 o'clock, but long before that hour the erans began to mble. ‘The lobby and approaches to the th "were in charge ent of asquad of twelve f the third battalion, Union Veteran Corps, Capt. W J. Simons in cor The sqnad wore their full uniform and carried their muskets. eTED TO THE THEATER. re 10 o'clock the commani Palmer. and the ¢ campment were driven to the Old Guard with band acted Gen. Palmer hurried into the theater, Sroups of comrades who stood chatting outaile as they saw the commande: ebief had arriv t dep ndsom! ature to the omrades were lectric lights ¥ to admire decorations of the ¢ under the direction aitiee on halls, of which W. Driver is chairman. flached ont th the beaatify Ball, wnicl: hs of the cit Mr. Georg: Te D The inside of th RATIONS, ahonse is a blaze of lendid, yet not ga ned by the of the r ¥ softened by harmo- ope reamers of silk form the lisplas ag with broad widths of twin ant color to the more sub- ets. The boxes xped and deco- milar manner and fags are bung in| ina most artist stage isa mace ceiling of red and bi . The eate. rior of th ned and tlagged in amost labore Banging from the windows and bands of bunt- ing be-pangling the walls, THE OPENING EXERCISER, Mr. Driver as well as Commissioner Douglass and Mr. B. H. Warner were in the theater, as the opening exercises were public. The com- | mades came in slowly and while waiting the | Indianapolis Glee Club entertained the dele- | 1 selections. not forgetting the | Wrsical invit India the ercampment to hold the next a in the howsier eap ‘The entire main “oor was reserved for the | @elegates while the visiting Grand Army occu- Pied the gallery. ‘The seats for the members Were pretty well oc Phisterer rapped fo : Presiding oft which was in the form of an. Gen. Phi 4 Mr. |. Warner, who stepped to the front and said: “On behaif of the citizven+ executive committee and the eitizens of Washington I present our muni- ¢ipal chief. Commisioner Douglass, who will deliver an achiress of welcome. As the stalwart form of Wa: hington @ame tw the front the old veterans app COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS’ WELCOME. Commissioner Douglass spoke as follows: Gentiemen of the twenty-sixth eneampi One vear age the citizens’ committee of Wash- ington extended to the Grand Army, then at avitation to bold the next encam, ital. Iam bere te @ on. of the menicipal representatives of District of Columbin, as well as chairm: the citizens cx . to thank ¥ the howl saved with and dedicated ative government. as ever, has had his busy scythe in the to liberty and field of life and many of your then e Bave gone down before the relentless r But thes < forgot- ten. Evers & eedom is and know!- d cbligation we owe to the Bonored « While we of the national honor and integrity have been rapidly « the your capitel), like the nation 4 Kr A glance ni the facts tu 5° ity im this will, 1 dow and ou, Wher city f dweling houses are over 50,000. more than kept snibe h for which is year aw 14 per ew-fing im im the 90,000,000, “the respective half and half, with the dif- he government. net, as shown by the popniation is popt 103,000. Tust at the y you max Bnow that ont ofa 250 mn 100 miles are paved with smooth we rs and other " ‘Asa city of residence you can see for your- salves the high character of much of the archi- fecture, while tae later business building: end imposing In the ten vears ended Fane 30 last there were 15,243 dwellings erecied erence of 20 per cent We are proud, too, of our trees, a little the gorse. however, for the recent unprecedented Grough:, but sull measurably beautiful, the amber all teld being about +v.000. I will not troubie.vou about our public school for you have got the schools in your Zab posseasion just now, and the 34,000 veter- ens comfortabi: quartered in them can discuss them at their leisure in their widely scattered Pi iope 1 have not wearied you with these few ppres cod tacts, bat when partners come to headquarters of the firm they should al- ways be told something about the assets and fhe prospects. Besides. ull this progress and fgeprovement war made directly possible by the prowess of the army you represent. ‘And now permit me to express again the cor- greetings of the people of thiscity and Dis- th with the wish that your week with us may Peas happy a the enthusiastic zeal and patri- ‘affection of our citizens for the Grand bare it to make it. You have come sec! of our common country and ‘all ‘welcome to the bomes and of Washington. Columbia's capital armies marched Open- Rody of jus happy in the thought that | cemented anew, citizens of all sec: comntry look rand stripes flo 1 people and a prosperous naj b eprerentatives from | ; strong in themeelves, © they speak for the veterans left at home. ments of the nation’s defenders. Jaside the weapons of war they noble work of caring for the the sorrows of and extending aid supremely over a weak and feebl the widows and the orpha: to those worthy comrades’ with whom they | stood shoulder to shoulder in the field. welcome I know traly grateful f that great army of 1 have since passed in review before the com- mander-in-chief of nv, may Task, will be left the universe, at ‘the end of Many who donned the sol- vigor of their man- | tee and the citizens as a whole. dier garb in the full : | hood begin to falter: the few that remain are | growing old and feeble, and while tine seems to be vanishing as a dream, there will soon ‘ome to us all that final reunion in the great ‘asbington for the first time «ince the close of the contest. Its progress en in this wonderfal . Allover this great nation have been looking forward to with anticipation of age in which we li interest displayed by vour committee, t, it will be a source of enjoy- urat to all who have attended, and they will carry back to their respective homes the most and Insting remembrances of their ital of the nation. words of welcome muke us feel already that we home among friends and comrades, and our city will be such comrades will feel proud of their acquaintance with the represen- atives of onr order, and that we may ourselves not only worthy 1 have paid us, but still further commend le us to ‘the respect and approval of I know we shail hold this ye our sojourn in of the compliment our fellow citizens, Vieit in cherished remembrance, ing today brings back vividly to our memories of the sad scenes of the past, but we are here to oven up the closed wounds made in The Union soldiers are ors of pence, est and bore the brunt of battle re among the firet to promote a feeling of fraternity amongst all sections of our coun- Reconciliation and forgiveness are as commendable in a good citizen as were heroism and we rejoice are at peace with id the stern necesmties of in require the services of the t that time may the men of all sections ‘great nation standing shoulder to shoul- der in the ranks of their common coun- . With such an army armies of other nations would find it difficult to penetrate, and a motto that is dear to the hearts citizen. “One country and w. Mr. Commissioner, per- : to thank you sin-| ‘and. warmly for’ this welcozne to our nothing ia return ex- cent it be that which Inow most cordially tender—a soldier's remembrance and his heart- felt gratitude. The members of your staff in the Department ire your attention for a the purpose of presenting to you a slight testimonial of love and respect | and their great appreciation of the work per. by you during the past year, which has resulted in impressing upon the people of thi atry the noble principles upon. whieh this great organization is founded and the’patriotic work to which the Grand Army is pledged. Your admimstration Grand Army of the Republic has been highly successful and the position so ably filled by your predecessors has bad in youn faithful servant, ever watchful of the best mterests of er, and actuated by the patriotic in- stincts that have brought this organization to ed and silver | that great struggle. come—you would that the combined Tean offer you few moments affairs of the | stronger each succeeding year. We meet in no spirit of exultation or false pride. We meet]. | with'no desire to. boast of oar services in the | Nowhere under the free canopy of heaven Commander-in-Chief Palmer thew made the| | rue crrrsens’ COMMITTER GAVEL. earth; and in a great measure I believe that the following respohse fen. Palmer's Reply. com nt, Palmer's Reply. s | they graduated twenty-seven years ago. | I Mr. Commissioner: In behalf of the repre- | pi. concluding sentence, and when Gen. Palmer | On the opposite side of the stage Mr. B. H. | Kev to the soldiers’ success will bo found in the Warner arose to his feet as Gen. Palmer finished | School of discipline and training from which | ping from “broken ranks” to the field, worl Fentatives of the twenty-sixth national encamp- | turned he looked on the smiling face of Mr. | Shots counter neh ned peter oneite the rand Army of the Republic I Warner. Gen. Palmer returned the pleasant | halle of legisiad return to you and the citizens of Washington | greeting, but bis smile broadened as he noticed | called to preside over the affairs of this great acknowledgments for your kind | that Mr. Warner carried a gavel in his hand. republic, each was obedient to authority, mind- je welcome to your beautiful etty, tal of It is eminently appro in in-chief. Mr. Warner appreciated the situation, | which lie at the fGundatign of all success. If ago, | and in a bappy style he spoke of the gavel which | the soldier were the progenitor of the success- con- | be held in bis hand as having been Ss by | ful citizen then national honor demands that he 2 in| order of the committee on hall review before their gallant leaders, the grandest | were aware that another gavel presentation was | fendors of the nation, I foel that, the ex-soldier, and most effective army the world had ever | in contemplation. The gavel was in the form | ministers, lawyers, bankers, manufacturers, In those days we marched to the grand hed with the garlands of survivors of that grand | mander-in-chief,which was designed in the form | disrespect to the “veterans,” or the subtl: » 1865 were xo replete with © and manty strength, marched over the same ground, no longer with mus- their shoulders and sabers »; halls of legislation, the councils of the nation; | The members of the encampment also smiled as | fal of duty, brave in disaster, loyal to law and they looked upon their begaveled commander- | order;-in a word bristling with those qualities fore they | shall frown upon all attempts to belittie the de- of a drum stick and was deemed an appropriate | presidents, governors and. all liberty-lovin accompaniment to the martial desk of the com- | American citizens must brand the sentiment of of a drum. a | poison will stain the pages of history with the | Mr Warner said that tho gavel wae made belief that patriotiam and valor in the Union from walnut fro: int Vernon and oak from | army were a myth, and that loyalty to the coun- | Arlington, and ina pootic cioquent vein he re- | try is no longer to'be called a virtwe. ferred to’ tho historic associations connected with there two places and to the patriotic services A PATRIOTIC ORDER. | of the alien at the lnte war in preserving this | The precepts of this great order appeal to the country at the outlay cf sognuch self-sacrifice | patriotism of every man who wore the Union — peowais, Eh srgrumed lives. 9 prahin | blue; every Union soldier should give it his leop svmpe thy of the people of Washington if | influence and support and wear at all times the this celebrr ian. and in stirring words pointed | out the patriotic significance of the occasion, | Dd8e of loyalty, the bronze G. A. R. button, i ., | This emblem is a silent protest against “‘sneers”” into which’ the peoplo of Washington bad cn | atthe old veteran, itis the bones mark of the tered with such hearty good will. : sie > republic. It rivets attention to the fact that | gp Ln, hia reply Gen. Palmer anid pleasantly that | inen «till live who deserve to. be remembered | it was evidently intended ‘that he should take | With “whatever ‘belongs to. the prosperity, | good care of ‘this encampment, and then. in « | Therty and renown of out country. | more serious vein, he spoke of his appreciation y [for Ge. Mitelliness tint proutpeed | this As we look back over the long line of distin- | gift, He eaid that the comrades realized | €tished comrades whose patriotic devotion to | the amount of Inbor that had been performed | theit country and inspiring presence upon the by the citizens’ committce and the hospitality | battlefields oftentimes stimulated us to deeds of valor, but who no longer answer to “roll call” of the people. They had provided free quarters * ' . three times in excess of ‘that. which had ever [38 UF eneampments, wo are foreibly reminded that death has been busy in our ranks; but the | befors been provided. In connection with all y 5 | comrades Gen. Palmer said that he felt the|™e™mory of their heroic achievements and manly virtues will live long after the Grand Army of the Republic censes to exist. Let the example of their lives be an incentive to us all to x0 live and discharge our duties as citizens deepest gratitude toward the citizens’ commit- ‘There being ng other gavels to be presented it soy aye ca ae bers of the en- | 2¥t¥, #0 that when we shall have reached ‘the 2 aaa - hae oo = roa would re- | 08d of life's journey and joined those gallant we ee eee comrades whose lives were sacrificed to their pd country’s liberty, future generations will read TNE BUSINESS SESSION. with wonder how two great armies contended After the public reception and as soon as the | for four long years, where nearly amillion of men hall was closed the “proceedings” of the en-| ou one wide and the other yielded up their livos in that great civil conflict, and when the con- Berane loner Pe eae teat ended those great armicn melted away like until all the reports were received. At the close | {He snow on the eats awe omnes Z : close | noonday sun. uming the SS of civil fife, the nation, moved on onco e lan no * cod tat) more in a career of unparalleled progress, prot pe twenty-sixth national encampment hye 1n | perity and happiness, bare when our names order” and ready for the transaction of busi- | shail bo inscribed on the roll of the dead of the — Grand Army of the Republic we shall deserve The roll call of departments showed that each | +5 bo remembered by those who survive us, and Was represented, in the inajority of cases bY ®) upon our last resting places may flourish the fall delegation. Paine of Florida | °¥¢rsteons of a fond and enduring memory. comtitteo on credentials showed that the total | A¥¢ departments, responded to putea ae vote of theencampment would be 1,144, the Pi ‘ quiring monthy of time and labor. traveling | number of delegates and past officers of the na- | nearly 40,000 miles, and my only refret is that tional encampment. ¥ & 7 I was unable to raect with several departments, OEN. PALMER'S REPORT. as they met on the same date and the places of Commander-in-chief Palmer then read his re-| meeting were too far apart to reach them in port, time. And notwithstanding I have given up| earaewakccaer naa. nearly the entire year to the work of the order, : I feel that my efforts have been but feeble to Comrades—The national encampment of the | serve all my comrades and do justice to the Grand Army of the Republic brings together | great office. Thnd some misgivings that my representative soldiers from all over the loval | health and strength would not be equal to my land. There is scarcely a battlefield of that } will to pe you ce —— ae ot toe i 4 i pene fatigue of long travels, but it pro’ ea Great civil contest but hae its representatives | ¥ oF Oe “pieasure, although to business man here today. Within its ranks are men of all not one of profit. But the only earthly con- litical parties and religions creeds. The dif- | colation one finds in this life is in occupation. ferences in rank which the army reflected are | Nature appears just toward men; it recom- | lost in the equalities of m free and common | penses them for their aufferings, and to the citizenship. The dominating thought is patriot- | ¢reatest toils are attached the greatest compen- ism. Its principles appeal to patriots of every | cations, A man’s greatest reward as he goes name and party. It ix peculiarly befitting that | through life is to feel that in a measure he may we sbould meet once more in the beautiful cap- | have rendered some service in administering to ital city of the nation, where the representa-| the comforts and happiness of his fellow tives of sixty illions of freemen gather | men. It is this fecling that stimulates to enact our laws and to look backward over the | him to labor and aids him in reaching his perils surmounted and forward to the growing | proper destiny. The recollection of a useful Greatness of a redeemed land. lite is not terminated by time, but is as bound- | Rightly is it named the Grand Army: grand | Jess aa eternity. I shall always remember with in the justice of the majestic cause for which it | affectionate gratitude the cordial and hearty fought; grand in the greatness of its magna-| greetings extended to the chief of this great ‘and its chivalr: valor, order, both from comrades and citizens in le and the heroism which shone through | whatever part of this country he visited. In Il its career of defeat and victory; grand in| justice to the men against whom we contended the fidelity with which the for four long years I desire to say that not- were blended with the soldiers’ withstanding the intemperate attacks made still sustains the principles it carried to victory. | upon me by some of the southern journals, on Grand because it saved the capitol of the | account of my order in reference to the flag of nation, kept the country undivided. the flag | our couatry, during my visit to the depart unsullied, and assured us.» commanding place | ment encampment in Augusta, Ga., I met many among the nations of the earth. These annual | ex-confederate soldiers from whom I received gatherings of men who rendered loyal. devoted | a cordial greeting, and I believe that those and patriotic service to their country in the | who were bravest in the field have a greater hour of peril, if they serve no other purpose | Jove of justice and right than those who re- will impress upon the minds of the rising gen-| mained in the rear in the hour of danger, and I eration a profounder and deeper seuse of the | was giad to take by the hand any brave con- perils through which we passed to preserve the | federate soldier who accepted the generous of the nation. It demonstrates to all the | terms of the surrender at Appomattox and to- obligations resting upon us. It gives renewed | day respects the flag of the nation as the em- | strength to patriotism, tends to elevate and | blem of a reunited people and a reunited adorn our tational character and make us | country. THE LAND OF THE FREE. past. We cherish no feelings of ity sun shine upon a land ro fair, agovern- for the many acts of kindness al words with which you have ncouraged ue in the performance ish our asociatto us one of the happiest events of our life. Asa testimonial of our bigh regard for you | personally and officially itis my nt to you on bebalf of your aids ain the partment of the Potomac ‘thi embodies in ite different parts some of the most j ting events that marked the period of | contiict out of which grew this vast e and patriotic men which | | battlefields we joyfully laid it aside upon one i# gavel, which “The head of the gavel is pieces of wood. The section of white walnut was cut from a ‘ialsand dangers through which we passed, h stood in the field of Gettysburg. The piece of red cedar was cut from tree standing in the angle formed by the crossing at Va., being the point around which | bound us together as we trudged along on | just gone down, | many a weary march, on the lonely picket, in was deemed fitting that it should be included. Walnut was cut from the body of a tree which stood in the court house yard tiox at the time of the surrender. The handle is made of two separate pieces, one of which was cut from a tree which stood | Snodgrass hill, at Chickamauga, while the | formed part of that gloric ho helped in a rem ish the progress of the | of the Union armies should gather again in the merican navy. ‘our official relat ke home with you our best wishes ss in life, and accept our ances that the friendship’ that bas existed will always be one of the most ing memories of our work in the Grand — RIC GAVEL PRESENTED. Defore Gen. Palmer could atteution was claimed by Col. T. D. Yeager, who, in behalf of the aids-de-camp of the com- -chief from the Department of the As Col Venger beean to speak the members of | Green 0d" lies “gently upon the breasts of the | dich fruitage as the discovery of «new world latform arose to their | silent sleepers, 16,000 patriotic dead, it recalls | by a Genoese sailor. He brought no plunder | to our minds the enormous price paid by the | from the treasure houses of the east, but he e his neat his | ACCEPTED BY GEN. PALMER Gen. Palmer in reply, sai I thank you sincerely for the kind thought which suggested the gift of this cael with which I am to preside ove: liberations of the twenty-sixth national rand Army of of the Depart- omac let ine eay that you could ything more appropriate, of your regard that will be more m1 so much on account of its intrinsic value, but for cherished mem- carries with it, When I- leave the pleasures of this gather- the quiet surroundings my home and family it will be one of the cherished adornments of my house. of the kindness I received at the hands comrades all over this broad land. the time when there flashed from the red flame il war, Sumter’s guns were first heard in de- It will also recall to my mind that the men over whom [ am to preside with this gavel rolied back the legions of contederates whose fense of the Union. intrepidity on the gallant was the Tock at Chickamauga, while the brave sailor bors of the Kearsarge made clean work of the Alabama; ai with its alternate gloom and glory, my comrades braved all the witudes of war, and at last, under the providence ‘y rested upon the stars and | and the great conflict ceased at Five revenge against the men of the couth. ment so free, a nation so prosperous, a people Ispeak the sentiments of every true soldier | yo happy as upon this our own beloved Am’ when I say whatever pride we have in the past, | a country with all the best aspirations of man. whatever pride we brought back from the whose wide expanse is limited only me | bs which roll between continents, altarand gladly merged the title of soldier | which reaches from almost the regions of into a greater one—that of American citizen. | eternal snows; spreads its starry banner to the We were citizens before we became soldiers | gunshine—the flowers and luxuriance of the and volunteered at the call of an imperiled na- | tropics and everywhere in this vast domain are | tion, that we might fultill the highest duti the houses of freemen. It isthe land of free citizenship, and the lessons we learned amidst | schools, of free lawa and free prem, and among the storm of battle have made us ‘nore mindful | gi its 65,000,000 of human souls no slave bears ens. It is a laudable |g fetter; with its luxuriant crops it supplies pride, therefore, and not an overweaning | food and life to the needy poor of the old composed of four | Y#Hity which impels us to meet year after year | world, while from out of the depths it is pour- This section of eda partof the mortar batte the first gum at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, | to commemorate the —_ incidents ing its wealth of gold into the markets of the our country salvation, ‘ta part of | yld world. To the worn, the weary and the which we were and all of which we saw." | down trodden of other lands it opens wide its and we never can forget the result of all the “arms and here they find shelter, liberty and the ed, | pursuits of happiness, and yet upon such a nd not to fee! the strength of the ties which | country the sun of its first centennial bas but Who lives with a vision so ' ; . vast, an eye so prophetic, an imagination so the midnight bivouac, amidst the rush and | grand as to portray the tic splendor, vast thunder of battle and in all the horrors of the | wealth and national glories which shall usher in prison and the hospital.’ To perpetuate these | the morn of the anniversary of our country's , to cherish love of country, to keep undy- | third century of existence? And yet it will be, ing the memories of the loved and the lost who | and it is well that occasions like these should perished while in the service. We meet today | bring together each year the comrades who in aspirit of fraternity, charity and loyalty, | made it possible that our country should be invoking heaven's richest blessing.on every por- | what it ia. To cherish old ascociations, review tion of our beloved country. the memories of the past and with ‘clasped ‘THIA CITY AN APPROPRIATE PLACE. hands renow that lave of oountry, that ‘devotion i sis to that grand old flag of glory which wil in Teis peculiarly appropriate that the survivors | th Tha frum ote OR ot Neoek invahe past, the a _ emblem of our country’s greatness and happi- capital of the nation, which through four long | ness. And the conquerors say to the conquered, years of bloody strife they defended at the peril | each now appreciating that the preservation of of their lives, and it brings to our minds viv- | the Union was the common glory of both, and idly the namo of that great man who, under the | the vanquiched enjoy an equal share in the providence of God, successfully guided the | prosperity of the nation and in all we fought to affairs of the nation through the crises of its | preserve, while we cannot forget we unhesi- fate. While the peans of victory were still | tatingly ‘forgive. when gathered at the high sounding in his ears he died, a martyr for his | altar of Columbia's capital, to bind anew in country. leaving behind him a fame which will | bonds of fraternity and loyalty the hearts of all brighten with the lapse of time, and coupled | its sons, and consecrate anew the nation to the with the name of Washington will be the name | cause of humanity, civilization and progress. of Lincoln so long as America, shall be known | An invitation bab been extended to the world mong the nations of the earth. Almost withia | to visit the Columbian exposition, and the the sound of my voice there repoves in that | thought comes to me that dazzling con- beautiful spot on Arlington Heights, where the | quest of the heroes of ancient times show no American people for the preser found for the people of all nationalities the tion. 4,000 graves are marked with the saddest | citaclel of liberty, and a# I look into the faces of all inscriptions—unknown. We meet today | of the raen who furnished many of the grandest with the consolation that the nation was saved | pages of our country's history I feel impressed and preserved by the valor of these men, and | with the fact that without the heroic services we feel exalted by their achievements and re- | of these men and their comrades in arms that generated by their life's blood. If their spirits | which Columbns made possible wonld long ago hover about us today they must be filled with | have perished from the face of the earth, and gladness —and could they but speak they would | today I utter the inspiring truth that the Union say, “Tis well we died, the nation still lives, | soldier made it possible to present to the na- we il sleep again; it will not be long before you | tions of the earth the glories of America under will join us, and we shall all meet on the resur- | one flag, and in raving this great republic’ they rection morn to be judged by Mim who ruleth | saved for all mankind the priceless jewel of lib- armies and nations. You hare lived to enjoy | erty. the fruits of Four labors and to see the “people THE LOVE OF COUNTRY. reunited, and our country je glorious by o heroism and a patriotinm that will live in the | 4 ae of nothing in all the circle of human hearts of the American people down to the re- | duty that so unites men ss the common dangers, motest generation.” sufferings and struggles that war brings. And A new generation stands where we stood. | of the many excellent societies which exist none Thirty-five millions of have been added | are more useful, none more dear than that to the country since ‘close of that great | which binds us lovally to our country’s good. civil conflict in 1865, They know nothing of |Our children, neighbors and friends are dear to the realities of war or the dangers and hard- | ships of a soldier's life, except what they read or hear from the lips of those who were the | from the bonds of slavery, a nation’s freedom actors in that great drama from 1861 to 1865, | won, the life of a republic saved and preserved, aud wbile the American, people and the gen- | these sum up the story, the achievements and eration begotten wince the civil strife hold the | services of the membership of our great order veterans ina love that no other group of men | of citizen soldiery, m the land receive there is a disposition on the| It is not an fa few to sneer at the soldier and call Mendicant. They appear to forget the sufferings and sacrifices that made us what we HHA in ak sk + pie *? et ee C. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1892. aided in ty efforts to serve you by the efficient | colored posts.” This was a reflection own efficiency as department official wore the actors in this drama, owa-thoughts in their own ge was in thei: remedy in their own hands. In fact. it was their duty to investigate and eliminate from the | rolls the name of any man who could not pro- duce an honorable discharge frém the U: ‘otwithstanding we and Th pores honk tions of cacampmest generons sup) ey | lations of the: my staff. In e it I have visited to notice the interest and e: thusiasm manifested by the comrades for the welfare of the ‘order, and while the whitened locks and furrowed cheeks of many marked the advance of time, the lapse of yea cooled their fervor for the mination to hold ou high the standard of our order, and while we hav by death and suspension, our greatest loss comes from delinquent reports; nevertheless, I | ide in saying to you that the re- yw an increase for the year. LOUISIANA AND MISSI8SIPFI Thad hoped that the action of the twenty- fifth national encampment at Detroit would have settled all existing differences in this de- partment, and I would be relieved from the un- Pleasant disturbances encountered by my Up to the time of this meeting my predecessors had kindly exercised a dis eretionery power and permitted poste from 9 to 17 to make their reports and pay their dues direct to national headquarters, But the de- cision of the national encampment on_ this | ment of the nati question was emphatic and no shadow of un- | fiedly in favor of recogn certainty any longer renmined. ment in passing upon the subject did it in tI following clear and unmistakable langnage: | tional encampm rth in De- | rather than For seven years the body of our old general- in-chief had been allowed to remain in an open city park ina rude temporary shelter. This neglect had become a standing reproach and hamiliating to every surviving sommnde. Last spring the Grant Monument Association was reorganized and enlarged by 1 under the leadership of Comrade Horace Portér it was determined to push the work of erecting a fitting tomb to successfal The commander-in-chief of the Grand Army ef the Hepublic wm: trustee of the association. rade Porter the witBin the monam which could be pla tures of surviving comrades of the Grand Army hat these signatures should be prepared parchment jon they held | flag or their deter- | stained many losses legislative en- in-chief to recognize 1 was the recipient of numerous communtca- tions. from ‘departments and comrades asking for information about certain which they had. berm asked to cockritess, having no knowledge of either the project or the comrade asking for fands T was unable to five a satisfactory answer. that the national encampment ehould take some by the rules and regulations; liewing that the sentiments of a vast majority of the comrades of the twent campment was ung nizing there pretended posta, Fe | whether they had a right in the | not, and is too strong to be comnteracted by in our power, rather than yield, &o. 2% * * © Therefore be it resolved ‘that the ebarter of this department be and is hereby surrendered, Louisiana and Mississippi disbanded. mode of reasoning in, to say the least, pecu- They concede that the senti- jonal encampment was unquali- ing these posts, but i Afth national en- favor of recog- & suitable repos ed the autograph I deem it advimbbe of the Revublic; written upon carefully PADer, co as to last for all time to come, and be collecied under the supervision of post com- heir correctne «A the Department of ment take action preventing ct to Congress, or other mms in the interest or at the solicitation af tividuals, It frequently tinpedes the | liarly illogical. of logilation for the vi fluence of the or before the people instances sete up the the deliberate judgme rans. destrors the in- the action of the comm: » places usin a false light taining the unqualified exp: in the land would deem it an honorable tion to have his name apon thi contribute the se of constructing the re- nding and collecting the | ance to the completion | My proposition was accepted by | tion, as will be seen by the following | ssion of the na- wholly unwarranted. and yield to the rules of the order they L., in 1866, to its silver encumpment, | sought to destroy the organization in that d ‘has never turned from its doors any deserving partment, But their hasty and unwise course comrade on account of his nationali during that fiei would cheerfully pository, indexing, creed or | did not accompli A meeting of tie department encampment of stood | Louisiana and Mississpy houlder to shoulder as comrades tried. It is| zation was held in the too Inte to divide on the color line. A man | La. is good enough to stand between the | thirteen flag and those who wonld destroy it, when | the proceedings. I am ad the fate of the nation bung trembling in tho | campment was the most harm balance, is good enough to be a comrade in a departmént of the Grand Army of the Itepub- No different rule hasbeen or ever will be recognized by the survivors of the army and No department should ever be estab- lished for any color or nationality. would be inexpedient to authorize the com- | serve the mander-in-chief to organize new or provisional | ber of state where a department | .” ‘This question has tested the patience, skill and endurance of my predeces- sors in their efforts to bring about an amicable | ated by an unkind adjustment of the differences e: department between the white and colored | tered no real re posts, but every effort had faled. It had cost | twenty-fifth na the national encampment and energy through the exertions of comrades sent into this department to check the progress of the growing mischief than all other depart- | of a duty incumbent upon me under ments combined, from the inception of the | office I did it without either feeling. fear or order to the present time. ficers of this department absolutely refased to obey the rales of the encampment cretion to deal with either their motives or reasons assumed in their refusal. of the commander. heir purpose. Following the advice of the committee on the quartermaster general's report, that the utmost Resolved, That the architect of the associg- |conomy should be exercised in the manage- provisions in| ment of the affairs of the monument for @ suita- | that no ex; hich shall be placed a li-| was absolutely signed to bold the volumes containing | nity of the o Pensa, comrades of tho | The reports will show a large feduction in the current expenses for the year, ndness of many of the railroads and the cour- es have been about one-balf af vropriated for the expenses of pment rednoed the per the time for rendering semi-annually. Whea stration came into power 1% : junds, and money was derstanding. The | advanced by the quartermaster general until t half of the year's dues were paid. I drawing upon the funds invested in bonds, but my successor will find it difeult to al headqaarters with the reduced income, and will necessarily be com- sitory for such | pelled to draw upon the bonds for current ex- onal memorial, ted in the me- taining the roll der the reorgani- of New Orleans, gust 6, 1892, where the delegates from posts were present and participated in order, I would say urred except what necessary to taaintain the dig- and defray necessary ense has been ine d that this en- ious in the bis- It is represented to- tory of that department. day in this encampment by a ful o wpeak for all the comrades in the dey rdiess of color or nationatity, that there are no That it | teste except the contest to see who can "d Army of the Repul te from the Grant ation, nor did that eniertain it with a view of making tt | personal expe: I knew that no comrade ¢ placed upon the roll at | the commander-i ling fund for the tomb r to bear the expense hima any surplus which might reports from quarterly to: ding fund. | the present admini and the num- The national « departments in an: capita tax and chan acerue go tow lonument Asac his Rubject Iwas not actn- ught toward a single ex rade in this department. reasing the bu iation is faithfally car- | was without availab up to the time of the onal encampme ore money. time | known that there were disinteg: construction, redand | avoi ting forces at h the national » that department com- cluded was time to arrest, and in the disc! ' meet expenses at nati will give this project their earnest onor roll igin # But when thé of- structible by fire, THE FLAG OF oDR covyTny. On the 14th day of June, mittee of tho Continental Congress recom- mended that the flag of the United States eon- sist of thirteen «tripes alternate red and whi that the Union be thirteen stars on a field | biue. Today the fiag of our country contains forty-four stars representing forty-four made possible by the heroic services of the men as we look upon the which were sanctified | comrades in this a fe at all times » the flag com- wterity down to the remotest | o look upon the authen- oug southern brothers were a chief are clearly de- | the best evidence of o ¥ fined in section 1, article 6, chapter 4, | was the prompt and generous response als for aid, and several ed and sent into that & the comrades of the order. by the national encampment to int } with a single constitutional right of any com- , Tade of that department. were extended to them as to all othe er, not the privilege to do w do what was right. e life of an organization, like the life of man, may be prolonged in bi of its time, or it: ma: want of proper guid: nal disorders. bring about a complete di-solut: department was saved by a criti nt ingairy from mo as | r sufficient funds had been raised to te the tomb Comrade Porter replied as 4 to national the annual meeting of the department of Louisiana and Mississippi, held in the month of Februar admission or representation, although their dues were tendered and deci forwarded their reports and dues to national ‘The attention of the depart- ment commander was called to the rules of the order and he was directed to recognize posts This he declined Under date of March 8, 1892, . from headquarters Department of Louisiana and Mississipy department commander issued the followin, Tho commander-in-chief las posts be recognized. of administration, under a full sense of the gravity of theact, and aware of the possible consequences of their refusal to compl; cided that they could not obey—and_ the’ from nine to seventeen report headquarters that who wore the blue. glorious stare and strip: by the blood of the men whose devotion to their coun shed luster and renown upon the annals of the struggles for national independence in r history of the nation, the memorios of old associations during army life are renewed and strengthened, and we rejoice to feel that the services and sacrifices of the men who in after years maintained, defended and preserved the independence so gloriously w cestors are regarded with affectionate gratitude: by every American citizen in whose breast piration for human rights and. and that the fiag of our country is recognized by every civilized nation asthe emblem of liberty, equal rights, There are thousands of mon country of foreign birth who are loval to the flag and their adopted country. This class of citizens the Grand Army come to our shores, they were refused sponded gencrously to the oney has been ping the main sum of money | line the crypt | headquarters, le and otherwise © proper embellishment of ucture and grounds and the portrait and reand «upply the sarcopha- structure may be made so will command of all who visit it and bea r to the fullness | expire premature and so attractive that there arises an human liberties, This order the | future years of prosperity and THR LovaL womrs, Tcannot speak with too mm beneficent work done b the needy veterans and their families. veterans reach nearer the end of life they become more feeble and some friendly hand, and to ¢! y their acts of love ing humanity— ry. all the fact that it was the members of the Grand Army of the Republic who formed the guard of honor that g the remains of Comrade Gi Comrades will ree ih forvor of the | “the « conscientiously | loyal women for | nt from the hour h until his burial, that the badge of pon his breast when be his cofiin, that one was also depos- cornerstone of his tomb, and tha ander-in-chief is a trustee charged with the building and care of the tomb, so that the Grand Army of the Republic will always be inseparably associated with the en- tombmont of their chief aud with the national emonal which is to mark his grave. Now that our citizens have contributed a fod larger than any ever received from volun- ons for any similar ol mld redound more to the ur surviving veterans than the record at their contributions had so far ented the present building fund as to omental inadding the chief beauty to the monument. the Republic wel- But there is another class who did not come to our shores with the inten- ton of becoming law-abiding citizens, but who were driven from their own countries for the very crimes they are attempting to on American citizens, their only aim to be to overthrow law and order, or to destroy life by dynamite or the revolver.’ In a nation so jealous of its liberties there is no room for such assassins to dwell. The such offenders encourage them to re~ their offenses, of their impunity are tempted to repeat their crimes. Security to life and 3 Upon the loyalty and intelligence of the coun- try which enjoys it, and every sentiment aiming ats higher standard of patriotism, coming nob only from the Grand Army of the liept from every organization in the land that loves liberty and order, will have a decided influence on the entire community. The man who docs and all it represents is at the sooner such men are ty of the law the sooner maintained and the bet ter it will be for the future safety to life and property. The stars and wtripes must float supreme over every foot of our land. As [lay down the trust so an: ferred upon me at Detroit, I desire to extend to members of my staff my grateful acknowledg- ments for the cordial support given m my term of office. To them debted for that measure of success which marks the administration of the affairs committed to my charge, and I want to extend to all my comrades my heartfelt thanks for the kindness Thave received at their hands everywhere. I have had but one object mn view: to disc! the duties of the ofice fidelity God has given me. in mecting your expectations, and have merited the confidence reposed in’ mé, I sball feel amply rewarded Yor the year of time and enengy I have devoted to your interest to the ranks to mingle with 3 in the work that is still before us, it will be my ambition at all times to do my full share for the future progress and prosperity of our grand The Adjatant General's Report. ‘The report of the adjutant general, Fred. Phisterer, to the commander-in-chicf gives an interesting account of the condition of the order. At the outset, under the head of finances, the rpport, which is addressed to the com- mander-in-chief, states command of the Grand Army, and after paying ali the accounts due to former administrations, the discovery was made that practically there were no fands on hand to carry on the busi- ness of this office and of the order, except €16,000 in United States bonds, and that there would be no income until after December 81, led not to sell any of the bonds if avoidable, and that therefore the mast rigid economy should be exercixed. Directions: were given to chairmen of committees to bear the financial condition of the order in mind and to limit their expenses as much as possible, It was estimated that the probable income of national headquarters during the current would be: From the pe | six months ending December 51, 1891, of Lig per member in good standing (in pumbers 400,000), 6,000; from the tax for the six months ending June Lcent per member in good standing ( numbers 400,000), €4,000: from interest on United States bonds for one year, No aliowance was penses of the quartermaster ment, asthe profifon tho sales department should be sufficient to cover expenses; Dor was it taken into ‘that there might be a surplas of penses; nor is it advisable to tions on the latter. ties hal tnostiann Saee ‘about 87, rough rational -and that the total ex; now confronted me. tives of cight posts in Loui: to rule, or should the voice of the majority of nearly 500,000 comrades govern the affairs of this great order? The one meant disruption, | the other that the dignity and laws of the order The obstinacy, which at first wore an aspect of legitimate effort, pro- posed no longer to yield to the laws of the | order, but developed into 0) If the officers o} were unwilling to abide by the rules of the Were the representa- our order was placed ny during the war and a greater number since—merit our grateful ac- | knowledements For many vears thi | torecure for the horrora of the hos} should be maintained. als daring the w: ple act of justice, and at last their eforta | re been rewarded | sion to all army nurses gratification to © every loyal woman. SONS OF VETERANS, The patriotic purposes of this organization deserves the cordial support of every member of the Grand Army of the Republic. of logalty pervades the hea as was well sai chief, “We «ho aid them in thei and to them wi defiance and | i» department | jays , Which isa source of de as well as to history, nothing resign and permit others to bo cho-en who would, but they had no right to attempt to thwart the action of the national encampment by an effort to bring about a dissolution of the artinent by an illegal act. nder date of April 25, in special orders No. 5, I xuspended the department commander and placed in command Senior Vice Commander Durkee, with instructions to recognize the posts from 9 to 17, and report to these head- quarters not later tha lay 11 he acknowledged receipt of the order plication has been made xince from posts 9 to 17. | GRANT COTTAGE, The Grand Army of the Republic took pos- | session of this property in 1889, and since that time over fifty thoasand people have visited it. The Department of New York appropriated funds for some necessary repairs and pay for the “leaflets” describing the cottage and its ents, which are given gratuitously to vi The Inw incorporating the association its thesale for purposes of gain, any- thing on the premises, and the custodian has law in letter and in uit Memorial Association has an absolate title to the cottage and the lot, 300 feet square, upon which it standé, The cost of care and maintenance is now borne by the onal encampment. There was a strong sentiment on the part of both comrades and citizens that this property +hoald be held by the government and my pre- decesrors bad recommended and the encamp- ment approved a resolution asking Congress to | purchase the property and provide for its per- I personally brought the matter ntion of Congress, but no action was A patriotic citizen, of these borsand 1d do everyth heart a traitor an: ‘made to feel the maj mit our trust, will national honor Idesire to express to them my grateful ac- | knowledgments for the many courtesies re the meeting in Februar; dat their hands d Should they make application I wi cat future success and prospec MEMORIAL DAY. With Memorial day comes the expression of nation’s gratitude for the brave men who suf- h that their bl unity of the nation, the early flowers of spring up the men who laid down their lives for their country is a beautiful and touching one. though time has in a measure mellowed the grief of the couftry for its d day retains its original characteristics wud in- ach succeeding year. THE DEPARTMENT COMMANDE! Comrade Durkee hav’ with the order from nati special order No. 8, May 20, I suspended und placed Comrade’ Miller, the junior vice, in ‘The assistant ‘adjatant general, Comrade Keeting, replied by telegraph that Comrade Miller considered bimself no member of the order, ay the department in special encampment had’ voted to surrender the All that human fore- ig failed to comply nal headquarters, by ‘am deeply ta n the graves of ith all the ability and department charter. If T have succeeded could do under to avert the impending conflict by | persuasion and advice had been exhausted, and | if the culmination of this vexed question had to occur under this administration, it were better that it should be met, rather than to I a legacy to my successor, N anticipated from discords in an organization. re at issue amongst themeely are caught for mutual injury, ues are settled the better three administra- : creases in interest strife ceases upon thts day con: triotism, and bl long career to tion's heroes an: the cause for which th nd ambition halts in its head- pause at the graves of the na- contemplate the greatness of offered yp thei § that softens the heart and intensifies patriotim, it is to stand at the graves of the men who sacrificed their lives for people honor m soldier, not because he slew #0 many of the foe, but because he gave up even life itself in the performance of aduty. So long as the obser its genuineness and purity, not given up to frivolity and amusement, it will impart to all a truer sense of the obligations resting upon us —reaping what the living and the dead have priceless blessings of y fe and property. There are imposing monuments to ¢: officers, whose marble is none too eloquent their praise; there are pages of history which tell none too forcibly their achievement there are also simple mounds in country church yards, there are unknown graves in southera inclosing the ashes of heroes, to whom chilling circumstances forbade distinction. matters little to these men whether monn- mental granite marks the the last roll call, the night tattoo of death has m its last notes, but they will din vain if from the inspirations of Memorial day the yonth of our land learn no For what did these men die? They died that the nation might li this land should be an asylum for liberty-loving men all over the world; they died to make this land of ours such that the songs of the laborers of all nationalities, in our valleys and on our hills, should swell and commingle with the free anthem of America. Let Memorial day teach the rising generation that the liberty and the government which were established and sustained.at such terrible cost should be by them like the men who wore the blue, they rest with honor in a soldier's grav. of future years be tempted to surrender the rights that were established upon so many battlefields by these men, or become cold or callous in their love of country and its instita- tions, may the memory of the green mounds spread ali over the land, covering the remains boss in blue who lives with its hopes and pleasures for freedom. aud fatherland, bold taken at the last session. who asks that his name shall not be made pub- lic, offers to subscribe the sum of $5,000 to- ward a permanent fand for the care of this his- If such a fund could be estab- | lished the organization would be relieved from | a yearly expense, which increases on account of necessary repairs, refore recommend that the na- tional encampment ask department command- ers to make an appeal to their respective poste | for a contribution of five cents from each mem- | ber to create a fund to be sent to the quarter- 1, and through him to be turned ‘ant Memorial Association, to be ed vo the annual apd as T return . my comrades, issue can be and the sooner vital it is for the organization. soldier is obedience. Men frequently talk of the necessity 0° things and blame circumstances for the consequences of soldier has lefrned by the experience of that unless rules and discipline are maintained an organization degenerates Its success is essential at all times and c&u only be conserved by maintaining the integrity of_ ita laws. I was advised to call a of administration for consultation and advice, but upon reflec- tion I regarded it a1 a useless expend- subject the national encampment to another large expense by call- ing the council together. my predecessors had alread: question and agreed that th to settle the existing troubies ment, and the action of the national encam, ment left nothing to the discretion of either the council of administration or the commander-in- chief. No action of the council of administra~ tion could have changed my views as to my | positive duty in the matter, and I felt that if I| was not prepared to do my duty as I saw it I was in no sense fitted for which I had been chosen by your favor. I did duty and have no aj r fur my action. their own follies. | is kept in all over to the € ‘When you assumed invested and the interest ap care of the cottage and grounds. VErERANS IN THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOT. To protect the rights of veterans of the late | war is one of the cardinal principles of our | The pledge made by the government in section 1754 of the Revised Statutes (U. 8.) has frequently been ignored. ‘The committee appointed by this administra much patient time and | labor, without expense 18 the encampment, in | endeavoring to secure what is believed was ‘in- tended by the Congress which your martyr President, Abraham Lin- eoln, who signed it, did nof accomplish all they de sired, the work is so well in hand I have great | faith that they will succeed in their efforts at the next session of Congress, Trecommend that the committee be con- tinned, and earnestly urge the adoption of the | resolutions and recommendations accompany- ing their report. THE COLUMBIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATION. The president of the world’s congress of the | Columbian exposition, organized by the super- intendents of education, proposed that the four | hundredth aniversary of the discovery of Amer- ‘@ national school -lemon- stration, An invitation was extended to the | this Grand Army of the Republic thi headquarters that this celevration shcald be | Chases for the under the direct patronage of our order service, through the Grand Army of the Re- , would give to the 13,000,000 of school children an object lesson in | rgotten. As this celebration will occur October 21, 1992, under the President's tion, I preferred that the details for the parads should be left to my successor to I have already communicated commanders, them to ‘We fought for our children the battles that sown we now enjo} peace and proxper The council under tion have devote ot where they await ‘year capita tax for the high position to logies or excuses to hether I did right or not you will judge and your judgment Iwill unhesitatingly and uncomplaining!y ac- cept, for it was for you andin your bebalf [ ‘The charter of this at national headquarters May 26, 1892, and across its face was written in letters of red ink surtendered May 19, 1892. In special orders No. 9, Jane 2, 1992, I de- clared that the action taken at the speci ing of the Department of Louisiana and Missis- sippi. being in direct violation o the rules and regulations, which says that: “No alteration affecting the general interests of the de] ment shall be mado at a acts contemplated by such special meeting wei I then appointed Past Depart- commander it was received ded up, only when, ; and should the men | sca be celebrated special meeting,” all ielded up their never to be for m firmly to public ment Commander A. 8. tempore anfl returned to him the charter x The passage of the disability bill under date of June 27, 1890, was so ntunificent in.its scope, provided pensions to all give this patriotic regulations, is declared null and void, and this charter will con! and ordered him to inclusive, and rujes and regulations of the G. A. R., at teases tees these- instructions. sumed command of the isiana and Mississij | | F l i t suet ill Tune 8, 1892, aj assistant adjutant g & i f Hi 5 d i all i i t Ha i ¥ fl il rt 5 £ E & 4 if i | ft | ff ete fil |