The National tribune., 1881-10-22
Good Cause for Complaint

which, had it been sooner received, would have
appeared last week
We think, with our correspondent, that an
occasion like that to which he refers the Grand
Army, as a representative body, is entitled to
more consideration than was given it on the day
of the late President Garfeld's funeral Obsequies
in this city 1t is at the least, entitled to decent
treatment, which it did not then receive. Were
that the only instance in which it has been vir-
tually ignored, we should feel inclined to pass
the matter by as oversight Oh the part OF those
having charge of the arrangements; but it is not.
For several years past there has been manifested,
not only here but elsewhere a disposition on the
part OF many to ignore, in other ways the men
who fought the battles OF the Republic, and won
the victory During the war, while these men
stood between the enemy and the Nations Capt.
tai those in their rear who were friendly to the
Union were loud in their professions Oh esteem
and OF what they would do for the Union soldiery
when peace should come! They made fair prom
Uses, and, to Judge them by their protestations of
regard, one would suppose that their gratitude
would live i'll history long after those to whom it
was rendered had passed away They pledged
themselves to care for, the widows and orphans
OF those who should perish and to assist in their
efforts to obtain a livelihood for those who should
survive. And such patriotism and promises were
entirely voluntary on their part
The soldiers fought best they could, and
IL. i, IL
end came. They did their duty none the better
because OF the promises held out nor would they
have done less than their whole duty had no
such pledges for the future been made.
When the great work had been accomplished
they found, upon returning to their homes that
during their absence in the field others had
entered into the places vacated by them when
they enlisted, and soon learned that ii they
would have employment they must seek for it
elsewhere. They further ascertained that those
who SO cheerfully promised and gave money to
aid in sending them to the front to be shot at,
were not so ready to give them work to do when
they returned shorn Of leg other
wise disabled. The war was over the danger
past and the people had set themselves about
forgetting those who had preserved the Union
as speedily Us possible.
Crippled soldiers went begging upon the streets
of our great cities and through the public Depart
ments OF the Nations Capital not for money, but
for employment, that they might earn their own
bread. Their experience satisfied them within
two years time from the surrender at Appomat
tox, that if Republics not ungrateful they
are, at the least exceedingly forgeful 1t is true
bounty and pension laws were passed for their ,
benefit, but they were who preferred labor
and independence rather than dleness and q de-
pendence upon the aims, as it was considered by
many, dold out to them from time to time by
the Government in whose behalf they had suf-
tered; and this experience, showing it did the
need for some organized action for the lettering
of their conditions, called into existence the
Grand Army of the Republican organization
made up of none but honorably discharged Union
soldiers, irrespective OF partzan affiliations or
religious beliefs
Since 1866 it has borne upon its muster rolls |
the names of some Of the most illustrous men of |
whom our Nation can boast, and the good it has |
accomplished is beyond computations
Comrades have been assisted and the widows |
and orphans made by the war have been cared |
for far as opportunity and means would per !
nit and we believe that it was chiefly through |
the instruuentality OF the Grand Army col |
lectiyely and individually, that the passage Of |
section 1854 of the Revised Statutes, which gives
honorably discharged disabled Union ex-soldiers |
the preference III the making of civil appoint |
ments under the Government, was secured
1t is true that this law has been ignored and |
most especially during the last four or five years
but that has been through the neglect or willful
omission OF those whose duty il has been to adj
minister it; and in proportion az the law has
been disregarded has the Grand Army been
neglected III the manner pointed out in our cor
respondents communication It's members
though entitled on national occasions to far
greater consideration on account Of their semi
military character and past services do not receive
when they turn out in body as much as do the
Masons and other purely civic societies. This is
all wrong. During the war they held the post