The National tribune., 1883-12-20
CHARITY.
The second Of the Cardinal Principles Of the
Grand Army.


that -the introduction of this principle would
make the Order of great and lasting benefit to
all who came within reach of its influence.
The need of Charity in the Grand Army was
apparent as early as July 1, fS66-but year
after the close of the war and the year when
the Grand Army was organized 1t was even
then clear that the glowing promises made By
the Government to encourage eniistments
would fall very far short of fulfllment, and
the duty of caring for the crippled and diseased
Union soldiers and the helpless widows and
orphans would fall upon the shoulders of the
men who suppressed the rebellion and to
whom these guarantees had been given.
Many held the opinion that the augmenta-
ton of the pension roll would render unneces-
sary the abundant distribution of Charity on
the part of the Grand Army, but it was long
ago demonstrated that the niggardly allow
anees or rating for disability, disease, or
wounds decreed by the Government are to-
tally insufficient, and compel the Grand Army
to make up the deficiency. These allowances
are not in any ease large enough to make them
more than contribution towards the pension
er's support, and hence the wisdom of the
founders of our Order in thus including Char
ity among the cardinal principles of the Order.
1t is sometimes asserted that the vast sum paid
to pensioners is a burden ON the Nation. If
the amount paid in charities by the Grand
Army could be known it would reveal to these
carping critics the difference between a mig
gardiy contribution and absolute justice. The
Grand Army last year relieved over 5000
comrades or their families through the open
agency of relief funds or authorized Post con
tributions. The amount contributed by indi-
vidaal members in response 20 urgent and inn
mediate calls does not appear on the record, but
it IS well known that such would aggregate a
total much larger than that officially published.
Doubtless thousands have suffered in silence
and waited perhaps in vain for the warm hand
of Charity to relieve their wants
The letters received by THE TRIBUNE
abound in stories of grinding poverty. And
how could it well be otherwise? They lost
four years of opportunities of amassing wealth
at period when the foundation of nearly all
the great fortunes of these days were laid
They were denied the payment of money
through the failure of Congress to equalize
the bounties due them from the Government,
which, i'll thousands of eases, would have
Afforded means enough, by proper investment
TO have rendered them comfortable for life. In
other cases, pension claims have been delayed
for many years. and the applicants, while
awaiting their adjudication, have been com
PEELED to struggle with actual poverty and
want. Since the organization of the Grand
Army the Posts have distributed thousands o.
dollars in Charity. Yet the National Home;
are full to overlooking and even the poor
houses are crowded, except where this Charity
! of the Grand Army has assumed to support tht
/ helpless. The orphans homes are also packed
/ and what becomes Of the widows in this CHASTITY
struggle the Nation does not know aud doe
/ not seem to care. 1t is exceedingly difficult t.
/ give the full measure Of relief to distressed
/ comrades. The true veteran will do witbou
bread, and even starve, rather than beg. Tht
most constant vigilance is therefore required
in order TO ferret out cases of absolute destitu
/ ton. The members OF the Grand Army ar,
( engaged in a constant struggle to provide 70
their own wants, and they often pass by tn
| very door of a starving eomrade without beinI
aware Of his needs. The city and county
and hence the need Of more active efforts il
! spreading and widening the work of Charity
as years go on the seeds of disease, implante.
| by exposure In the field, hard marches, sleep
less nights, confinement in Southern pris
j ons, &C., break out and develop and the oil
! wounds reopen, so that Charity is sure to be
continuing and ever-ineseasing work of tn
Grand Army, devolving upon its member
greater and greater burdens. 1t is thus of th
greatest Importance that the membershipshouI
include every soldier, in order that the burde
may be the more equally distributed. TIL
enlistment of the loyal women of the land in al
| of the Grand Army was an absolute necessity
and was too long delayed by the fears of men
bers Of the Order that the organization of
National Society of women would hinder tn
success Of the Order The reverse has prove
to be the case. The work of Charity is an
will be better performed by women. The
i viii be of the greatest possible assistance /
seeking out the deserving poor, and will b
better able to ascertain the actual needs
destitute comrades. The actual collection an
disbursement Of the charities of the world al
largely in the hands of noble women, VIII
somehow either have larger hearts or are MOI
responsive to the appeals Of the suffering tina
the sterner sex. We are confident that I'll
work of Charity in the Grand Army viii |
enlarged fifty fold by the active aid, earne
work, and loving devotion of the loyal wome
who compose the auxiliary Society III
Posts of the Grand Army should speedily for
these societies, and the ladies themselve
caring nothing for place o position, should 6
toll and labor that the whole Grand Army wi
recognize their aid as quite as precious an
beneficial now as in the darkest days of Il
! rebellion. The work of Charity cannot
, fully performed, indeed. without the helpf
aid of women, and they will yet make it ii
bright jewel in their crown of glory. Chart
moreover, binds Fraternity and Loyalty inse
5 arably together and assures the fulfllment |
the Grand Army of its pledges. It's membe
! are to-day paying a larger share towards Il
support Of the destitute Union soldiers al
those dependent on them. in proportion
their means, than is the Nation they save
!, Yet, who of the two hundred thousand .meI
l bers of the Grand Army has complained
their burdens or the demands made up,
them? The duties of the Grand Army a
imperative. They are written in burnil
Z letters upon The hearts of its members: To S
/ that no soldier or soldiers widow or orph;
comes to want This is the illustration OF t
| N Il eera N eat oftrihnta Of man