The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-06
The Nail Driven In.

TO the statement telegraphed from Omaha,
to the effect: First, that Custer Post, No. Z,
had adopted resolutions approving Postmas-
ter-General Gresham's action in removing
Comrade Van Dervoort, and, second, that
Comrade Van Deryoort was a member of
the Post which passed the resolutions.
Knowing the last statement TO be absolutely
false, we Immediately branded it as such,
and we intimated that the exact language
of the resolutions and the circumstances
under which they were passed, when fully
known, would doubtless destroy the effect
of the first statement. Since then we have
been put in possession Of all the facts in
the case, and we submit them to our COM
rades Of the G. A. r. as an illustration of
how far personal envy and malice viii in
fuence even members of the 6. A. R., First,
to do grieyous wrong to comrade, and,
second, to make it appear afterwards that
their own act was an expression of the SEN
timent of the Order generally. Here are
the resolutions word for word, as adopted:
Whereas the press in the past has charged that
the Grand Army of the Republic is political in
stitution organized to put designing and merce-
nary politicians into positions of trust and
Whereas it is well known by every member of
the Order that the charges totally unjust, the
Order being founded wholly upon the principles of
Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty /" and
Whereas IT Is and has been the aim OF this Order
to live down the misrepresentation of the public,
by eschewing everything of political nature;
therefore, be it
Resolved, By the members Of George A. Custer
Post no. Z, Department Of Nebraska, G. A. r.. in
council assembled that the action taken at the
Hastings Reunion, IN reference TO the reinstate-
Inent OF Paul Van Dervoort, was purely OF polit-
zeal nature, and Is severely censured by the mem
bers Of this Post.
Resolred, That we call upon every true and loyal
member OF the Order, whose sentiments are in
cord with these resolutions, TO proclaim them to
the world, and place the Order on its sure founda-
ton, where it cannot be undermined by schening,
designing. and selfish politicians, whose only aim
Is seifaggrandzement
BY order Of George A. Custer Post. no. z OF Ne
braska, g. 4. r. ]. ~. HoNzA
Post Adjutant
That there may be no dispute as to the
correctness of the above copy, we print the
following Endorsement:
HEApo'Rs 6. A. CUSTER Posr. no. :, G. a. R.,
DEPARTMENT OF NEBRASKA,
OMAHA, November %, 1888.
certify that The foregoing printed copy of pre-
amble and resolutions is correct copy of the
same passed al O regular meeting of g. A. Custer
Post, No. Z, G. A. r., Department OF Nebraska. at
a regular meeting Of said Post, held on Monday
evening, November 20, 1888, in this city.
GEO. M oBRlEg,
Post Commander.
Now, as to the circumstances under which
the above resolutions were made public
through the Omaha papers and transmitted
by telegraph TO other points Our informa-
ton is derived from an official source: On the
10th of November Custer Post held meet
ing, at which, owing to the inclemency
of the weather, but twelve members
were present, including the Commander
of the Post himself = General George
n 0'Brfen, the distinguished colo
mel of the 18th Iowa cavalry. Under the
head Of unfinished business, Quartermaster
Rathbun moved that the Post Adjutant be
instructed to give the resolutions TO the
press Of Omaha for publication without
submitting the same to the Department
Commander for approval under the ruIes),
| and a very warm and heated discussion
thereupon ensued, III which Commander
O'Brien and Comrade stober, supported by
Post Surgeon Petit, took an active part
against the publication of the resolutions
Commander O'Brien explained the law OF
the Grand Army bearing on the question
and finally refused to put the motion, for
the reason that its adoption would oc.
casion breach of secrecy and viola
tion of the obligations and rules of the
Order An appeal, however, was taken from
his ruling, and Comrade Stober at once Jeff
the Post room, while General O'Brien imme.
diateIy rendered his resignation as Com
mander of the Post, to take effect at its next
regular meeting. The motion was then
put, and Comrades Hama, Rathbun, Bloom
Hoye, Erd,nan and Garrity--only six in al
voted in the affirmative, while Petit and
one other comrade voted in the negative
and two others RETAINED from voting at all
1t will thus be seen that, out of The twelve
members of the Post present, including The
Commander, but six voted in favor o
the publication of the resolutions
Now, as to the purport of the resolution
themselves The first resolution, it viii b,
seen, simply condemns the action of the ex
soldiers at the Hastings Reunion in de
nouncing the removal of Paul Van Dervoor
, and demanding his reinstatement, and W,
submit that inasmuch as that Reunion wa
not an official meeting of the G. A. R., bu
, simply gathering of our ex-soIdiers gen
orally, without regard to whether they wer
members of the Order or not, they were no
amenable 10 any way to the authority o
the G. A. r., and that Custer Post, therefore
| exceeded ifs authority when IL undertook II