The National tribune., 1883-11-01
The Voice of Our Ex-soldiers.

falsity has been shown by credible witnesses
That is the issue before the Grand Army
to-day, and in regard TO which it is incum-
bent upon it to take official action, for, if
Postmaster-General Gresham has so slam
dered Comrade Van Dervoort, he has vio-
lated his oath, and is no longer worthy of
membership in the Order, and if MIR. Van
Dervccrt has been guilty of perjury (all his
statements, be it remembered, were made
under GATH in his testimony refuting Com
rade Gresham's charges, he, on the other
hand, is fit subject for discipline
There is the issue-clear, sharply y-defned
and unmistakeable. 1t will not down!
And what do our ex-soldiers think about
it? By way Of answer, we print the follow
ing letters, selected from among the inn
mense number that we have received from
our veterans since the first presentation Of
the Van Dervoort case in our columns:
The Adiutant of McCasIin Post, Paola,
Kan, writes as follows:
] have just read Paul Van Dervoort's card and
the editorial regarding his removal from his Office
| in Omaha. II is lamentable and mortifyiug
spectacle to see so completely dishonor hinl-
sell and his exalted position as Poslnaster-GeEeTsa
Gresham has done in this disgraceful affair. Com.
rade Van Dervoort viii have the thanks and IN
dorsement OF every honorable soldier and man in
this Nation for his manly refusal of everything but
vindication of himself ia the matter and every
VIII insist that nothing short OF this shall be
received al the hands of General Gresham. TIE
TRIEUNE has the hearty support of the $50 mem
bers Of MeCaslin Post for It's able editorial IN de-
feElse Of late honored Commander-n-chief.
Let him have justice, il the whole Post-oiice De-
partment is raked from stem to gudgeon.
James G. Hamlin. formerly of company
c, Eleventh New York cavalry, one of our
subscribers at Blue Earth City, Mimi,
writes:
DEAR CoxRADE: have just finished reading
your calm. diguifed article on Paul Van DerToorts
dismissal, and 1 earnestly congratulate you upon
your position-not particularly member OF the
@. A e. but as man whose loyalty TO his COM
rades like his loyalty to his country in the hour of
danger stands the test of adversely and shines ot
more brightly after the touch Of the caiumniater
has brushed aside the aecumulatng dusts and cob
webs Of twenty years Of peace, only to show the
! pure gold OF which noble army was composed.
Poor as am, I would rather be a Paul Van Der
wort with his record and his friends than General
Gresham with his Cabinet position and conscience.
He, in the for popular favor and the applause
of the skim-Inilk reforneEs of the present, {who
imagined they saw timber in his anatomical con-
strue4ion of which ideal Presidents are made.) has
made blunder which is becoming more and more
+ apparent every time he speaks and say now let
4 petition be sent to every G. A z. Post in our
land Let the preamble Sc, forth the facts and the
resolutions Etand by Paul Van Deryoort, who
values his reputation above Greshann's golden
promises. and let them condemn the Postmaster
1cnesal-Eot Republican or Democrat, but as
! = man who is too VFeai-knced TO right a wrong
after he Acknowledges thai wrong has been done.
/ am as anxious and as willing as any man who
ever went TO the front 10 see a comrade punished
whenever wherever he deserves H. but ! am
enphstically opposed TO sitting idly by and seeing
sn hoDosed coInrade publicly diShonored because,
/ fcTsoSth, jealous man who has power says he is
| 100 big msn for his place. j want the Grand
Army to notify General Gresham that Paul Van
! Der=oort Is 200 big man for him 20 crush y
I.ess cal the roll and see where We srei What dc
you say.
Another subscriber-Lafayette Soper, Co
A. Eleventh Vermont volunteers, writes
from ST. Johnsbury. VT:
IpeEsoraIly thank you as an old soldier for what
you have and are doing for the old veterans The
tine it seems to me, is not Ter distant when the
old soldiers of both sections-Horth and South
can and win see the necessity OF putting out oi
power lot Of politicians vino only for the
/ loaves and fishes and soft places under the Gov
eminent. and think tlse first rnsn to step down
and out shOald be Postmaster-Genera Gresham
tratoF TO his obligations. He condemned our Pas,
Commander-in-Chief Van DervocFt unileard, and
then when al ihe charges were proved false, still
refused do him justice and reiastate him. Send
him home. President Arthurl
And here is a copy of a Letter addressed
to Commander-in-Ch Chief Beath by Comrads
Albert s. Cole, of Nebraska City. Neb., thar
whom no more gallant officer accompanied
Sherman on his March to the Sea-:
NEsEAg-A Cry. NEB.. oct. %. 1893.
STE: Ven Derroort vs. Gresham-lyho ha
lied2 Our organization viii haze to stand O
fall upon this issue. and the sooner the court
martial Is ordered the better for our Order 81
personal feeling nnst give way to the cold iiakec
inquiry: Who is telling the tFsth of these tw.
conradese We cannot dodge the issue If We desire
l4tSf1Dig
IL interested whether member Of our organization
ornOt. The sooner it Is determined the better Th
question L. whether or not the soldier can be use
for bufconsbe by designing politicians and then pu
aside when. by his demonstration OF his fitness 70
I,reerment. he becomes dangerous to class Of mel
VINO follow politics for living. with no NOR
principle than ssoddy contractors had during ta
war We have claimed for cur Order something
more than pure sentiment, and we viii never hav
q better opportunity than now for demonstrating
IL. may be mistaken, but believe this matte
means moro than mere removal OF Paul Van DeT
voogt means stab in the dark 10 our entire OF
ganizaiion,-and believe that Gresham has bee
led to do what he would never have done could h
have known what was intended 10 be ACCOM-
plislse1. Can the court-snartiali Yours, &c,
ALERT 6. COLE
To General RoBERT b. BEATH Comnander-in
Clsief. q. a T.. Philadelphia, Pa
COmrade G. H. Barton, Topeka, Kan
writes:
] hare jus: read with deep Interest the article
published IN TEE TRIBUNE Of October IS, fully e1
planning The outrageous treatment Of Pa
. National Commander COmrsde Paul Van Dervoor
by thai unworthy comrade Of The Grand Arm,
{ General Gresham. hope his own Post-No /
: OF Indianapolis In5-will, for its own sake, SC
the necessity OF calling HIM TO account az false
- his vows in having done such high-handed injl
tice TO fellow comrade false 10 his obligation
. etc. What possesses the man TO act thus toward
sofa ;e