The National tribune., 1884-07-10

ohcn-anu nome at HI Dy any NEWSPAPERS VA
consequence-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE en-
tered upon what it conceived to be a noble
mission, namely, to arouse veterans to
sense of the Importance Of securing in connect
ion with the charitable work of every Post
often too heavy to be borne alone-the CO.
! operation Of loyal women. 1t clearly set forth
the desirability OF the establishment of such
organizations. and to such good purpose that
/ applications fer instructions as TO mode of
| forming corps. conduct, etc. began to pour IN
! from every quarter. In complying with these
requests, We recommended form of organiza-
ton that was at once effective and easily un-
/ deistood, and which provided for the admission
Of all loyal women 1t was not our wish to
aatasonize any Of the existing societies whose
membership was confined solely to the imme-
date relations of soldiers. On the contrary, we
were influenced solely by the belief, strength
! ened by the openly avowed opinion OF the then
/ Commander-in- Chief Of the Grand Army, that
our ex-seldiers were in as urgent need of the
/ aid Of all loyal women without respect to ties
Of blood, as they were 20 years ago, aud that to
exclude any Of them from a share in that good
work would be to deprive our veterans to that
extezt of assistance still available. In this
! position we were heartily supported, and the
proposition first made in these columns to
establish National Order and organize De
! partnents co-eztensive with those of the Grand
Army was received with great enthusiasm. In
accordance with that proposition conference
OF delegates from the various organizations was
held at Denver, during the meeting of the Ma
tional Encampment last Summer, and Ma
tional Order was established. The prevailing
sentiment was in favor of admitting all loyal
women OF irreproachable character to the
Order. and, in the preamble to the Constitution
then and there adopted, that sentiment was
formally embodied. There were those among
the delegates, however, who thought it wise to
leave the question of eligibility practically
open during the first year of the Order in the
hope that some of the exclusive societies might,
upon further reflection, abandon their opposi-
ton to the loyal woman" condition of mem
bership, and TO this view of the matter the
ether delegates annually deferred. In the light
of events which have since happened, we are
disposed to think that this was great mis-
take, since it has given an opportunity to the
opposition TO strengthen their forces and the
concession itself has amounted practically to q
-, t1s E.,.;,.,, - H. ,-,,-.;.r.so 1,5 .,5aa4
its practical eject has been to postpone the
battle to a moment less opportune than that Of
the establishment of the Order. However, the
matter must now be definitely settled, and, by
common consent, at the National Convention at
Minneapolis. We believe that it should be
settled BY the ratification of the clause admit
ting all loyal women. and that if it is not SO
decided great wrong viii have been done the
Grand Army, to which it is intended to be
auxiliary.
We viii state our reasons: The object Of the
Womans Relief Corps being. as stated in its
constitution, to specially aid and assist the
members Of the G. a. r., and perpetuate the
memory of their heroic dead; to inculcate
lessons of patriotism and love of country, not
! only among our membership but our children
also" it is due to the Grand Army that it
should have the aid and assistance of al women
f Tho are willing to render that aid and assist
ance, and whose loyalty FITS them, equally with
the actual relatives OF soldiers, to inculcate
lessons of patriotism, etc To deprive the G.
A. r. of their help would be an act of supreme
: selfshness and unworthy those who profess to
: have its welfare at heart In face of the fact
that there are, and wiz long continue to be
larger demands on the G. A. T., than its charity
a funds can meet, we do not see how any dele
gate car have the heart to advocate such a
c Limitation Of resources Of the Order.
In the second place there is no sound reason
Tor making any discrimination between sol
diers relatives and other loyal women. There
was none made 20 years ago; why should there
be now? Nor is there any such similarity be-
tween the character of the two Orders as would
warrant it. Our veterans fought side by side
in the great struggle for the Union, and tn,
c tie Of comraaeship that binds them together ii
, a genuine one and not Of artificial creation
e 70 such tie exists between their relatives
/ Thousands Of soldiers wives have been mar
> ried since the war, and while they may nov
Is share their husbands loyalty, they have expe
: rienced none Of the hardships Of war or tn.
c sacrifices which many women, inspired simply
by patriotism aud not prompted by feelings 0
personal affection, made for the Union TIL
truth Is that the only real basis that does exis
for such an organization is that of common
!" loyalty, and that should be the only test o
eligibility. To be consistent, the advocate
:. of an exclusive membership should admit N
- woman unless she was the wife, mother, daugh
, ter or sister of soldier at the time of th
war.
No! We must have the help of all loya
women, young or old, rich or poor, TO niniste
to our aging and enfeebled comrades, else Der
chance the aid rendered by the Order may nc
prove sufficient for the occasion.
he But, more than on any other account we ar
-, fa.,,r NJ the ad, isv;,,, ,F al IL -