The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25

1
| Republic for which we have periled our lives,
and for which so many have shed their blood.
l congratulate you also for happily having I'M
dertaken the good work of eliciting these ex-
| pressions of opinion, so important to the honor
and future welfare Of our order.
w. s. RosEcRANs
Chairman of Special Committee.
The Church of the United Brethren, in con-
ference, decided that there is no objection to
their members uniting with our organization,
and we are advised that the United Presby-
terians have left the matter to the conscience
of their individual members.
THE woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
1t has been my privilege during the year to
make frequent visits to national headquarters
| Woman's Relief Corps, and to visit number
of departments of this patriotic auxiliary to
the Grand Army, and to learn something of
the work accomplished by these loyal women
| in perfecting the organization which has
| steadily grown throughout the year, and which
now has twenty two permanent and three
| provisional departments, with subordinate
corps in nearly all the States where the Grand
! Army exists. Knowing the great work ac-
| eomphshed by the ladies in my own city, and
| their efficient help in the charitable work of
| my post, 1 have always been a firm believer in
woman's work for the Grand Army.
After the election of Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood
as national president, invited her to establish
| national headquarters with ours at Toledo, and
the invitation having been accepted it gave us
an excellent opportunity to observe the entire
| work of this administration, and we bear
cheerful testimony to the untiring zeal and
earnest work of the officers for the advance
| ment of their organization and its humane
| purposes.
Wherever the Woman's Relief Corps has
met the encouragement from our comrades that
| it SO richly deserves, it has made excellent
| progress and been an invaluable help
| in our fraternal and charitable
work. l was especially pleased to
| observe the splendid condition of the organiza-
| ton on the Pacific slope, the work achieved in
a single year in all that vast territory, and the
hearty appreciation of itswork by the comrades
| in the great West.
| The Womans Relief Corps is faithfully full
| filling its mission and while we welcome all
who would aid us in our great work, under
whatsoever name, | cordially commend this
representative organization of loyal ladies to
! the continued confidence and respect of the
| Grand Army of the Republic.
| MEMORIAL DAY.
| Memorial Day becomes more hallowed as it
| is more observed 1t is a day sacred to the
memory of the virtues and noble sacrifices of
the dead. 1t is day for the living to plant
| and water anew purer purpose and more
| tender devotion to family, friend and country.
| | wish it might soon be a day when all over
our land it shall be observed by all people for
like purpose and with like devotion. The
tenderness and resolves born of such day
will strengthen us for all the days to come,
and inspire patriotic purpose in the minds of
our children which will stand as bulwark for
liberty and free institutions Sor all time.
While the observance of Memorial Day was
wide spread and increased interest seemed to
pervade all classes of citizens, am sorry to
note the disposition of some to mar the day
which is 80 dear to every loyal heart by max
ing it the occasion for frivolity and amusement
1t should not be allowed to degene-
rate into day for camp-hres, sports, picnics
and races, and take the character of the Fourth
of July or other national holidays. tits matter
for regret that instances of such Dissertation Of
the day have occurred, and it is earnestly
hoped that in future the comrades of the Grand
Army, at least, will refrain from this violation
of the day set apart to revere the memories of
our fallen comrades. Let us not throw off the
tinge of sacred sadness that clusters about
Memorial day, but let it live as the day Of
sweet remembrances Of our comrades whose
lives went out that this free government might
be preserved to coming generations.
GENERAL GRANT.
We give our hearticst greetings and most
fraternal sympathy to the noble chiettain
whose heart grandly responded when duty
| called and melted in compassion when mercy
pleaded; who at Appomattox led our armies
to final victory and whose great military genius
is everywhere recognized. And we rejoice that
TO his family, TO us and to the world, is still
spared our beloved and illustrious comrade,
| Ulysses S. Grant.
POLITICS.
Last September when the country was agi-
tated by one of the most exciting political con-
tests ever known, and after two posts had
violated the law of the Grand Army by parti-
cipating in political demonstrations the follow
ing admonition was issued i'll general orders
''While it must be conceded by all that no
class of citizens have higher right to freely
express their political opinions and take part
in the campaign as their convictions shall die
tate, than those who through unselfsh patri-
otism went forth to save the nation, yet the
commander in-chief deems it his duty to re-
mind comrades that the Grand Army of the
Republic is strictly non- partisan"
The order further declared that "the wearing
of Grand Army badge or uniform at polit-
ical meeting is in the highest degree improper,
and comrades should refrain from so offending
against the spirit of our rules and regulations .
Comrades who love the Grand Army will
not permit the use of the organization as such,
even in the most remote degree for partizan
purposes. Let us not forget that it has taken
many years to recover from the almost death
blow the order received in consequence of
posts participating in politics.
After the PRONUNCIATION of General Order
No. 4, September Is, no complaint Of posts
taking part in political demonstrations or 9TH
er violations of the rules and regulations upon
the subject, was reported to national head
quarters.
PENSION LEGISLATION.
The failure of Congress to pass the Mexican
pension bill with amendments is to be re-
GREETED. So far as the provisions of the bill
related TO the soldiers of the Union army, it
met with almost universal approval and the
pensions committee of the Grand Army be-
lieving its passage would bring much needed
relief to many broken down and suffering
comrades, agreed to drop all other pending
pension proposition for the time being, and
concentrate all the influence of the Grand
| Army in favor of this measure, which en-
braced many of the committees recommended
tons.
In response to General Order No. IL and the
circular of the pension committee nearly hall
a million signatures were obtained praying
Congress to promptly pass the BILL The
National Tribune in this connection rendered
conspicuous service by placing petitions in aid
of the bill, and securing more than one hun
dred thousand signatures. 1t is to be hoped
that no efforts will be relaxed to secure the
legislation so ably matured and urged by our
pension committee.
That justice may be alike done, l am in
favor of so amending the pension laws that
every disabled soldier entitled thereto. shall re
ceive pension from the date of his disability
STAFF AND PERSONAL.
} While my sincere Acknowledgements are due
to all officers for their harmonious co-opera-
ton in the work of the year, l especially rec
ognize the conscientious services of Comrade
} Alcorn, adjutant general, whose work, although
. unusually laborious, owing somewhat to the
fact that the clerk for his Office was dispensed
with, has been well performed. Attention il
t called to the recommendations made by thi,
! officer, and in which heartily concur.
Comrade John TAYLOR, quartermaster gener-
al, has discharged the responsible duties of hi
office with characteristic fidelity and efficiency
To Judge Advocate General, Comrade Aus.
; tin, am indebted for valuable assistance. HI
| has devoted much time to the work. and has
! whenever called upon, cheerfully responded