The National tribune., 1886-12-02
THE w. R. G.
Miss Clara BartOn'S Address at the In
StitutiOn of Potomac Corps, NO.2.


Mrs PRESIDENT, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES:
by courtesy Of my sister comrades it becomes
my pleasant privilege TO respond in few words
TO the kindly greetings extended TO us in this
effort at organization. ! wish for myself that
it were also in my power to ittingly respond to
the eloquent tributes so richly paid. But most
Of all it has been asked Of me that name some-
what the purposes TO be served and in fact the
"raison d'etre," the right, aud the need TO be,
of this new Corps which we meet TO organize.
To the thoughtful mind these explanations
are easily made; and yet fear, from the earnest
tone and nature OF the request that these sister
comrades must have been made sensitive by
remarks and doubtless well-meanng inquiries.
Only few hours ago listened TO this ques-
tion, asked in the best of feeling: What is
the use Of a Woman's Relief Corps 10 the Grand
Army of the Republic? Who or what is to be
relieyedp There is no war; that has been over
20 years. j cannot understand why it is so
kept alive; why il doesn't die out like other
things OF 20 years ago."
Because the "Other things Of 20 years CO."
my good friends, were not like that; because
great truths are self-existent; because right
never dies; because justice is eternal; because
Governments are the sources of civilization,
their protection the guaranty of human prog
ress; because all Governments are based upon
! loyaly and loyalty means the unforgetting the
unswerying the undying fidelity of people to
the principles they have chosen to abide by and
| pledge themselves to sustain, with their prop
erty, their blood, and their lives if need be. 1t
! is because we did this, because our men rose up
as one man and faced danger, toll, privations
and death on the fields of war, and our women
massed and banded themselves in their homes
with loyalty no weaker and sacrifice no less,
and all thus stood, doing, daring and dying
| through four Of the most remarkable years on
record; that through this travail the efforts
Of generation were consummated, justice and
! humanity asserted themselves, and race was
| born TO freedom; il was because of all these
! that the inevitable consequences have followed
/ which to-day plant their impress upon our entire
social fabric, warp and woOf entering into all
the details of life-military, civil aud politi-
| cal, and which, necdful or not must and Will
indubitably continue whilst the loyal memo
I ries of those days, those sacrifices, costs and
gains remain alive in the hearts of coming
| generations. When these memories " die out"
/ something far better must have taken their
! place, or something far worse must follow. We
| cherish principles, we count cost we study
consequences, and we remember one war in
/ order TO avert another.
If when struggle like that came to an end
/ it left no immediate consequences TO bear upon
| its participants, there would seem TO be less i'm
/
| continues TO be taken by our people. If with
a cessation of hostilities results ceased; if a
declaration of peace healed the fostering
wounds; If under the wave Of its magic wand
/ the lost limbs sprang anew, the stiifened joints
| limbered, the weak ened loins girded themselves
in strength, the lost years and opportunities
/ were restored, the crutches might be burned
! the dead boy might come back TO the support Of
the old father and mother, the young husband,
full of life and strength, might return to chase
away deaths shadow Gt the firesde, where the
pale faces Of widow and orphans hover; if this
benign declaration supplied the necessities of
those remaining; If il fed clothed, directed and
| educated, there would in this sense be less call
! for protective provisions by either men or
women. But none Of these! and in the face of
this sad reality the veterans of our late war,
with intelligent humanity, proceeded 10 form
/ themselves into an organization such as here
tofore had no record on the pages Of history.
/ Their needy comrades became their own care,
and with loyalty TO brotherhood and COM
radeship equal 10 that sworn TO their country
when they marched TO its defense, they have
added the broad banner of humanity to the old
rescued Stars and Stripes, and arc still march
| ing on 10 the music of the Union, aud still, as
of old, are banding and maSsing the loyal
| women 10 take again their share Of the burden.
They have adopted the same principles, as
| sumed like duties, raised the same banners,
nanity and loyalty, and are marching on TO the
same ends.
Sister comrades, this is your fright to be- "
This is your ground for organization. This is
also your school for advancement; in il you
will take your lessons in the science OF our Re-
publican Government, and come TO realize as
you may never before have done, how entirely
its welfare and life, and that of all institutions
fostered under it, depend upon the intelligence
faithfulness, integrity aud loyalty of all lis
people. And il is neither in vain nor too soon
that you learn your lessons for, whether one
will or no, the time is coming i'm the march o
human progress when you will be called e
take part in the direction Of the Government
under which you live. Desired or not, well oil
i'll, veteran comrades, it is coming. Well or i'll
sister comrades, il must be so. The day j:
marching on when it shall be part of your
duty as citizens 10 help Judge of the welfare o
the Nation, Of the causes and necessities foi
war, and TO say of yourselves wherefor you
bear and rear sons.
1t will not be directly, not in the time Of al
of US, but verify there be some standing here
which shall not taste death till it come. II car
no more be stayed than tidal wave, and my
charge TO you, my sister comrades is that yOU
learn your lessons faithfully, with high anG
holy purpose. Gird on the armor of truth
faith, temperance, purity, watchfulness hu
manity, and day by day pledge yourselves anew
to an integrity and loyalty to your country
that no power on earth can shake Hold firm
your organization, and waiting work, anC
working, wait the providences of tho Eternal
These, my sister comrades Of the Relief Corp
of the Grand Army of the Potomac, constitute
| not lv vour rjobt huf xnur caura 10 Ia