The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-19

The timely warning of the Commaudcr-in- Chief in
this regard should, we think, he needed. There
fore we deem Il proper TO suggest that we extend
TO the Veterans Rights Union our hearty sympathy
in its efforts to Comrades in every proper
manner and that all comrades will To the extent of
their ability second such Efforts but il should be
distinctly understood that the GA r. as an organ
izaon is and will stand responsible for the
acts OF that any other organization. Aud de-
tnand The rigid enforcement Of section l75i Revised
| Statutes, and Rn amendment thereto so To- give
preference 10 all honorsby dschargcd soldiers aud
sailors who are now Phy sically disabled, whether
discharged for disability not, provided that such
| soldiers OF sailors be found comDetent
| Your committee heartily commend the sugges-
| ton of the Commanders address respecting the
| suspension and dropping of comrades from the
| rolls of membership for non payment of dues, and
I recommend an amendment OF the Rules and Regu-
laiions providing that comrade shall be dropped
| from the roll Of membership except by majority
vote OF his Post at regular meeting held at least
| four weeks after notice given at previous rcgu-
! lar meeting that such vote would be taken.
! We also approve the recommendation that the
| surplus funds Of the National Encampment be in
vested and kept invested in the bonds OF the United
! States.
| The warm words of commen dation OF the Wom-
ans Relief Corps contained in the address Of the
! COMMANDMENT hcf will meet with hearty re-
| Spouse from every member of the Grand Army of
the Republic. There IS no brighter page III the his
| tory of the rebellion than that which records the
heroic sacrifices Of American women. At the fire.
side, where tears are shed and breaking hearts
! commune with God, there may be found yalor
| and heroism that never shone on battlefield nor
answered To the trumpet OF fame, and the story OF a
| grandcr maTIyrdom than any page of history re-
cords sleeps ia many and many an humble grave
where wOman's pulseless heart goes back to dust.
II Is fitting, therefore that the patriotic women OF
| America should share with the work which re-
calls past in which they bore conspicuous and
| so honorable part We have so frequently and so
unreservedy given our ndoTse ment to the Woman s
Relief Corps that, as our Commander suggests. a
/ breach Of promise would lie If should now at
tempt TO ignore the bargain refuse dutifu per-
Torrance of condition But such wish Is farthest
! from cur thoughts. Rather let the union be fully
contaminated and may walk together in faith,
/ love and charity until death do us part.
The organization known as the Sons Of Veterans
has always received the GOd-speeds Of our National
| Encampments. Ii is a natural outgrowth of the
lessons OF loyalty taught by our Order, and Is we
believe destined TO exert powerful influence in
behalf of loyalty and good citizenship long after
| the Grand Army of the Republic shall have passed
away. We therefore cordially indorse the sentl-
ments expressed in the Commanders address
touching this active, growing and useful organza-
! ton.
Comrade Boes, of Arkansas, moved the
adoption of the report.
VETERANS RIGHTS UNION.
lively discussion followed on the subject
of the Veterans Rights Union. ComTade Allen,
of Virginia, said:
A year ago the National Eneampment at Port
| land gave an emphatic Endorsement to Organiza-
| ton composed of n number of our comrades who
had undertaken to do work in which the Grand
Army Of the Republic as an organization had been
up 10 that time thoroughly ineffective. IL this
port II adopted as IT stands now, put the stamp
OF our condemnation the act of the last National
| Encampmcnt, and with cruel mockery we say TO
the Veterans Righs Union. " Go ahead and we will
pat you ON the back when we think you are right,
but will not be responsible for any OF your acts
In connection with the Endorsement OF that organi
Zaticn year ago, the Encanipme nj appointed spc-
ciai committee, oil which our present Commander
| in-Chief was chairman. The speaker who addresses
| you had the honor of being OF its members.
| The object of that committee that IL should
| visit Washington, wait upon the President of the
United he lp al
ments in cooperation with the Veterans Rights
Union TO Try To stop the bloody ax from doing The
work o! demo .iiion Of our comrades throughout
this Union who holding offices by virtue of
thc Federal laws of Tie Land. never did aud never
expect 20 be ono the beneciaries of this Govern
mcnt IN that regard lint went there with my
heart fll of sympathy for the brave men, lmbless
and oyeicss. whose frames were racked with disease
which they contracted during the of the rebel
lion. and who, one 10y one, throughout all our
Southern country, ~ least. were made to step down
and out from the rewards n once grateful Nation
lad given them. TO make place for men who met
| you and when they wore the gray and sought to
destroy the Government we fought to maintain.
! Applause. We went 10 Washington and met the
President OF the United States. lie met US cordi-
ally and kindly. lie gave promises and the
heads of the Departments, pecally from the great
State OF New York, recognizing the power of this
organization in that state, were even more lavish
IN their promises than the Chief Executive Of the
| Nation. What has your committee done save TO
make that visit? While from that day to this the
members and officers of the Veterans Right Union,
which / do not belong to- have with unstinted and
patriotic devotion, sood day after day and week
after week not To lay down the g'tering generali-
ties OF the rights OF Grand Army under the law
OF the land but TO take up case after ease OF the
manned and wounded yetelans OF the war, WHO
have been sacrificed in violation of law, and To OBJ
tain stay Of the hand that was seeking To lay
| them low. Shall we In this Encanpment say 10
| this Veterans Rights Union that repeal and
| woke and annul tile declaration that we made n
| year ago? What have they done during the past
year which should make them the less entitled to
| our indorsaiion than they were u year ago? The
| record they lave made during the yenr That has
| just passed shines out with greater and grander
ulster than the record that they this organization
have before made in that respect since the close of
| the war. When we find them treading upon dan
gerous ground we can give our condemnation of
anything that they may do that Is wrong, but As
long ~ we ind them organizing aud laborng only
for the protection Of tile rights OF veteran soldiers
| of the Union. let us give them year by year the
| same indOrsaiion we gave them year ago, without
saying by implication that are afraid of the tail
| to the great kite flying. The report of the
Commander-in-Chiefo Of that orgnnzatiOnin speak
ing of the Department Of Virginia gives a list of 80
OF your comrades who have been turned ont of po-
sitions which they held as a matter Of right and
law, and nearly the same number Of ex-rebel SOL
ders have been appointed TO I'LL their places. beg
OF tins Encampment TO take by the hands this gal
liant little band and say to them God-speed you in
| your grand and holy work"
GEN. FAIRcHILD, OF WISCONSIN:
want 10 say TO my friend who has given US sneh
| an eloquent address here, that everywhere in all
this broad land, wherever there is n conradc still
/ loyal TO tie old flag, he will find man that will
| cure places for our disabled comrades. / know
you will acquit the committee of any desire TO do
injustice In that respect even those who do not like
| the wording of the report.
COEP'L TANNER, OF NEW YORK:
| dono: propose to undertake to add anything 10
the oratoTy this matter, but have a little prac-
teal point To make ia il which desire to present
for the careful consideration of this body. No
| who looks upon the gallant cOmTade from Wiseon-
sin and sees the empty sleeve swinging by his side
| will ever dare insult him with charge of lack of
| sympathy for the suffering comrades but think
| all thoughtful men will concede that there il AN
unfortunate turn To the language used in this rec
| ommendation. A year ago we Endorsed the Vet
| Grams Rights Union Ht Portland 4 word n to
| what know they have done in the State of New
| York. In the town of Seneca Falls there was a
| comrade who was Postmaster. lie was turned oft
Of that office, and bitter Copperhcad editor
| of the war was appointed in his place. The Vet
| Grams Rights Union hung the nomination up in the
/ Senate for months and learned by telegram yes
| terday that the nomination has beeh withdrawn
| aud the Union soldier sent back. Applause I
Three Union soldiers were discharge from the New
| York Custom House-one a resident of my own
| city, who had left the army the comrade from
| Wisconsin had; another, gallant soldier, had been
| Tddled with bullets; another, long time messen-
ger with the Collector, with skin as black as the
ace OF spades and a heart white and pure in It's
| loyalty any that ever beat, man that left New
| York 10 get place in "A colored regiment over in
| the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and who WAS
| left FOR dead the buwaTks of Fort Wagner
| Now comes the news, while We're journeyn
the continent, that through the Influence OF
| the Veterans Rights Union Mr. Cleveland had said
| that every Ofthese men should be back. ask
| sincerely what has the Veterans Rights Union
| done that the Grand Army disGpproye of? /
have heard nothing, ana move "a substitute for
this portion of the report that reunite ia the