The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-20

mand. I have every reason to believe that
all Objectionable features now characterizing
| that Order and standing in the way of such
recognition will gladly be removed upon
our request.
Here follows some decisions by the Judge
! Acknowledgement and the Commander-in-
| Chief, which viii appear in future number
of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE.l
GEN. SHERIDAN.
One of the sad events of the year was the
| death of Comrade Philip II. Sheridan, General
! of the United States Army, member of Post
| No. 5, Department of Illinois. He died III the
| prime of his perfect manhood, ending career
| that suffer no disparagement by compar-
| son with that of any other in human history.
! All gentlene5s in his nature. he was yet the
! dashing, heroic master of modern warfare. An
! educated soldier, he was nevertheless the trust
ed, considerate and appreciatng commander of
| volunteers He never erred in judgments
never faltered in purpose; never failed in cour-
age. His unsefishness was only equalled by
his greatness of character. Living, ho placed
true estimate upon the men he commanded,
and i'll death he sought the eompanionship Of
those who had followed and loved him. He
sleeps to-day amid that army corps of immortal
heroes in their bivouaG of glory at Arlington
and will come forth with them, and surround
ed by them, when the reveille of eternity is
sounded.
HISTORY.
Past Commander-in- Chief Robert B. Bcath,
of Pennsylvania, acting upon the recommenda-
tion OF the 2ist National Encampment and af-
ter the most exhaustive research for material,
has prepared and has now in press a perfect
and complete history of our organization from
It's beginning. COmrade Beath brought TO this
work special and unique qualifications. His
official connection with our Order began with
its life. No other member ofaour Order, living
or dead, participated more largely III the events
which he has recorded or made more than did
he of the history he has written. From a care
ful perusal of the advance sheets Of the work,
| can with confidence assure this Encampment
that his forthcoming history has not only been
prepared with great labor aud a conscientious
adherence to the truth, but is authentic and
complete In every detail, and will not only
meet all just expectations, but will be q history
worthy OF the Grand Army of the Republic,
which has occupied so important place IN the
annals Of the last quarter of a century of our
Republic
During the past year. the reports show that
there was expended in charity, the sum of
| $2I5 97519. This, Of course, does not include
| the many thousands OF dollars which have
been given by members privately in aid of less
! fortunate comrades.
ARMY AND NAVY SURVIVORS, DIVISION.
| would call special attention to that portion
/ of tho report of the Adiutant General which
refers to the Army and Navy Survivors Di-
/ vision of the United States Pension Office. The
! practical benefits resulting from that division
are incalculabe, and it is to be hoped that
through the instrumentality Of Departments
! and Posts, its records may, within short Pc
! riod, be made complete.
desire to make grateful Acknowledgement of
| the assistance rendered me by the comrades as
sOeiaUed with me III the administration OF your
trkfts W.
! son Cole, Junior Vice COmmander-in-Ch Chief
John Q. Linehan, Surgeon General Florence
| Donahue, and ChaPlain-in-Chi Edward An
| ders0n, have cordially sustained me through
| out my entire administration, and have loyalty
| responded to every call Of duty made upon
them. | wish also to thank all the Depart
| ment Commanders, members Of the Council of
Administration, the members Of my staff, and
I all comrades with whom l have had Off
| cial communication or connection, for their
| uniform courtesy aud earnest laD0rs for the
promotion of the best interests of our Order.
The reports Of the Council Of Administration,
| Of the several standing committees and of the
staff officers, contain such full information upon
the various matters Of interest to the Encamp
ment, that [ do not deem it necessary to add
| anything thereto
By referring to the report of the Judge Ad-
| yocate General, you will find full statement
| Of the action taken in regard to the gift of the
bf}ub cottage, Win respect 10 WINCH WOuiI
/ recommend that my successor he authorized to
carry out the scheme which was suspended by
the death Of Dir. Drexel, ia case such be the
disposition OF his executors or heirs.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Memorial Day, with its tender and beautiful
| ceremonies, was geneTaily and httingly OBJ
served throughout the entire country.
CONCLUSION.
l.. r
| to the duties Of Commander-in-Cbef the time
that their importance demanded, | assure you
that nothing remains und0ne from indisposi-
ti0n to do it. / have visited 2I Departments,
some of them several times; have travelled
$4,000 miles, slept 81 nights on the cars, made
I22 public addresses, and to the utmost tension
| of my physical strength aud mental ability
have striven 10 discharge the duties OF the high
Office with which you honored me in such man
ner that no stain would come upon the bur-
nished fame Of the Grand Army OF the Republic
Wherever l have gone, north or south, east
| or west, have received q kindly greeting and
cordial welcome most gratifying, because it
came spontaneously as an evidence of the high
regard of the people of this Republic for the
survivors of the army and navy which con-
quered treason, cemented the Union, and es-
tablished upon the basis of universal equality,
the grandest Nation of earth. In all sections
Of the country ! have found the comrades of
Ele UfduQ army OF Cl5 hS5uDlLc III community
and in State occupying the highest positions,
enjoying Che full confidence Of their fe!low-citi-
zens, and living manly lives worthy the earnest
they gave of fidelity and loyalty in the terrific
conflict through which they passed in their
youth.
esteem it an honor greater than any other
possible for me to attain to have stood for a
year at the head of this organization.
Comrades, we will soon pass through the
dark valley over the river and pitch our tents
within the shadow of the dim unknown, but
behind US as a monument Of achievement will
remain the ocean-bound American Republic,
the only true Republic the world has ever
: known within whose borders there is no peas
ant, no serf, no slave, only men and women
living in the consciousness of the true nobility
of manhood and of womanhood. Across this
continent from the rock bound coast on which
beat the waves of the Atlantic, over mountain
and valley for $500 miles, to where the calm
} Pacific beats on California's golden strand,
there is to-day great unbroken level of happy
: American homes in which live the representa-
tives of all races of all nationalties of all civ
? iliZations aud all are gathered around the altar
Of one common country in the brotherhood OF
J uniform freedom. Over all the starry banner
under which we fought, and whose folds we
embazoned with the names of the proudest
victories humanity ever won, waves as the en-