The Republican journal., 1889-11-14
Grand Army Matters.

Lieut.. Roberts in the journal. Especially was
pleased to see his endorsement of the annual
encampmcnt idea. When man is willing to
come more than It thousand miles to attend a
gathering of this nature. it shows what hold
the idea has upon the minds of the old soldiers.
Still there is much agitation to be done before
this can be brought about. 1t must be written
up and talked about on all sides. We want to
hear from more Of the old veterans through the
columns of the journal. here are Col. Fogler,
Capt, Clark, Capt. Wadsworth, Capt. Baker,
and a host of other brave soldiers: We want
10 hear from them one and all. Nothing can
be done except by acting in unison. 1t would
be an excellent idea for the several Grand Army
Posts in Waldo County TO take up this matter
and discuss il around the winter camp fires.
cannot quite agree with our Knox comrade
that the first cncampment should be held in
Belfast. The groves were Gods first temples.
and there is where the soldier will naturally
feel most at home. | ntil we can pull our
selves together 80 a. TO make pre>entahle ap-
pcarauce. We must take to the woods. We
want to lie where we can throw out our pick
ct ana shoot some one if they interfere with
our deliberations. We also want to be in the
woods and fields where We can steal some
farmers rail fence with which to cook our
'>kou>e." Northport would be good place,
if out Of the season of summer visitors. | feel
certain that this annual encampment business
Will be brought about, and that it will be a
grand success. But we must continually agi-
tate. Q! course We must have Mrs. Packard
with d.. The whole thing would he a flat fail
ure without her. We will have her with Us
even il we have TO 20 to Spring teld ard bring
her down East on our shoulders. Aud will
promise her such aroyal welcome a. no woman
ever before received in Maine. As for Roberts,
he must be content to take Back seat. He
cannot he elected officer of the day. Roberts
i truly thing of beauty and a jar forever
Tut he VIII not lie given the opportunity to
string me up BY the thumbs
While my hand is in giving advice, let me
suggest the necessity Of Grand Army Posts
urging upon Congress the uuty OF passing the
much needed pension legislation recommended
by the last National Encampment. If this is
not done hetOre there il any reduction Of the
revenues. then it will never he done. In the
first place Congress should pass a liberal SER
vice pension bill. The passing of the Mexican
service bill last year is sufficient precedent for
this. Why should those men who only served
a few months be singled out fer this great fay-
or: The men who served through four
years war are equally entitled TO this -enero>-
ity. 1t j, urged by some that we must wait
until most OF the Old soldiers die OF. This is
simply mon>trou> why are not the soldiers
who arg now Ola and crippled entitled to have
a service pension before they die as well as we
Younger ones will be entitled to it twenty Years
hence: TO deny this is to deny all the plinc-
pies OF equity and justice If a general bill
cannot be passed, then at least force Congress
TO pass bill 70 pension all soldiers Who are 60
years Of age. Let u> younger one, TIE sacrificed
fer the benefit of the Old fellows. We can
stand il better than they can. Another bill
that >houll be urged is the repeal OF the Ar
rear- Act. Why should d soldier Who applied
the last day of June. 1872. receive two or three
thousand dollars of back pay, while the man
who applied the very next day receive none
1t may be law, but it i not Justice. No nation
tice. Let the Grand Army Posts demand the
repeal Of this infamous law. A. drops of Wa
ter make the ocean, Will every Grand Army
petition that wins it, way to Washington help
to remedy these evils. Politician, will 10 Moth
inL for the soldiers unless they are forced to 10
- at the point Of the laiot.
BY the way. Mr.. Editor, am lcctuiin. this
week in the Village Of Brownlield, which was
the home Of Or. Jesse p. SWEET. the regimen
tai surgeon of the old l4th when i wa a menu
Der The Waldo county boys will be Glad to
hear q word about him even though it be a sad
one. Tie Old 18th was particularly fortunate
in il surgeons. The first surgeon, and the one
Who served the longest time with the regiment,
was l'r. Z. hopkins He was kind and ten
der hearted man, and won the love Of the en-
tire regimen. DR.. Hopkins is now prosper
on, physician of Sear>port. There i not 4
member of the old 18th but what would to-day
/ shout: "GGd bless Or. Hopkins" DR.. SWEET
was Of Il different temperament, but equally
Kind. lie was rough in speech and style, but
hi> breast contained as warm heart a, ever
beat III man. 10 his kndne>, and the cheering
words of Lieut.. Roberts the writer Of this let
| ter owes his present existence. For this reason
tie name of DR.. SWEET will ever be sacred 20
myself. After our regiment was discharged
+ the doctor returned 10 this, his native town,
and resumed the practice Of hi, profession.
| About eight Years ago ne was attacked with
1 that fatal maiady, >oftening Of the brain. and
/ rapidly declined. II- Kindness to the poor IN
!
/ kept him in aighened circumstances His
| buildings We're then burned and he was left
! pennle>>. The death Of his wife added to his
/ affections ana ha>tened tie final end. With a
! shattered mind he was taken to the home of a
\ daughter in Minneapolis. where he shortly
/ died His body was brought back to this place
where it now lies in the village cemetery. No
man ever lived in this town whose memory is
more tenderly cherished by all classes. | have
/ this day visited hi, crave and spent Il sad hour
nusng over the memories of the past. A
/ monument raised by loving friends marks his
last resting place. There lies the trucSt friend
| tie poor people of Browntied ever had" was
/ the remark made by gentleman who guided
me to the spot. asked him to return. that |
/ IHlgnt De icIl alone with the man loved. To-
night the choicest bouquet that could be obtain
! ed in this place lies above his breast. PERHAPS
the confession may seem like a weakness but
| must frankly say that those flowers We're
| placed there by my hand and watered bv my
tears. Dear, kind Old DR.. SWEET. If there Is
a brighter land and happier existence be
yond thy lowy tomb, then thy future is secure.
To that heavenly home thy tender soul has been
welcomed by angel voices and in tones as sweet
as the music which the rays Of the morning sun
drew from The stony lips of Memnon.
l.. c. BATEMAN.
Browntield, Me. NOV. 4th. 1889.
POLITICAL POINTS. Senator Moody of South
Dakota will introduce bill early in the session
of Congress which will prohibit government
agents from issuing any special United States
taxes for the manufacture and sal e Of spirit
Gus liquors a a beverage in all States where
prohibition is the policy and is regulated and
enforced by the organic lawS.....The New
| DIRK Herald has special from Seattle. W. r..
I