The Portland daily press., 1889-08-29
WITH THE VETERANS.
General RIA. AIger Of Detroit, Com
mander-in- Chief.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, August 2S.-The in
tinues and the crowds in town today are full
ly as great as those of yesterday, which was
the day of the parade. The annual meeting
of the veterans was held this forenoon and
all the delegates were present to listen to the
address of the ommander-in-chief. In his
address Commander-in-Chie Warner said:
"The position Of the commander in-chief
of this Grand Army of the Republic is one
than which none is more honorable, and if at
the end of his term he has been enabled to
place in the hands of his successor the ban
ner of the order illuminated with the three
great virtues, fraternity. charity, loyalty. his
highest ambition will have been gratifed."
After eulogizing the Grand Army at length
Commander Warner said the growth of the
organization has been steady and healthy,
but strong as it is. it never has been used for
partisan purposes or to crafty personal am
billions. The net gain in membership during
the year in good standing is p, 1,431. The
commander commends the practioo of pre-
senting, on the 22nd of February, the Amer
ican flag to the public. schools so that the
eight million boys and girls in the elemental
ry schools may be thus imbued with patriot
ic reverence for the flag and all it represents.
Referring to pensions Commander Warner
| said it would greatly strengthen the hands Of
the friends of the Grand Army in Congress
if the encampment would demand the same
pension legislation asked for at the last en-
campment at Columbus. This action was
the result of a compromise and was wise,
just and conservative. Continuing he said:
"If we are true to ourselves, before the
next encampment the name OF every comradee
disabled by age. sickness or accident, and of
the widows and orphans of veterans, will be
borne on the pension roll. The day is not
far distant when an honorable discharge
from the Union army or navy shall be all
the evidence necessary to secure a pension
to its holders. "A pension given as reward
for service to the state is surely. as good
ground of property as any security for money
advanced to the state,' said the English
statesman Burke. Let those who inveigh
against pensions remember it was the boys
in blue who, by trials, sufferings and death,
bequeathed to them the legacy of liberty and
union, insuring to them and their children
the blessings of the free institutions under
which they enjoy. greater prosperity. larger
| liberty, higher civilization and purer Chris
| tianity than was ever before enjoyed by a
people. We who gave the best years of our
| lives to our country will present our claims
| to Congress and, in. doing so, will not
| approach those in authority with bated
breath and whispering humbleness, but as
free men we will demand, asking only that
| which is just. We would rather have the
nation help our comrades living than erect
monuments to them dead. My countrymen'
| said an illustrious comrade, this is no time
| to use an apothecary's scales to measure the
| rewards of the men who served the country.
| The spirit of these noble words should
| govern the legislative and executive branches
| of the government, that the performance OF
the nation may be equal to her promise"
Commander Warner was received with
| great applause and he was constantly cheered
throughout his speech, particularly In that
| part relating to pensions.
Tonight, Gen. r. A. Alger was elected
| Commander in Chief by reclamation. Col
| A. G. Weissent of Milwaukee was elected
senior vice commander and John +. Leavitt
| of New Jersey junior vice commander.
The Veteran Signal Corps elected Gen. j
B. Foraker President and voted to meet next
year in Boston.
| The Presidents report of the Woman's
| wear.