Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-09-05

GEN. II. A. ALGER.
A notable incident of the parade was the
enthusiasm of the old veterans whenever
they caught IL glimpse Of Gen. Sherman.
He was greeted with round after round or
cheers, while the bands forgot their admo-
milton not TO play Marching Through
Georgia. and the griZzled old hero of the
triumphal march through the south had TO
listen TO the tune that has dinned his ears
ever since the war closed. Occasionally
veteran in the ranks would break out with
sally at his old general. One called out:
''Oh, you'll live TO fight through anolher
war; while another shouted, chow about
those chickensi' To the latter interroga-
tory Gen. sherman, who was as tickled as a
school boy, replied "Oh, | never took the
trouble TO inquire where they came from"
The session of the third day was called
TO order by COMMANDMENT chief Warner.
After prayer by Chaplain Wharton Of the
Wisconsin department, Commander Warner
read his address. After some personal
reference as TO his discharge of the duties
of the Office and a eulogy of the @. A. r.,
the commander continued:
The growth of our oganizatiou has been
steady and healthy. Strong as IL is, 1t
never has been, and trust il never will be,
used for partisan purposes TO crafty the
personal ambition of any man or set OF
men. The greatest gain during the year
has been in the department of Missouri.
"a
ship in good standing of 1884, distributed
as follows: Illinois, l,2S3; Iowa, l,4l3;
Nebraska, LOO; Pennsylvania, !, 40; New
York, !,955; Ohio, 1908; Wisconsin, 2,023;
Missouri, 1869. The net gain in member
ship during the year lin good standng)
was 81. 43l
Commander Warner referred briefly to
the reports Of his staff officers, the decis-
ions of the judge advocate general, the
completion OF "a history of the G. A. r., the
census OF soldiers and sailors, and then took
up the subject of the flag and the public
schools. He said
commend TO each department the patri-
otto practice OF the posts OF the depart
ment of New York of presenting on Feb.
%, the birthday of the father of his coun-
try, an American flag 10 such public schools
as are not yet in possession Of one. Let
the children receive the stars and stripes
from the men who placed their bodies as "A
living wall between IL and those who
would tear IL down. The future citizens of
the republic are being educated in the
public scholastic flag of their country
should ever be before them as an object
lesson. From its stars and stripes let
them learn the story OF liberty as eXem
pliied in the lives of Washington. Lincoln.
Grant and the patriotic sons of the republic
who by their valor, suffering and death
rendered the imperishable fame or this il.
lustrious trio possible. Let them learn TO
look upon the American flag "by angels
hands TO valor given" with as much rever-
ence as did the lsraelites look upon the ark
Of the covenant. Let the s, 900 900 boys and
girls in our elementary schools be thus i'm
bued with reverence for the flag and all
IL represents.
The matter of pensions was reserved by
the commander for the conclusion of his
address. He SAID:
The committee on pensions has been un.
able to make any progress in securing fav-
~ 4 ~.
pension bills recommended by the Colum-
bus encampment The reason for this
failure will be given by the committee and
i know that its members are in no way TO
blame. The question of pension legislation
will come before you again for discussion
and recommendation.
The number of comrades entitled to
seats in this encampment reaches 1000, the
largest representation ever accredited TO
an encampment. In deliberative body so
large, its members coming from all parts
of the union, representing all shades of
opinion, it is but natural that all will not
agree in the discussion, but when the dis
cussion has closed and the encampment has
acted, its action should receive the earnest
support OF every comrade. The Grand
Army Of the Republic has never exercised
its full influence in pension legislation
because of division in its ranks. The
measures recommended by the national
encampment should not be antagonized by
conflicting measures urged by departments
or posts
The last encampment, after much dis
cussion, by practically unanimous vote
recommended TO congress "a service pension
bill and what is known as the disability
pension bill, the latter having received the
repeated approval of all previous encamp-
ments. This action was the result of a
compromise, and in my Judgment, was as
wise as it was Just and conservative Ny
experience in congress leads me TO believe
that you will greatly strengthen the hands
OF our friends in that body by demanding
at Milwaukee the pension legislation ask
ed for at Columbus. Let the committee
on pensions take your recommendations to
congress backed by the united Grand Army
of the Republic and there will be no fail
ure.
The service pension will come The day
is not far distant when an honorable dis
charge from the union army or navy shall
be all the evidence required TO secure a
pension to its holder.
"a pension given as a reward of services
to the state is surely as good groupd of
property as any security for money ad-
vanced TO the state" said the great Eng
llsh statesman Burke.
Let the bondholders of the country re.
member that the men who rendered their
securities valuable-the men who have
ever insisted that they be paid 10 the ut
termost farthing, principal and interest of
the money advanced by them TO the state
let them remember that these men have
claims upon the state equal at least to that
OF the bondholder. Let those who inveigh
against pensions remember that ii was the
boys In blue who by trials, sufferiugs and
death, bequeathed to them the legacy of
liberty and union, insuring TO them and
their children the blessings Of free institu-