Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-04-22

A
good temperance men contribute to-
ward the getting up of these patriotic
sprees without doing themselves al
injustice?"
Such statements In print are moth
ing more nor less than an insult to the
.terans Of the late war, and -hould be
rsbuked by all patriotic l,vers of our
united country. At the late encamp-
ment at Livingston there were nearly
200 veterans present, myself being one
of the number, and | only saw five
that seemed to be in any way under
the influence of liquor. One of this
number was wha, / call drunk. Our
encampment lasted two days and now
because one man got drunk and four
others got somewhat under the in
fluence Of liquor, out Of nearly two
hundred veterans who meet annually
as comrades and friends to talk over
matters that transpired during that
terrible conflict Of arms, are to be-
placed before the public as drunksrds
and the conduct OF these men is snch
that the good people Of Livingston do
not wish to have US meet there again;
II the statement be- true then We old
soldiers should know il.
We, of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, are fast passing to that un.
known shore. A few years a most
will see Us no more here on earth. The
war has been over % years and little
did / think that in any northern state
any paper would publish Us a. drunk
ards, even If few are addicted to the
use Of too much liquor. You will find
such anon yst all classes of people out
side of G. A. r. circles. 1t seems to
me that the rising generation ought to
be more charitable to the survivors Of
the late conflict who met the enemy
on an hundred battlefields and made
this country what il is-s united
country with one of the best govern
ments in the civilized world.
The old soldiers drank from the
came canteen during the war; do not
deprive them Of the personal liberty
of meeting each other annually, re-
newipg old acquaintances and taking
o drink from the old canteen II they %
choose to do.
Wbiskey was issued to the army the
rations being one gil per day to each
soldier for long time-on the recon-
ndatiou of the medical department
of the government. To some / pre-
sumo it was the first drink ever taken.
Son zone went to President Lincoln
and reported General Grant was
drunk ut the battle If Shiloh aud
urged his removal as not suitable
person to command our brave men.
Lincoln wanted to know where Grant
got his whiskey. saying II he did be
would order the purchase of few bar.
rels for some of the other generals.
Twenty five years ago one million
men were disbanded after four years OF
war and turned loose on society Were
there any outrages committed on 80.
ciety by this army Of men? My an.
swer IL, No! On the contrary they
made good citizens rs they had made
good soldiers. Other organizations
hsve b.nquets with wine on the table
and nothing il said about it, but If aE
old soldier takes drink at banquet
table they are accused of having PA.
triotic spree" The world is full OF
narrow minded men and always will
be, not willing Others should have an
opinion outside Of their own, but, Mr.,
Editor, personal liberty Is one OF the
fundamental principles Of our govern
ment and the men who answered to
the call of President Lincoln for sew
euty- five thousand men to enforce the
laws Of the land, aud other calls after
wards, were liberal minded, patriotic
lovers Of our common country and
were ready TO yield up their lives In
defence Of their country, - many Of
them did.
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Han.
cock, and hosts Of Others, officers and
men, have sat ct the banquet table
whore wine was served slnce the war,
while the great majority will sit ct the
banquet table no more with us who
yet remain.
In sayiug what I have I do not Wish
n said Of me that I an opposed 10
temperance reform. Iutemperanee 10
q vice, and oil good oitissns should do
oil In their power In aid Of oil reforms
to NE best interests Of society. The
quotations referred to are taken from
the "Bomb' and cut me 10 the quick
and will oil @. A. Rs who may reed
them.
Now, Mr.. Editor Of the Bomb, such
attacks on the @. A. r. - appeared In
your paper Of the l7th inst, IN my