The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-08
SEATTLE. s4rURDAY. AUG. s.
SETTLED RIGHT.

The q. A. r. at Detroit has settled the
coior line question within the order, and
bettled il right. Indeed, under the funda-
mental principles of the G. A. r. there was
no other way to settle it without CON-
Hpletc reconstruction of its original plat
orm, which declares that 1t is instituted
10 "preserve and strengthen those kind
Ind fraternal feelings which bind together
The soldiers, sailors end marines who
united to suppress the late rebellion, and
10 perpetuate the memory and history ofthe
dead, and to encourage the spread of uni
wersal liberty, equal rights and justice
among all men" This is the theory of the
3. A. z. as enunciated by the great citi-
Sen-soldiers who were the first and most
eloquent exponnders of its constitution
men of the stamp of General Devens, ex-
Governor Chamberlain, of Maine, John A.
Logan and General Joe Hawley
The passion for reconstruction of this
admirable G. A. r. platform seizei upon
certain class of cheap minds who have at
kempted to administer the q. A. X. in
Ebpirit entirely hostile, both to the letter
and spirit of its original principles and
purposes. Men otherwise eligible to the
order have been rejected for various rea-
pons. Sometimes it is sectarian spite;
Hometimes il is color; sometimes il is pri-
vate pique or animosity; and not seldom
has been the snob philosophy that the
Fact that man has been soldier of I'M
5biemished record in war and a reputable
citizen In peace is not sufficient to make
him my social peel" forgetting that there
lean be no ''sociaf peerage" in such an
Norder, because the only question to be asked
fs whether the candidate in the armies
ofthe Union did his full duty in camp or
in battle. II he did he is the peer of any
man who wears the @. A. r. button, so
Jar a. the order Is concerned. for in the G.
"a. r. there are no distinctions of rank; all
IRE comrades from General Alger down toy
leneral Alger's orderly.
In the solemn execution Of its purpose,
so preserve and strengthen those kind and
Fraternal feelings which bind together the
poldiers, sailors and marines. who united
70 suppress the late rebellion, and to en-
courage the spread of universal liberty,
DUAL rights and justice among all men,"
DO g. A. r. post can lawfully exclude from
d ranks "soldiers who united with them
- suppress the rebellion" provided the
1ndidate's peace record is not stained by
brine or gross vices, and whose good citi-
nenship Is clouded only by the bar sinister
Eof color or vocation. No g. A. r. post can
)awfnlly interpret Its platform of first
prlnciples with the qualification that by
sssoldiers, sailors and Marines" We mean
Az. "a. Ill ~ a.
flag, and IL would be still more absurd to
*uualify In practice the words ITO enoour-
age the spread of universal liberty, equal
Erights and justice among dHmen" by limit
ing their application To white men. The
70. A. r. at Detroit could not face the die
tionary, the constitution OF the United
Estates, or the public opinion of Christen-
dom. and stultify themselves by voting
that all men means only white men.
There 10 no room in this matter for the
false issue of "social equality" which was
lugged into the discussion by the ears,
like jackass. by the pleaders for the
s.color line" at Detroit. for the organiza-
ton is not founded for any primsry social
n purpose. This is clearly proclaimed in its
n platform, and the order could not afford
IA at this late date TO reconstruct its creed
r 90 that the crucial question for admission
| 70 the @, A. X. would be not whether the
+. II applicant was a worthy soldier who has
"a not nullited his soldership by unworthy
Y citizenship, but sis he our social peer" II
s the G. A. X. had no more serious
purpose in maintaining great inter
state organization, ostentatiously planted
on the platform of fraternity
and unity among Union veterans,
81 than TO reconstruct its platform so that
Ia the test of membership should be blood,
II color, religion, race or occupation. rather
II than stout soldiership supplemented with
II clean citizenship: so that the question
n should not be whether the candidate desir-
Ing TO become comrade was our military
a and civic peer, but whether he is our social
H oeer. then the G. A. X. would become an
a organization of no sort of consequence to
Il ths public. for while as a patriotic
II organization of veterans IL is an object Of
& Interest and reverence to the American
81 people, IL could not as social club be OF
II any more consequence 10 the whole people
. / thsn any other society of social quality
q like sthe Egks." ''the Druids," or the
ia Free Masons."
Incidentally the @. A. r. is not neglect
I< ful of social intercourse. but it Was not
81 founded and il is not maintained primar-
HI ily for the re-roasting and circulation Of
/ srnay = lestnuts" at its camp fires, or for
+ che ceieg ration of innocent family landau
s. goes. y t it is not because of these social
Ii ineldsn Is that II is worthy of the attcn-
III on ef ne nation or the sympathetic sup
Ia Asrt an admiration Of the people As 8
|t e 80 Ial club the people would have no
IA Or 'e q. A. K. It's claim to reverence
sap ors of the whole people is due
4 10 ne fact that IL has thus far been
hi ted upon the broad platform Of its
- ps rioue purpose and policy ITO
r. .4tua se the memory aud history of the
X taifiqkie dead, and To encourage the spread
s. yel sal liberty, equal rights and JUS
~ noag all men,"
MI q. a. X at Detroit was oflisSa q,