The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-08-12
THE GRAND ARMY.
John Palmer Chosen General
veazey's Successor.
The Plan OF the Color Line Defeated
Routine Committee Work - Gen.
yeazey'si Address = ohicers
f Elected. fi ltt
THE TwRNTY-FIFTH ANNIvERsARY

formal session Wednesday in the
mammoth hall that had been set apart
for the business deliberations of the
veterans. All that art and taste could
do TO make the building attractive
had been exerted in the decorations
which adorned the interior in emblem
attic order.
The opening address of the COM
mander in chief was listened to in rapt
attention by the assembled veterans.
He said:
CoMRApEs-This Is tho silver anniversary OF
q birth, not OF wedding The wedding occurred
when the bridegrooms, the youth OF the land,
enlisted In its defense. Abraham Lincoln cele
brated the marriage nuptials. Columbia was
the bride. Her vesture was the nations flag
The pledge TO establish that dag over
the domain OF secession was the pledge
OF her hand. When the pledge was
grandly redeemed through bloody strife
through suffering and death, and after
the victors had placed on the brow Of the bride
new diadom whose gems were honor, valor,
fame, liberty untainted with slavery, a country
reunited and free, the fruit OF that marriage
was the Grand Army OF the Republic, an Of
spring worthy Of its royal parentage.
After referring pathetically to the
deaths during the past year OF Sher-
man, Porter, Hamlin, Devine, Tobin
and other honored members of the or
der. the commander in chief continued:
The present administration encountered the
same disturbances In the department OF Louis.
lana and Mississippi that had troubled my
predecessors. From various sources OF In
formation that have been accessible 10
me, I believe that large majority Of both
white and colored comrades In the depart
ments OF Louisiana and Mississippi are
strong in the conviction that II would
be for the best interests OF all individually and
OF their posts and Of the order, 10 have sepa-
rate department In Louisiana and some OF the
other gulf states made up OF such posts as
may apply to come into II and having
concurrent jurisdiction with the department
already established In such states; concur
ront In respect to the chartering and muster
ing OF posts, but each department having
exclusive Jurisdiction over the posts which II
may receive. My best judgment after year OF
painstalIing investigation is that II would DO
wise TO confer upon my successor the authority
10 create such department He may either
find II necessary or think It best 10 exercise tho
power conferred.
Comrades, our order has reached its high.
water mark neither in numbers nor in glory
or power. In cultivating fraternity and char
ity II works on the same lines with some
other organizations. But there is another
basic principle OF our order which Is, In
sense at least peculiar TO 1t lit Is the
broad principle Of loyalty. Here we provoke
criticism. and on the ground that there
Is no disloyalty now. True, no class
or section Is engaged in disloyal acts; but as is
well known, there ore men here and there
throughout the land who adhere TO the
pernicious doctrine that secession by = state Is
q right, and therefore resistance TO attempted
coercion is not disloyalty or rebellion. The
iron heel OF Andrew Jackson crushed the first
threats OF overt action based upon this
doctrine. When, in the next instance,
tho threat was carried into effect II re-
quired the scourge Of war and rivers OF blood
TO suppress It A third effort Is not likely 70
appear again 10 the south. because II Is not
conceivable how the interests Of that section
san be so advantageously situated as
they are within the union. But the
doctrine permeates the political literature
OF the country The seed took doep root
In the disciples OF Calhoun and others
who laborod 70 plant IL. As our country on
tends its borders and sections become antago.
histio In interest who can say that another
effort may not be made somewherei SO long
as this danger exists however remotely, the
work OF the g. A. X. Is not finished.
No organization since the war has done 30
much for the country, especially In laying deep
the foundations Of future security, as the @. A.
X. IL appeals 10 every loyal hand that drew q
blade or carried musket Therefore no union
soldier has done his full duty as citizen unless
he has given the order the benefit OF his com
radeship in II.
Adit. Gen. ]. II. Goulding's annual
report for the year ending July SO
shows that there are in the order forty
fiye departments, with 7,4O9 posts and
s0s, ,O07 comrades in good standing.
The sum expended in charities during
the year was sSSS,69o, against ssl7,'
O57 the previous year. There
have boen $3.50 deaths this year,
against 8, 40 in 1890 OF the total ap
parent membership OF 4i4,3o7, suspen'
sions. delinquencies and transfers bring
the numb down TO 39s.067.
The quartermaster generals report
showed the assets OF the organization
TO be as follows Cash balance on hand
81, sOI 1s; due by departments, 81, ,429.4l
less due by departments, siSL17; bal
ance, S1,240.24; United States bonds
1907. $4,000 market value 17-10O)
SIS, 72O; supplies, s2,of.65; total assets
s24. 4.71L0I
The inspector generals report afte
detailing the'condition Of the order say
in conclusion:
'our comrades in the stronger and NOR
prosperous departments should not be forget
ful Of the necessities OF those In weaker an
less favored territories and should assist an
encourage them in the work whenever opportt
nifty offers. nnd the organization OF the Won
ans Relief Corps is growing In oil departments
II would be dificult 10 say too much In thei
favor as they have rendered such valuable a.
sistance In our charitable work. having take
position far in advance Of our line In blue, 1
raising money TO swell the relief fund which
30 honestly. devoted TO the alleyiation OF N
WANTS OF those depending upon its assistance.
The report OF the surgeon genera
Is chiefly interesting in statement
contains from Pension COMMISSIONS
Raum, announcing that the amount Q
sii6, 100000 will be expended for per
bions during the fiscal year.
Washington was selected as the plaC
for the holding OF the next encaml
ment Of the G. A. r. The race betwee
Washington and Lincoln, Neb., was
close one, so close that each side va
confident of success until the result
the ballot was announced: Washing
ton, 800; Lincoln. 1888.
DETRorr, Mich, Aug. TAT Il
meeting Of the q. A. r. encampmei
Thursday the election Of commando
in chief was declared the first order
business. There were four candidate
John Palmer, Of Albany, N. y; a.