Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-27
HONOR TOCEN.PIERCE
Mr.. Crosier Pays the Valiant Gen
sral . Worthy Tribute
HAS BORNE HIMSELF ABOVE SUSPICION
In ali the AmAirs of BUSINESS ass ois-
Gipiias as the soldiers Home and
Leaves HIS Position ia Response
60 Political ExpsdIsney Oaly.

LASsIss, March 26.-At the meeting
of the board Of managers of the Sol
diers' Home yesterday. when the cleo
ton Of eommandant was under consid-
Grafton, Mr. Crozier, of the board, put
IA nomination the name of Gen. Pierce
and paid hIm a handsome tribute of
honor. Mr.. Crozier said ne desired to
nominate for the position of command
ant OF the Soldiers Home, the present
incumbent, Gen. Byron X. Pierce. From
personal knowledge he had formed the
opinion that no stranger could take
that position and MI it 50 satisfactorily,
and ne was sure that there MAS no one
more deserving of honor and emolu-
inent from the great state of Michigan
tnan tne present incumbent. Gen.
Pierce entered the war as captain and
came OUT OF II, after more than four
years service, a major general. lie
participated IN thlrty-eight regular en-
gagements, was wounded several times,
aud his horse shot under him, and was
known IN every position As
A valiant and Emcieat Omeer.
Since the war he had been command
ment OF Michigan, and had filled other
positions which proved the confidence
aud esteem OF his comrades and others.
During his many years of admInistra-
ton OF the affairs at the home, he had
proven himself exceptionally we'll quail
Ihed for the position OF eommandant.
The home had not only been what it
was Intended TO be. but il had been q
reformatory as well. From the town
IN which Mr.. Crozler lived four old
soldiers had been sent to the institu-
ton, every one of whom had been
made destitute from drinking, and all
four were far gone III dissipation.
These men had all been reformed under
the benelicient influence cast about
them. One IS u guard at the State
Prison, and the others are self-support-
ing. In all the Investigations of the
home
No CeDsure Had Ever Been Made
Of Gen. Pierce, or of his department,
and none can truthfully be made.
With half thousand of old, querulous.
sick men under bis control, or rather
under his charge, as he has no control
over them except what their respect for
him and his sole method of punish
ment, the power of discharge from the
home gwen to him, there would nee
essarily be complaints, but since he him.
self had been member of the board.
now nearly four years, every one of the
many complaints investigated, had
been found causeless. Under these cir
cumstances, he thought 1t no more than
justice TO General Pierce that the
Board should Go on Record
upon the fact that if u change must be
made IN the commandment, 1t should be
understood that il was made for politl-
cal reasons only. The question of poll
tics had never before been considered
IN the appointment of the officers of the
home. The second officer in the home
he understood TO be a Democrat, al
though only by hearsay, for the ques-
ton had never before been asked, and
every officer might be of that political
faith for aught that he knew.
While he deplored the appearance Of
partIssnship upon the board, he should
at all times, IN the future rs IN the past !,
be ready to give 10 the service of the
home his bes, efforts, made many times
at the sacrifice of bushes and always at
the expense of inclination.