The National tribune., 1891-07-02
TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY JULY 1891
THE SATIoNaT. ENCAMPMENT AT
WELLINGTON.

THE NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT AT
WARRINGTON.
Strong efforts are being put forth to secure
the holding of the next National Encamp-
ment in Washington, ard the committee
appointed to secure subscriptions report
$4,000 already signed. They want to get
at least $4,000 This should be made the
minimum. II would be better TO have
$4,000, and there should be no difficulty in
getting this il the business men appreciate
properly the Importance, not in a senti-
mental, but strictly business sense, of
holding the Encampment in Washington.
The GAR. are not beggars in this matter,
but beneiaciors. The amount Of money
they will bring into the city will be out of
all proportion TO the amount subscribed. At
the lowest calculation they and their friends
spent over S1,OOO,00O in ST. Louis end the
same amounts IN Boston, Milwaukee and
San Francisco
The receipts Of one hotel alone in St
Louis averaged over $1,000 a day during
the five days of the EncamPment. It's
capacity was stated at 1000 guests day.
II charged and s. day for every person
that could be squeezed into room, and it
was crowded to its Utmost limit al the time.
So were al tie other hotels in the city, aud
each one charged its highest rates for every
guest that room could De made TO hold.
The street ears, restaurants, clearinghouse,
etc, reaped a golden harvest. Should the
EEcampment be held IN Washington the
veterans and their families would swarm
into the city by the hundred thousand. and
stay for days visiting the battlefelds aud the
many points OF interest around the National
Cap tai, which they all want to see. IN view
Of this, there should be no difficulty IN rs sing
fully $4,000.
We are in favor Of holding the EUcamp-
mcnt here because Of the earnest desire of
the veterans and their relatives 10 visit the
Capital Of their country, around which so
many Of them fought for longyea But BE-
fore we urge this we want to he sure that The
people here are fully alive to the Importance
Of such an event, and are prepared to give
the Encampment the entertainment it de-
serves. The delegation which goes to De-
troit TO present the claims Of Washington
should be backed up by substantial, hard
and-faSt subscriptions of at least $jOOOO.
The citizens must come 70 the front with
genuine support. The Department Of the
Potomac, GAR, is very small, compared
to some other Departments in the Order, and
not at all rich. 1t can do comparatively
little in bearing the burden OF such an enter
tainment, and must have the substantial
assistance OF the oitizens-those who are
going 10 profit peeuniarily out OF the affair.
There is no time 10 lose. 1t is bat a little
over month till the National Encamp-
ment meets in Detroit Other cities are in
the field, eager for The honor and profit Of
the Eucampment, and Whatever is done
must be done at once. and done solidly.
- . --
oNEyear ego there was sI3i, C8I, IL lying
idle in the Treasury, or else on deposit in
National Banks, which had been pettod by
Clevelands Administration, and which were
lending out the peoples money to tho
people at high rates Of interest. The last
Congress broke up this vicious condition
Of things by paying out S570GOOOO Of this
money to the people, TO whom it was owed,
and so restoring it TO IFS proper place as part
Of the available capital of the country. Out
Of this surplus and the current revenues il
repaid Sl5,COO,O0O direct taxes, which GER
tain States and Territories had paid over
and above their shares of the war expenses;
it paid 500 ,32l ,gOz3j Of pension deficiency
which it had inherited from the preceding
Congress; it appropriated S2G2. 9J1 ,sii34
for arrears and current pensions il made
sufficient appropriations for building the
Navy, and f,r much needed public buildings.
and for river and barber improvements, and
the public debt was reduced from Ssll,-
l0G,22O March 81, 1899, TO SG10.52gI20,
May 3, 1891. Every dollar Of Ibis money,
except that which was paid TO foreign holders
Of bonds, went directly into the pockets Of
our own people, and swelled tho volume Of
circulating medium. Should there be any
thing but praise for such a wise policy? We
think not
THE Boston papers Of aristocratic :euden-
cies are making great mistake in opposing
a forum in that city for popular gatherings.
One Of them says that il viii be a scrious