The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-09-22


to sneer at the soldier and call him mendi-
| cant. They appear to forget the
| Suffarings and Sacrifices
that made us what we are The Union soldier
has done as much, both in war and in peace, to
| make good the obligations In the hands of tho
bondholder as the bondholders have done for
the men upon whom they relied to make good
| its face value, when they had to face fire,
| blood, disease and death.
/, The precepts of this great order appeal to The
J patriotism of every man who wore the Union
blue; every Union soldier should give it his in
| lnence and support, and wear at all times the
| This emblem is silent protest against "sneers'
| at the old veteran. 1t is the honor mark of the
REPUBLIC; 1t riyets attention to the fact that
men still live who deserve to be remembered
with whatever belongs TO the prosperity, liberty
| and renoWn OF our country.
| During my official term have visited 25 de-
| partments. responded to numerous invitations
| to reunions and public gatherings, requiring
months of time ami labor. travelling nearly
| 10000 miles, and my only regret is that was
they met on the same date, and the places of
meeting were too far apart to reach them in
time; And notwithstanding l have given up
nearly the entire year to the work of the order,
feelthat my efforts have been sbut feeble to
serve all my comrades and do justice to the
great order
tended for four long years desire to say that,
notwithstanding the Incorporate attacks made
upon me by some of the Southern journals on
account OF my order in reference to the flag Of
our country, during my visit to the department
encampment in Augusta, Ca, / met many eX-
Confederate soldiers from whom | received
cordial greeting and believe that those who
were bravest III the field have a greater love of
justice and right than those who remained in
the rear in the hour of danger; and was glad
to take by the hand any brave Confederate sol
qerpDtad
surrender at Appomatox and today respects the
flag Of the nation as the emblem of a reuni-
ted people and a reunited country.
AS the conquerors say to the conquered, each
now apprecinting that the preservation of the
Union was the common glory of both, and the
vanquished enjoy an equal share in the pros
serve, while we cannot forget,
We Unhesitatingly Forgive,
when gathered at the high altar Of Columbia's
capital, to bind anew in bonds of fraternity and
loyalty the hearts of all its sons. and consecrate
anew 1.-THE nation to the cause of humanity,
civilization and progress.
A meeting of the department encampment of
Louisiana and Mississippi under the reorgan-
ization was held i'll the city of New Orleans,
La, Aug. 6, 1882, where the delegates from 5
ceedngs am aSSsed wise that this M s
was the most harmol.ious in the history of that
department. Is IS represented today in this en-
all the comrades IN the department, regardless
of color or nationality, with the gratifying
assurance J., that there are no contests
sefya the those interests to see @ Te s orr oss nd
the number OF comrades attending the 26tll
national encampment has never been equaled i'll
tas efS o be OF t fe 50 wha
dissolution Of the life of this department. was
saved by.a critical operation. and the dying
patients life extended for future years OF pros
uCafnInpqI
cannot speak with too much fervor of the
benefcent work done by the loyal women for
the needy veterans and their families.
The patriotic purposes of the Sons of Veter-
ans deserve the cordial support OF every MEM
Der OF the Grand Army OF the Republic:
The passage OF the disability bill, under date
of June %, 1890, was so munificent in it's
scope, providing pensions to all honoraDly dis
charged soldiers suffering from mental or physi-
cal disabilities, recognizing the services Of q
class who, by lapse Of time, were unable to fur
nish the testimony OF their comrades as to the
origin of their disabilities, requiring only the
certificate OF physician and the examination
by a pension board zSflat no additional legislation
was sought by the last national encampment.
The pension committee have endeayored to
have corrected certain inequalities in the rat
ings which We're not commensurate with exist
ing disabilities, from which many comrades are
suffering, all OF which will be given to you i'll
detail by the committee.
I would recommend that the encampment take
some decided action against personal solicita-
tions from posts and departments, unless the
fed in writing, duly attested by, the department
commander to which the comrade making the
appeal belongs and approved by national head
quarters. No appeal for any worthy or legiti-
mate object would be refused by either national
or department headquarters.
Would Also Recommend
that the encampment take action preventing
posts from sending direct to Congress, or other
legislative bodies, petitions in the interest or at
the solicitation of individuals. 1t frequently
impedes the progress of legislation for the vet
Grams.
There are thousands of men in this country
their adopted country. This class Of ditizens
the Grand Army of the Republic welcome to
our shores. But there is another class who did
coming law-abiding citizens, but who were
driven from their own countries for the very |
crimes they are attempting to perpetrate on
be to overthrow law and order, or to destroy |
life by dynamite or the revolver. In q nation so
jealous of its liberties, there is no room for
ws em n o rdGea o @ sSeh
offences, and the witnesses of their impunity |
are tempted to- repeat their crimes. |
loyalty and Intelligence Of the country which
enjoys it, and every sentiment aiming at high |
or standard of patriotism, coming. not only |
from the Grand Army OF the Republic, but from |
ty and order, will have o decided influence ON |
the entire community. The man who does not |
respect the flag and all it represents, is at heart
a traitor and the sooner such men are made to |
feel the majesty of the law, the sooner will ma
ti0nal honor be maintained, and the better it |
will be for the future safety of life and proper |
ty. The Stars and Stripes must float supreme |
over every foot of our land.
(For additional E,acampnaent neaUs see letter on |
sirth page.)