The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-21
VETERANS ASSEMBLED.
The Close of the G. A. R. En-
campment in This City.
BANQUET TO CHIEF CHILD.
Col. Daniel II. Ballou Talked of DIR.
Graves and His Case as It Appeared to
Him ss n Grand Army Comrade and
Lawyer.

The delegates and alternates elected by
the Rhode Island Department of the
Grand Army to the national epcampment
re: Delegate Mt large, Joseph b. Holmes.
of Phenix; alternate, John ii. jenkins,
Providence delegate, Edwin Clarkson of
Central Falls; Murdock G. Mckenzie Of
Providence; John T.. Lake of Newport;
alternates, John Mccain of Westerly,
Charles A. Barbour of Phenix, James L.
p Bucklin of Providence.
The council OF administration chosen
was as follows: James III. Richard, Noon-
socket; Joseph Il. Means, Pawtucket;
Charles +. Handy, Providence; Patrick
Egan, Providence; j. Harry Welch, Provi-
dence.
About 100 members of the Grand Army
attended the complimentary banquet To
the retiring department commander last
evening ut Gelb & Norton's. The new
commander David 5. Ray, presided. Past
Hon. III. j. Spooner spoke of the retiring
commander B. IA. Child, who replied
felicitously. Remarks were also made by
+. +. Prentiss, G. o. Ballou and IL. ,.
Olney.
Col. ID. II. BalIou.
Chief of Staff Daniel II. Ballou said
that after the six weeks duty which he
rade, Dr. Graves, from n charge Of the
highest crime in the entire calendar, he
should, perhaps, have remained at home
for rest, but the presence OF the old
soldiers was an irresisttable attraction.
when a comrade is in distress, if under
stand the principles Of our organization,
if we are to fulfill our obligations, we
must go to his rescue. Our obligations do
not end when we discharge our duty to
sick and disabled comrades. That is not a
duty requiring great degree OF moral
courage, but when an old comrade is
charged with the gravest crime from the
lowest to the highest in the catalogue of
crimes, we are bound under every prin-
ciple of our association and order, To go to
his rescue. OF course, our duty Is bound
by the moral and legal code.
"rhe principle that every man is pre-
sumed to be innocent until he Is proven
guilty. and he is not presumed TO be gull
ty until every bit of evidence adduced for
and against him has been carefully con-
slered by a jury of twelve of his country
men, appeals not only to our sense of JUS
tice and honor, but to our moral sense
Therefore, say, we are not to forsake "A
man because he is charged with crime
until it is judicially settled upon him.
Therefore / responded TO the professional
call Jor my services. Another fixed prin-
ciple is that every man charged with
crime shall have a fair and impartial trial,
within the boundary OF the law. Each
and every one Of us, whether LAWYERS,
merchants, doctors or agents of that pow
erful engine the press, should refrain
from throwing suspicion upon or making
accusations against any man who may be
accused of crime.
"What right has the press Of this coun-
try upon the commission of "a crime, unless
the positive fact Of guilt is established
what right have they to take up any man
and by systematic arrangement of words
and charges 10 arraign him, try him and
forestall the verdict OF judge and jury? i
speak of this that you may understand
that every man charged with crime has
the right TO "a fair and impartial trial, and
he cannot have fair trial under these
conditions. Therefore, 1 say, that to a
comrade in distress we owe and are bound
TO 20 to his rescue and secure for him
these fundamental rights, and l know that
your sense of justice is so strong that you
would not permit yourselves to forestall
the verdict OF the jury and the courts, or
pass Judgment upon any comrade or man
until he is given all the law allows him.
have nothing To say Oh the merits of the
case. That Is for you and me to beside for
ourselves but | do beseech you, my com
radcs with every reason to believe that
you will respond to it, that you defer your
Judgment until this case is finally ended"
A gold badge was presented TO the retir-
ing department commander.