Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21
mittee Of the council Of administration q re-
quired by resolutions Of the encampment
GRANT roMR


GRANT roMR-
For seven years the body Of our old general
in-chief had been allowed TO romain In an open
city park in rude temporary shelter. This
neglect had become a standing reproach and
Illuminating 90 every surviving comrade. Last
spring the Grant Monument Association was
reorganized and enlarged by legislative en-
actment, and under the leadership OF Comrade
Horace Porter 1T determined to push the
work of erecting a fitting tomb 10 successful
completion. The commander-in-chief Of the
Grand Army of the Republic elected a
trustee of the ASSOCIATION. 1 suggested 20 COM
rade Porter the propriety of constructing
within the monument suitable repository IN
which could be placed the autographs sigma
lures OF surviving comrades OF the Grand ARMY
of the lsepublic; that these signatures should be
written upon carefully prepared parchment
paper, SO as TO last for all time TO come, and be
collected under the supervision Of post COM
manders who would certify to their correctness.
I These pages 70 be bound uniformly in volumes.
properly indexed and accessible at all times 20
visitors. l believed that every soldier and
sailor in the land would deem it an honorable
distinction 10 have his ma ne upon this roll. and
would cheerfullv contribute the sum of 81 10
defray the expense of constructing the re-
pository. indeXinG. binding and collecting the
ron and devote any balance to the completion
OF the tomb. Ny proposition was accepted by
the association, as viii be seen by the following
resolution:
Resolved. That the architect OF the associs-
ton Is hereby directed 10 make provisions in
,he construction of the monument for suita-
Die repository, in which shall be placed Ii
bTary designed to hold the volumes containing
the signatures of surviving comrades of the
Grand Army OF the Republic"
lhl5 project did not emanate from the Grant
Monument Association, nor did thai associa-
uoa entertain ii with view of making II n
source OF revenue. | knew that no comrade
nil Il. - Il. II
the expense OF the building fund for the tomb.
but would prefer 10 bear the expense himself
and would gladly let aux surplus which might
accrue go toward increasing the building fund.
The Monument Association is faithfully car
rying out it's part OF the understanding. The
| epo'ltory has been put under construction.
and the parchment rolls are being prepared and
viii be furnished 70 the posts rapidly pos
slb!2 sincerely hope that department COM
manders will give this project their earnest
support The only proper repository for such
an honor roll is in great national memorial.
indestructible BY fire. and located in the me-
tropolis. with the volumes containing the roll
accessible at all times 20 visitors. IL win be a
priceless boon to postcrity down to the remotest
generations To be able 20 look upon the anthem
tic signatures of ancestors whose courage de-
Tended and preserved the unity of the nation.
In response 10 a recent inquiry from me
10 whether sufficient funds had been raised to
complete the tomb Comrade Porter replied a.
follows:
Our citizens responded generously to the
call and enough money has been raised to
enable the association to put under con-
struction the granite work forming the main
structure of the tomb. A large sum of money
in addition will be required TO line the crypt
with marble and otherwise decorate the int
nor, provide for the proper establishment of
the structure and grounds and the portrait and
decorative sculpture and supply the sarcopha-
gus. SO that the structure may be made so
ornate and so attractive that it will command
the admiration of all who visit it and be a
source OF pride to every veteran who marched
with MS chief to victory"
Comrades will recall the fact that il was the
members of the Grand Army of the Republic
who formed the guard of honor that guarded
the remains of Comrade Grant from the hour
OF his death until his burial. that the badge of
our order was placed upon his breast when he
was LAID in his coffin. that one was also depos-
ited in the cornerstone OF his tomb. and that
the commander-in-chief Is a trustee charged
with the building and care of the tomb, so
that the Grand Army of the Republic will
always be inseparably associated with the en-
tombment of their chief and with the national
memorial which is to mark his grave.
Now that our citizens have contributed a
fund larger than any ever received from volnn-
tary contributions for any similar object in
history. nothing could rebound more to the
credit of our surviving veterans than the record
| Oh me lact that tatif contributors had sO lar
supplemented the present building fund as to
be instrumental in adding the chief beauty TO
| the monument.
GRANT COTTAGE.
| The Grand Army of the Republic took pos
session OF this property in 1888. and since that
time over fifty thousand people have visited it,
| The Department of New York appropriated
| funds for some necessary repairs and paw for
the leaflets describing the cottage and It's
contents, which are given gratuitously TO visit
ors. The law Incorporating the association
prohibits the sale for purposes of gain. any
thing on the premises, and the custodian has
faithfully obeyed the law in letter and in
spirit. The Grant Memorial Association has an
absolute title to the cottage and the lot. 800
feet square. upon which il stands. The cost
of care and maintenance is now borne by the
national encampment.
There was a strong sentiment on the part of
both comrades and citizens that this property
| should be held by the government and nv pre-
decessors had recommended and the encamp-
ment approved resolution asking Congress TO
purchase the property and provide for its per-
manent care. / personally brought the matter
~ the attention of Congress. but no action was
taken ut the last session. A patriotic citizen,
who asks that his name shall not be made pub
lie. offers TO subscribe the sum of $4,000 to-
ward permanent fund for the care of this his
toric bnilding. IL such fund could be estab.
lished the organization would be relieved from
yearly expense, which increases on account Of
necessary repairs.
/ would therefore recommend that the ma
tional eucampmeut ask department command
ers TO make an appeal to their respective posts
for a contribution of five cents from each men,
Der TO create fund to be sent to the quarter
master general. and through him TO be turned
over to the Grant Memorial Association, TO be
invested and the interest applied TO the annual
care of tie cottage and grounds.
VETERANS IN THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOY.
To protect the rights Of veterans Of the late
war is one of the cardinal principles Of our
order. The pledge made by the government in
section 1854 of the Revised Statutes ~. S. } has
frequently been ignored.
The committee appointed by this administra-
ton have devoted much patient time and
labor, without expense 70 the encampment, in
endeavoring to secure what is believed was in
tended by the Congress which passed the law
and by our martyr President, Abraham Lin
coin. who signed it.
While they did not accomplish all they de-
sired, the work is well in hand 1 have great
faith that they will succeed in their efforts at
the next session of Congress.
/ recommend that the committee be con-
tinued, and earnestly urge the adoption of the
resolutions and recommendations accompany
ing their report
THE COLUMBIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATION.
The president of the worlds congress Of the
Columbian exposition, organized BY the super
;,& 90 - A.