The National tribune., 1892-01-07
NOT A GAR. DEMAND.


themselves over the bill of Senator Petit
CREWS which proposes that the Government
shall appropriate 100000 to aid the City of
Washington in entertaining the visitors 10
the next National Encampment This, of
course, is made the text Of violent denuneia-
lions OF the inordinate greed, the organized
rapacity," etc, Of the Grand Army OF the
| Republic. In this, as in most things con-
nected with the veterans OF the war which
these papers attempt to discuss they are
densely ignorant and generally Indignantly
/ so.
As matter Of fact, the Grand Army of
the Republic has made no request for any
! appropriation whatever. 1t has not even
limited at such a thing. No one in it has
authority TO ask Congress in its name for
any kind Of egislatiOn-except the special
! powers delegated 10 the Committee on Pen
sions-but the National Encampment, and
the last one-that held i'm Dstroit-was not
even asked 20 consider such proposition.
The matter stands on an entirely differ
ent basis. The City Of Washington invited
the Grand Army Of the Republic TO hold its
26'h National Encampment in her limits.
There were other contestants FOR that honor,
but Washington carried off the prize, her
invitation being accepted. Having accepted
the invitation, the comrades Of the Grand
Army of the Republic have no further in
teTest or duty in the matter than TO come
hither TO the Encampmcut and enjoy the
entertainment which Washington shall pro-
vide. IL is for the host TO provide the en-
tertainment, not the guests, and Washing
toms interest and honor are involved in
providing that the entertainment shall be
adequate and satisfactory. 1t is also TO the
interest and honor Of the entire country
that the men whose valor saved the Nation
shall be properly cared for when they visit
its Capital as an organized body. This IS
where the reason fUT such an appropriation
as senator Peitigrew proposes comes in. In
other cities where National Eacampments
have been held their States have given lib
eraI assistance to the Municipal Govern
ments. The only exception to this was
Detroit, the appropriation in aid Of which
was churlishly vetoed by the Governor Of
Michigan Washington has no State Gov
eminent 20 aid her; she has only the Ma
tional Government, which has acted toward
her with injustice and illiberality, and sad
died her with many expenses that properly
belong to the General Government. To
make such an appropriation as Senator Pet
tigrew proposes would not only be a decent
thing for Government which has received
so much from lie citizen-veterans TO do to-
ward their proper entertainment when they
arc gathered in its capital, but il would also
do much 10 incline the scales TO justice SO
far AS los treatment Of the people and prop
erty holders Of Washington is concerned.
The matter does not concern the Grand
Army comrades. AS guests they cannot
dictate or even suggest as TO their enter
tainment Washington has promised TO take
care Of them-therefore she must take care
Of them, whether the Government aids her
OF not As we have repeatedly pointed out,
the comrades do not 60 to any city as men
cants. They 20 thiiher as other American
citizens attend all great gatherings. They
pay fun value-generally mOre-for all
that they get. Where 81 is spent in prepar-
ing for them, they spend hundreds among
the people who make the contributions.
They spent fully s. 100000 among the peo-
pie If Detroit, and viii pay out at least
double that amount in this city. That is
the kind Of bergars that every city likes
10 have come 10 town"