The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-29

.s o"a, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota. Kan
IT, ~a, Missourl, Tennessee, Maryland, WASH
,WHg.on City tPotomac). Pennsylvania,
Ion;s iofk' New Jersey in 1866; Michigan,
sMas. Colorado. Virginia, New Mexico.
crane crane, New Hampshire. Massachusetts,.
TteAa..Ioar,nla, Rhode Island, Connecticut in
400; west Virginia, Florida. Texas. Mon
, ,ana. delaware, Vermont in 1865: Oregon.
. .oos' Washington, 1877; Utah. 1878; Ari-
1 1oon, 1871; Dakota, Idaho, 1882; Georgia,
$50; aIaoama, 1889 The state Of Missis-
Tipp. Is attached to the department of
Inc twenty-sixth annual session of the
,na.ionai encampment of the G.. A. r. ia
neio this year. Since 1865 sessions have
o lei heid IN the following cities: Indian
apols. twice; Philadelphia, twice: Gin
i ana washington: Boston. twice; Cleye-
pnrovldence, Springfield, Mass, Albany.
layton, o., Baltimore, Denver. Minneap.
OILS, Portland. Me-, San Francisco St.
Louis, Columbus. O., Milwaukee. wis.
our ommauders-in-chief have been Ste
Phen A. Hurlout. Illinois; John A. Logan,
Ipth, n4. three years; A. f. Burnside,
ievens, iis r aass awb years Charles
John F: Hartranft. Pennsylvania two
years; J: c. Robinson, New York. two
years; William Earnshaw, Ohio: Louis
wagner, pennsylvania; George s. Mer-
III, Massachusetts; Paul Vandervoort,
Nebraska; Robert B. Beath, Pennsylvania;
John S. Kuntz. Ohio: S. S. Bnrdett'
washington; Lucus Fairchild, Wiscon-
SIN; John Z. Rae. Minnesota; William
w arne-. Missouri; Russell A. Aiger. Mich
igan; Wheelock q. Veazey, Vermont.
ueherais Grant, Sherman. Sheridan,
~ hayes Eyes Harrison, Alger. siocum, Logan
IN lact nearly all the prominent military
readers OF the war, joined the organization
IN the earl y days Of its history, and all of
them took an active part in the work of
the order.
Today the G. A. r. numbers over 1000
posts, with nearly half million members.
Inc progressive growth in membership
may be illustrated in the yearly gains from
1870 to 1889 inclusive. In 1877 the total
gam was $50; 1878, 1887; 1879, 13, 1856; 1885,
lo,sS2; 1881, 25,222; 1882. 4S. S45. 1883. So
10: 1884. 57,772; 1885. 21,6l9; 1886, %. 7S4:
1851, 32.3i5; 1883, 1904 1889, 25,0I4.
PROBABLY the most striking and impor-
tant resolution presented before the ma
tionai encampmenfs of late years was that
In regard TO the Confederate flag. This
resolution was presented two years ago at
Boston and stated that "the frequent dis
play IN public places and upon public
occasions of the Confederate flag, which
was the chosen emblem of rebellion, is an
anront to patriotism, encourages dislov-
atty and lessons respect for our govern.
ment and the stars and stripes which is
the flag of the Union" 1t was recon-
mended that such display should be for
Dldden by United States law. This reso-
luton was adopted. l am sometimes
asked If 1t met with the general approval
OF the members of the order. In my official
capacity l have travelled nearly 10000
miles in my visits to different state en-
campments. Up to this time have at
tended twenty-four encampments and in
every state have visited the action of the
national encampment was Endorsed with
unbounded enthusiasm. Why, there is
only room for one dag IN this country.
Every loyal American citizen will admit
this fact whether he fought for or against
the Union.
Some time since I was very much
amused over a discussion between two
Celtic citizens. One had served in the
Union army and the other in the Confed-
crate. The latter said TO the Union vet
eran: This commander of yours is kick
ing up a devil of fuss about our little
flag. What right has he to say we can't
carry the fiag2 Shure, and didn't we
fight under it? And didn't we bleed I'M
der it? And didn't We go down to DEBATE
under it? And haven't we a right to
reverence it? And. shure, don't we sleep
wild it?"
The Union veteran replied: "Shure,
who cares about your old flag? Shure.
don't we know you's fought under it?
And didn't we's licl, you? You may riv-
erence your old flag and may the diviI
take your old flag, and We can go to shleep
wild it and never wake up. It's not your
old dag that We care about, but d--n We,
We have no business to be maxim new
ones"
In the matter of pensions the majority
of the members of the G. A. r. favored
the per diem bill which provided for
man according to the amount of service
rendered, but the last bill passed by con-
gress was so generous that the members of
the order have not been disposed to ask
for additional pension legislation except
in cases of inequality. That is to say,
there was no reason why one widow should
receive SO per month and another Sl2. In
some cases, too, pensions were not ade-
ouate to the character of the disability in
Cured.
For twenty-six years. during the entire
existence of the G.. A R., politics has been
kept out of the order. Every inspiration
in our organization is ennobling, and by
its principles of fraternity, charity and
LOYALTY it has established the grandest
brotherhood and school of patriotism the
world has ever known. This great asso-
citation of Union veterans was not organ
lied to perpetuate she bitterness and
hatred engendered by the war, but TO
strengthen those ties which were welded
in the fire of battle, and by the bright ex-
ample of our lives to point out 10 the ris-
ing generation that eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty.
In the words of past commander-in-
chief of the G.. A. R.. mo child can be
born into it; no proclamation OF president.
edict of king or ukase Of car can COM
mand admission; no university or insttu-
ton of learning can issue diploma au-
thorizing Its holder to entrance; no act of
congress or parliament secures recogni-
ton: the wealth OF a Vanderbilt cannot
purchase the position; its doors swing
open only upon presentation OF the bit OF
paper. torn, worn. begrimed IL may De-
which certiiies to an honorable discharge
from the armies or navles OF the nation
during the war against rebellion
john PALMER,
COMMANDMENT Chief Il. A. X.
MAY.