The National tribune., 1892-09-22

| structure may
BE MADE so ORNATE AND so ATTRACTIVE
that it will command the admiration of all
who visit it, and be source of pride to
every veteran who marched with his Chief
to victory"
Comrades will recall the fact that ID was
the members of the Grand Army of the Re-
public 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 OIner was placed upon his
breast when he was laid in his coffin; that
one was also deposited in the cornerstone
of his tomb, and that the Commander-in-
Chief is trustee charged with the building
and care of the tomb, so that the Grand
Army of the Republic will always be in
separately associated with the entombment
OF their Chief and with the National Me-
moral which Is to mark his grave.
Now that our citizens have contributed q
fund larger than ever received from volun-
tary contributions for any similar object in
history, nothing could rebound more to the
credit OF our surviving veterans than the
record of the fact that their contributions
had so far supplemented the present build
ing fund as to be instrumental in adding the
chief beauty to the monument.
GRANT COTTAGE.
The Grand Army of the Republic took
possession of this property in 1889, and since
that time over $4,000 people have visited it.
The Department of New York appropriated
funds for some necessary repairs, and pay
Tor the leaflets" describing the cottage and
Its contents, which are given gratuitously to
visitors The law incorporating the Associa-
ton prohibits the sale for purposes of gain,
anything on the premises, and the custodian
has faithfully obeyed the law in letter and
In spirit The Grant Memorial Association
mas an absolute title to the cottage and the
lot 300 feet square, upon which it stands.
Inc cost of care and maintenance i5 now
borne by the National Encampment.
There was strong sentiment on the part
OF both comrades and citizens that this
property should be held by the Government,
and my predecessors had recommended and
the Encampment approved resolution
asking Congress to purchase the property
and provide for its permanent care I person
ally brought the matter to the attention of
Congress, but no action was taken at the last
session. A patriotic citizen, who asks that
his name shall not be made public, offers to
subscribe the sum of $4,000 toward per-
manent fund for the care OF this historic
building. If such O fund could BE- estab-
llshed the organization would be relieved
from yearly expense, which increases on
account of necessary repairs.
1 would therefore recommend that the
National Encampment ask Department
Commanders to make an appeal to their re-
spective Posts for contribution of five cents
from each member, to create fund to be
sent to the Quartermaster-G 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 the
cottage and grounds.
PREFERENCE TO VETERANS IN THE GOV
EMINENT 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 Gov
eminent, in Section 1854 of the Revised
Statutes %. 81, has frequently been ignored.
The committee appointed by this admin
istration have devoted much patient time
and labor, without expense to the Encamp-
ment, in endeavoring to secure what Is be- |
lieved was intended by the Congress which |
passed the law, and by our martyr President.
Lincoln, who signed it.
While they did not accomplish all they
desired, the work is so well in hand 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 accom-
panying their report.
THE COLUMBIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATION.
The President Of the Worlds Congress of
The Columbian Exposition, organized by the |
Of Education, proposed that
the 4O0th anniversary of the discovery of
America be celebrated by national school
An invitation was extended |
to tho Grand Army of the Republic, through |
National Headquarters, that this celebration |
should be under the direct patronage of our
Order. This service, through the Grand
Army Of the Republic, would give to the |
100000 of public-school children an OBJ
|ect-lesson in patriotism never to be forgot
ten. As this celebration will occur Oct. 81,
1899, under the Presidents proclamation,
I preferred that the details for the parade
should be left to my successor to promul-
gate. I have already communicated with
Department Commanders, urging them to
give this patriotic project their cordial sup
port.
We fought for our children the battles
that they might have been compelled to en-
counter. We have given them heritage of
peace and prosperity, instead Of an enor-
nous and expensive litigation to be settled
By a jury of soldiers. Deeds must be behind
words to give them their greatest signif-
canoe and force, and the loyalty taught our
children by deeds of valor not only strength
sns them through life, but viii continue in
The minds of those who follow by the rec
,rds which we leave behind us. I believe
hat patriotism should be taught in every
,ubIio school Il, tha land Our children |