The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13

Il
left unnoticed, unless attended to by
individual efforts Of posts near national
cemeteries, and in such cases IL was
larger burden than they should bear.
EARLY during this administration, and
ct the first meeting of the council of adj
ministration, l presented this matter,
and after a full discussion the comman-
der-in-chief was instructed to take charge
OF the business. Orders were issued set
ting forth the action of the council OF
administration and directing those desir-
ing to contribute funds for this purpose
TO send the same to the quartermaster-
general. That officer was instructed TO
purchase flags, and on requisition duly
made by posts in the vicinity of union
graves, Endorsed by the department COM
mander and commander-in-chief,t there
were issued and forwarded to such posts
the number of flags required. For this
! purpose many thousand American flags
were used. Every requisition was
promptly filled, and so far as / have
learned. all Union graves in the South
were this year decorated. Some of the
| cemeteries have never had flags sent
them and had no exercises until this
year.
There has thus been created a fund
for this special purpose, and there re-
mains I'm the same over and above
all expenditures for flags, expressage,
etc, the sum OF $7l495.
by adopting this course the whole
sum contributed goes into the hands Of
a national officer. IL was properly ac-
counted for; flags were purchased more
| cheaply on account OF the large number
| ordered; and. stu better. all the graves
were cared for instead OF comparatively
very few and the surplus remains at
| the disposal OF the order TO be used solely
for the purposes for which it was con-
tributed If there be n sufficient accumu-
| latlon I'm this fund IL will not be neces-
| sary TO ask for contributions yearly.
There WAS no money for this purpose
| In the hands OF the duartermaster gen-
| eral until the present, and it was be-
| lieVed but Just to ALL and II III keenly
appreciated by those localities IN the
South which have heretofore been neg
| lected.
During my travels In the South I
| visited a number OF national and other
cemeteries and conferred with many ofIl-
| GERS Of the order, and am convinced by
following this course much time. labor.
| annoyance and money VIII be saw cd
and general satisfaction given. IL H.,
| therefore. recommended that In the flu
| ture this course be pursued. and that
the rules ana regulations be so amended
as to prohibit any post. department or
comrade asking for aid for this purpose
| except as herein Indicated
National Homes.
There are inmates OF the national
/ and other homes for disabled soldiers
who are beautifully provided for. Many
have families which the veterans. on ac-
| count OF disabilities, are unable TO sup
port The veteran receives a pension in
addition 20 his support. and while many
/ cheerfully give the amount 80 received
10 those dependent on them. there are
| others Who refuse TO do SO. and the fam
| lily must do the best IL can 10 secure a
| livelihood | am Of the opinion, from n
| careful consideration Of this matter, that
| both the veteran and HIS family would
| be greatly benefited were the law SO
| amended as To require the major por-
| ton OF the pension money received by
| inmates OF soldiers homes to be paid
| direct TO the wife or other dependent,
| and / recommend this matter to tho IA
vorable consideration OF the encamp-
| ment.
THE duty we owe to our country Is
paramount 10 anything else. and IL Is
needless to assert that as an organiza-
| ton and az individuals the Grand Army
| OF the Republic always champions the
| enforcement of the laws OF the land,
and that It's membership Is sufficiently
| bToed-minded not to narrow this down
| 10 pension laws only, but to apply II
/ TO every law on the statute books OF
/ the country. No class OF citizens were
| more sincere, more determined In their
/ efforts TO enforce the laws than those,
| left home and friends and went out to
| support the same at the point of the
| bayonet In that class you and your
comrades Of the war only are numbered.
| II should not be forgotten the veteran
| is also a citizen. There has nothing &C.
Cured since those terrible days to
change your loyalty to your country.
| Loyalty now has the same significance
| IL had when the roar of the cannon
was first heard in Charleston harbor,
when traitors did their utmost not only
| to defy the laws, but to destroy this
| great nation.
1.-THE Grand Army Of the Republic is
| unalterably opposed TO the granting of
/ pensions to persons who are not justly
entitled to pensions under the law. But
these remedial statutes should receive
| "A broad and generous construction so
as 10 carry out the humane intentions
| Of the law-making power.
| mo organization Is worthy to exist
/ unless IL has laws for It's government
and rules for perpetuating its own life.
| ct has been my endeavor to encour-
| age the enforcement OF the laws OF the
| Grand Army Of the Republic, and In
| this I have the cooperation and hearty
approval of every loyal comrade.
Permanent Headquarters.
"Some reasonable way should be de-
vised for establishing a permanent place
for the archives and records Of the or
| der.
'If comrades are not ready to locate
headquarters, place at some central
point might be selected, where a fire
proof vault might be had, and IL Reces-
sary. a custodian for the archives and
property appointed. The custodian to
| give a bond and furnish supplies TO the
| departments, keep the records arranged
| and classified so as to furnish copies at
| any time. Such arrangement would re-
| lieVe the adjutant and quartermaster-
| generals Of mucn responsibility for the
| care OF valuable property of the order,
| constantly exposed to destruction by
| fire and loss In transportation from one
tional encampment.
1.-THE Acknowledgement relieved from
anxiety on this account could give more
| time to the legitimate duties Of that posi-
ton. and the quartermaster-genera
would become solely custodian of the
moneys and the disbursing officer Of the
| order.
Memorial Day.
This day. sacred above all others to
the veterans of the union army, was
more generally observed this year than
ever before. There is scarcely a ceme-
| terry where the union dead lie buried
which was not visited. In the South. at
| the great national cemeteries. near the
| fields where our comrades fell and now
have final resting place, impressive
exercises were held to commemorate
/