St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-26
FARNHAM POST ANDTHE GAR

NO recent event mas ellclteu the COLL
ment Oh stirred the feeling that has
been caused by the suspension OF the
New York post by It's department COM
mandery and the confirmation of its
action by the national commander.
When the resolutions were first pub
lished they attracted some attention,
and the comment was generally of an
approving nature. They were, how
ever so repugnant to the mercenary
spirit which has of late years dominated
the q. A. R.; they were such rebuke
of its position, that an old and obsolete
rule Of the national encampment, one
that Commander WEISSERT himself has
violated repeatedly, was invoked to
punish the post. That rule for babe the
publication of resolutions until they
had been submitted to and approved
by the department commander. 1t was
an absurd rule, having no good purpose
in its inception, and could only be used
as it has now been used. to attempt TO
Stitle the free expression of opinion.
AS the action of the post. which has
organized as post of independent vet
Grams. and its treatment by the national
commandery will be far-reaching in
their effects upon the G. A. r. and pub
lie opinion, we give in full the resolu-
tons adopted by the Farnham post last
March,
Whereas, 1t is apparent to this post that
some recent ill-consdered speeches made i'll
congress in regard to pension laws are cal
culated to do serious injury to the reputa-
tons of old soldiers and sailors and to the
Grand Army of the Republic; and
Whereas, The only veterans entitled to
pensions are those who, by wounds or dis
abilities incurred in the service of their
country, are prevented from earning living
in their respective callings, as they might
have done had such wounds or disabilities
not been incurred, and whose circumstances
are such as to justify them in calling On the
country for aid and support; and
Whereas, The Grand Army of the Republic
is an association organized for the purpose of
enabling old soldiers and sailors to take care
of themselver and each other; and
Whereas, AS much real patriotism may be
shown by refraining in time of peace from
inflicting unnecessary burdens on the coun-
try as by coming to her defense in time of
war; therefore, be it
Resolved, That any old soldier or sailor
who applies for or accepts a pension except
under the conditions above set forth, is, in
the opinion of this post, guilty of conductcal
cufated to injure the good men who were and
are willing to'give their lives for their country
without any reward save the approval of
their own conscience and that honorable
fame which is due to every patriot
Resolved That of tbnGn rnsOln-
tions be sent to the president of the United
States, to the United States senators from
this state and to the representatives in con-
gress from this city. accompanied by letter
from the commander of the post urging
upon them to use their best endeavors to
have the pension laws SO revised as to make
them applicable only to such soldiers and
sailors as are indicated in the preamble to
this resolution, and to such persons as were
Immediately dependent upon such soldiers
or sailors during or within ten years after
the expiration of their term of enlistment.
Resolved. That this post urgently requests
all posts in the Grand Army of the Republic
TO take. as soon as may be, similar action to
this, to the end that the ;eproach may be
taken away from the Grand Army that it is a
charity seeking organization and a tool i'll
the hands of the claim agents.
The order of Commander in Chief
WEIssEBT, confirming the action of the
New York department, says that the
purpose of Farnham post in passing
these resolutions was plainly for a
purpose hostile to the principles of the
&. A. r" The country stands indebted
to the commander-in-chi for his frank
ness. It'will read these resolutions to
find what there is in them that war
ranted the disbanding of the post. 1t
will see that they demand the purging
OF the pension rolls of the frauds on it,
and the restriction of pensions to basis
that all will admit is right and just. The
public will then conclude that if such
sentiments "are hostile to the principles
of the G. A. r." as the commander-in-
chief asserts, then 1t is high time that
the G. A. r. change principles which
are not only inimical to the public well
fare, but insulting to every man who
ever WOrthily wore the blue