Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-01
ARivaltothc Grand Army.

The passing OF another memorial day
sees the Grand Army Of the Republic
in trouble, which has already become Sc
rious, and one o. the possible results OF
which is the organization OF an order rival
to the Grand Army. AS our readers have
already learned the charter of tho Noah l..
Farnham Post, G. \. r., OF New y ork
city has been annulled for passing resolu-
tions on the pension question hostile to tue
principles OF the Grand Army of thu Re-
public. The alleged ground for this step is
that the wide dissemination of the resou-
tons was without the approval of the de-
partment and national commander, as re-
qured by the rules, and that the post
would not appear before the council OF ad-
miniitration to purge itself OF contempt. -
For time after the ennullment Of its
charter Farnham post announced that it
would fight out the issue and have the
validity of the annullment passed upon by
the national encampment, if indeed the case
was not taken into the courts. However
| harmless the resolutions passed may have
| been at the outset, the subsequent attitude
of the post and its refusal to appear before
! the council OF administration constituted in
| subordination which it was impossible tor
| the authorities of the organization to over
look, and accordingly the posts charter was
annuled by the New York department com
msuder, with the authority of the COM
manderin. chief.
The disarmament OF the post as a branch
of the Grand Army was later followed by
its reorganization as an Independent asso-
citation, and the controversy has been dis
cussed with great zeal in Grand Army and
veteran circles. The dispute has alread y
taken political turn, which may prove to
be OF far reaching Significance. On one
side, it is alleged that the charter of tue
post was wrongfuly cancelled, and that the
real reason for its cancellation was its de-
claration against dishonest pensions, and
not its violation of the rules OF the order.
On the other side, it is asserted that tbs
disbandment Of the post was fully justified,
and that its action on pensions was the re-
suit of partisan scheming to create dssen
sion in the Grand Army. Plausible argu-
ments are advanced upon both sides and
Farnham post is rapidly getting into poll
tics, although its case cannot be said ia
have yet become an actual political ISSUE
direct result OF the controversy is tn,
project to form a rival organization to th,
Grand Army, and that the proposition il
made in all seriousness is show n by the fac
that the disbanded post calls itself, "No
of the Independent Veterans, which plainly
indicates the expectation that other branche
oithe order will be established. The chance
are, however. that this expectation will no
be realized to any particular extent. Tn
Grand Army of the Republic is al
organization which has been built VI
after years OF patient, persistent and enthu
siastic effort, and it contains the flower o
the Veterans of the union army. The new
order of V Grams cannot hope to split thu
present o .anization OF the Grand Army o
the Republic. The members OF the Grant
/ Army are held together by mystic ii
stronger than iron links or letters OF brass
Having fought aud suffered together upo
the field OF battle, and grown old bound to
- gether by the indissoluble ties of fraterna
= love, it is too late in the history OF Tia
D Grand Army for the veterans as q body t
| clash to the point of dsunion over the ques
s ton of pensions.
I The grand army will never split and i
- the Independent order OF veterans so calle,
1 were to grow 1t would We through the effort
q OF those veterans WI, ara outside of tn
{ older order. lu, $50 = movement wou
require years OF labor and The advanced az
u of the veterans would OF it,elf render tn
{ success OF such II movement Impossible.
But even il there were no limit numel
+ ically to the independent order it cou!
9 never hope to repeat the success which ha
q been achieved by the Grand Army of tn
g Republic. The veteran organization wa
d founded ON the principles of patriotism
r fraternity and cooperation, and II
J. very watch word OF the now organizatio
Il would be disuuiou and brothsrly hate 10
Is the members OF the Grand Army. I'll
IT very object Of its formation would milltat