Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-07
MAINE G. A. R.
Our Veterans Attending Annual
Encampment at Bangor.
Address Of Department Commander
Wainwright Cushing.
commaEder.in Chief Adams PFeseni-Gov-
srbos cleavss Expected Tedsy.

BANGOR, r ED. o.-lDe annual encamp-
ment of the G. A. R., opened this morning
10 the City hall with an attendance af about
300 delegates. Department Commander
Wainwright Cushing of Foxcroit, called
meeting to order. After prayer by the
chaplin, Rev. C. A. Southard of Thomas
ton, the address of the commander was
given:
Abstract o. Commander cushins's Address.
Comrades: The rapid flight Of time has
brought us to this, 4 ur 27th annual eDcamp-
nent. How quickly the years speed by !.
When we we're young they seemed to move
sith all the prov erbial slowness and vexa-
iious delays with which the mule teams
c.ept along the "cracker line" bearing hard
tack to the hungry boys in blue. But now
they rush along ith the ever increasing
speed of the lightning express over the lines
Of steel. We may cry:
Backward. turn backward. time, in your
fight,'
nut our call is unheeded, and our backward
look is only memory.
The sacred trust and honor which your
generous kuffrages conferred on me one
year ago, l now return to You, l trust, un-
immed and untarnished. Conscious of
inpp rfections. have yet tried to discharge,
faithfully and impsrtially, the duties of this
command. | take this opportunity to ex-
press my gratitude to the subordinate Off.
ers of the department, to the members of
ny staff, ard to all post commanders and
comrades, ith whom have come into offi-
,iAl relations, for their ready sympathy and
hearty cooperation in all the work which
Se have undertaken for the good of the Or
der. trust tha. the official pathway of
ny successor may be as smooth and pleas.
ant in this respect as mine has been.
The commander made reference to the
leath of Gen. James A.. Hall in fitting
rms. He congratulated the department
on the pleasant fact that but one question
of difference or discipline had come to his
attention that he thought Of sufficient i'm
portance to submit to the judge-advocate.
During the year he had visited posts in
upper Penobscot and Aroostook counties
and found them fourishing.
Speaking of the Maine Relief Corps
Home, he said At our last annual en-
campment movement looking to the es-
adjustment of home for aged and dis
,bled veterans and their wives, the needy
widows and children of deceased veterans,
md for army nurses, past labor, was hear,-
ily endorsed and a committee was sp-
)inted to act in conjunction with q COM
nittee of the Woman's Relief Corps, De-
partment of Maine, to formulate plans to
further such project. The joiut committee
entered enthusiastically upon its work.
permanent organization has been effected !;
the Maine Relief Corps Home has been in
corporated; contribu ions have begun to
come in; the representatives of several
t)wns have been looking into the matter
with the view of offering donations of lsnd
Ind money to secure the location of the
home with them. The financial depression
/, having its effects in delay ing the consum-
nation of this object. But with the hearty
sympathy and support of all interested in
,uch home it may soon be an established
act instead of a project. And what more
sorthy OF needed object can claim our sup
port than the establishment of home
Shere the aged and disabled veteran and
he wife of his bosom may 80 down ths
1ill of life together. where the help
ess soldiers widow with her dependent
hildren, wifeless father and his mother
less children who need care that he 10 un-
,ble to give and the aged and dependent
father and mother who laid their sons, their
Ill, on the alter of their country in the
,ixties, and are now left alone in the world
where all these needy ones may find the
.onforts the care, n d the love, of home
provided BY us, aud those in whose behalf
they we'll nigh suffered the loss of all
things?" How ehall we better carry out the
principles of our order, and scare for him
who shall have borne the battle, AMI for his
widow and his orphans?"
The Womens Relief Corps and Sons of
Veterans work for the past year was men,
toned in the highest terms and his word,
FOR a proper observance of Memorial day
and the disapproval of the tendency to make
il a holiday solely for the enjoyment Of
sports, we're received with marked approval.
In the matter of pensions and her aid
In our needy comrades, our good State has
been both just and generous. | would
recommend the committee on pensions urge
our next Legislature to make at least a.
generous appropriations for this object -
were made by the last Legislature.
Concerning the subject of national pen
sions, something ought to be said. and said
plainly. Let Us approach the subject can
didly and without passion. We grateful,
scknow ledge that our government has. as
. rule, dealt generously with it, veteran de-
Tenders. Vast sums of money have been
psid ia the aggregate to relieve the distress
Of our wounied and disabled comrades.
There has ever been class of low politi
clans Who have sneered at all pensioners.
and even all Grand Army men as ."bum-
mers, ..bounty jumpers, coffee coolers
etc. But the great mass of the loyal peo-
nile have not been carried away by thess
slanderous epi,hets. The public sentiment
Of ! grateful country has found expression
ia the proge ssive pension legislation. Many
have felt for few years that the time had
come when every veteran defender of the
Union should receive pension from the
government which he helped to save. In
heu of this the Law of 1890 was passed, by
which every disabled Union soldier. and bis
needy dependents, are entitled to 4 pension
"a from &c to $l2 per month, according to
the measure Of disability. This law, was
accepeed q settling the pension
QUESTION for some years TO cone.
lit began to be administered faitL-