The National tribune., 1894-12-06
THE RIGHT RING.

|
During the serious labor troubles in
Colorado last Summer Commander Rol-
Inns, of the Department of Colorado and
Wyoming, set forth with no uncertain
sound the sentiments Of the Grand
Army of the Republic. As a statement
of the principles Of the Order it cannot
be surpassed
| COMRADES or THE GRAND ARMY In
view of the lessons of loyalty you learned
ia your efforts, by war, TO suppress rebellion
| against the United States, its flag, its Con-
stitution, and its laws; in view of the obi
| CATION you assumed when mustered into
this Order TO defend and maintain this
| Government and its institutions, the recent
events and the growing sentiment of diSre-
| gard of the obligations Of citizenship and
of the social and property rights of others,
| should admonish every comrade OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic, as we'll as
! every honorable man, who ia, by service in
Army or Navy of the United States, made
eligible TO membership in our ranks, that
serious crisis threatens us rs Nation.
Within the last year great bodies of men,
suffering under sense of real or fancied
wrongs. instead of seeking redress through
the constituted and legal channels, through
the courts, if the laws were adequate, or
by legislation if inadequate, have under
taken by violence, by the destruction OF
property, and, in some instances, of human
life, to correct the wrongs OF which they
complained.
Considered seriously and in its true light,
this is rebellion, varying only III degree
from that which came so near etfectlng the
total destruction of all Government of the
people, by the people, and for the people,
upon this continent, and from which you
and your comrades by the tender, and in so
many cases, the sacrifice of life, saved the
Nation nearly 80 years ago.
No man can be loyal to his Government
and its institutions, and at the same time
look with indifference upon the open viola
ton of its laws in the wilful destruction of
the lives and property of its citizens In all
the recent disturbances of business and
social relations in this country, the absence
of the Grand Army badge and button has
been especially noticeable. But this is not
enough! BY your voice, also by your ex-
ample, proclaim your djsapprObation of
every sentiment, as well as of every overt
act, that leads to or springs from dislOyalty
to our flag, our Constitution and our laws.
BY no other course can you be true to
the teachings of the founders and the pre-
servers of this Nation, also to the solemn
obligation assumed by you at the altar of
your Post.
Anarchy cannot exist in equal rank, side
by side, with loyalty in the same heart, In
the same society, or in the same State.
In declaring your adherence TO the princi-
pies of loyalty here eDunciated, you infringe
no pledge to refrain from discussion of pOlit-
ical subjects in the Order. In true politics
there is no place for disloyalty, either in
sentiment or in practice. While not assum-
ing TO pass judgment upon thu excuse of
him who violates his oath of citizenship I'M
der the pretext of wrong received to the
private rights of himself or his friend, GER
tain it is that no such excuse can satisfy the
conscience of him who learned his lesson of
loyalty on tie battlefield, confronted by
domestic enemy in open rebellion, and who
has kept that fire alive these many years on
the altar of the Post-room. 1t is only by
being loyal TO your Government, when its
laws, its citizens, or its rights are assailed,
that you can, in the true sense, be loyal to
each other.
By order Of n. ROLLINS, Department
Commander.
J.W. ANDERSON, Asst Adjutant- General.