The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-27
rax xsxr q. 4. n. gS1aMpMEST.

~
The next national encan1srnent Of the
Grand Army OF the Repubaic viii be
held at Louisville. Ky. IL Was ip re-
sponss TO the urgent and eloquent ap-
peal OF Henry WaSterxon, editor OF the
CONSTITUTIONAL, that at the last en-
campmeni, by vote almost unanimous.
the boys decided to pitch their tents
next time Ia Louisville. That their wei
come will be hearty. that II viii be
full CT genuine Kentucky hospitality Is
not a subject Of doubt or discussion.
But if it were. if there were lurking
dlstrust, or suggestion OF possible Lack
OF axdvr in the reception OF the old vet
Grams, the veteran editor. with all the
force and eIoquenee OF which he is ca
pabse. urges upon the people OF his
city to embrace this splendid opportu-
nifty for a national recognition OF Its
PATRIOTISM and Observation-Disclosures in
these words.
'sThe city OF Louisville never before
had 50 great q chance to distinguish
itself Even upon the lower level OF
mere self-interest 1t Is a chance offer
ing many returns for all its OUTLAWS.
But upon the higher plane. where state
and local pride walk hand in hand. fed
by the memory of past deeds. fired by
the aspirations and hopes of present
manhood. 1t should. and 1t win, fill the
bosom of every true Kentuckian, of
every true American living in Ken
lucky. with an exhilara ing sense of his
own personality, a CHEEKY. breezy sense
Of his own relation 10 the event, his in
dividaal opportunity and duty; the OPP
portunffy OF advancing the cause Of
national uniflcation and fraternity. by
the interchange of gracious courtesy
between friends. who were once enc
niles and upon a battle line where all
are comrades now.''
The sentiment embodied In the clos
ing lines of the above quotation finds
fuller expression In the tribute paid the
organization and It's membership in an
other paragraph, In which not alone
: does Mr.. Watterson strike the keynote
of genuine hospitality and comradeship,
but refutes a widespread and malicious
caIumny invented and circulated by and
with a malevoience. characteristic OF
sordid and envious natures. the spirit
manifested in stigmatizing pensioners
as paupers. and assuming that app,i-
cants therefor are prina facie frauds
and hypocrltes, unworthy of credence
and incapable of honest dealing. Read
this tribute 10 the Grand Army of the
Republic, and then compare its senti-
ments with the policy Of the pension
bureau. which assumes each applicant
for aid to be a swfndler, or the declar-
alton OF Grover Cleveland that every
neighborhood is infested with fraud
ulent pensioners.
The notion that the Grand Army of
the Republic is a mere partisan machine
and that its members embrace too large
proportion of the tougher grades of
the military element is very wide OF the
mark. The Grand Army of the Repub-
lie is composed of the bone and sinew
or the North and West. 1t is Offered
by brave and honorable American SOL
diers. There is nothing about it's annual
sessions that does not appeal to mems
tenderest. purcst senibilities. We can as
safely admit its war-worn veteran to
our homes as We could our brothers re-
turned after long wanderings in foreign
lands; somewhat elder than they were:
somewhat battered. 1t may be; but
strong, sturdy representatives of the
race we are proud to claim as our own:
heroes yeonen: countrymen all.'