The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-07

wifeless father and his motherless child
rem. who need care that he is unable to
give, and the aged and dependent father
and mother who laid their son, their
ali on the altar of their country in the
sixties, and are now left alone IN the
world-where all these Needy ones may
fna the con forts, the care, and the love
of home provided by us, and those in
whose behalf they well nigh suffered
the loss of all things? How shall we
better carry out the principles OF our Or
der and "care for him who shall have
borne the BATTLE and for his widow and
his orphans?"
Woman's Relief Corps.
We should be untrue to our history
and tradition if we failed to recognize
the noble work of our auxiliaries, the
National Women's Relief Corps of Ma inc
and the Woman's State Relief Corps. In
deed the loyal and patriotic women of our
land have ever been the inspiration and
help of the loyal and patriotic men. The
prayers and sympathy Of our loved ones
at home were our strength and support
in the bloody battle, the weary march,
the painful vigils, the fevered HOSPITALS,
the horrible prison pen. Yea, many OF
these noble women came to us to soothe
our wounds, lay the tender hand on our
fevered brow, and minister to our needs.
And now, with organizations perfected,
with loving hearts and open hands, they
are ever ready to minister to the needy
soldier and his distressed family. Their
relief is timely and tender. We crave
Heavens richest blessing upon them
all. We love them for their works sake.
We would gladly see them united under
one organization. But if this cannot be,
both orders shall equally share our graft
tude and affection. Like true and loyal
soldiers, we can stand the Establishments
of both. We could live peaceably and
happily with either. And as one OF my
predecessors quoted
g How happy could be with either.
were the other dear charmer away"
.But still it is not within our heart to
say to either one, Depart.
Sons of Veterans.
We must ever recognize that the "helrs
and assigns" of the Grand Army OF the
Republic are the Sons of Veterans. The
various camps throughout the State are
doing good work in performing escort
duty on public occasion, and preserving
and kindling the patriotic spirit among
those who are SO soon to take our place.
And when we realize that before many
wears the only organization which Will
feel the responsibility of keeping in
violate the sacred usages of Memorial
Day will be the Sons of Veteran, we see
the duty and Importance OF extending
aid and encouragement to all the Camps,
and of seeking to form others where they
can be sustained. Make them feel that
they are part of the Grand Army. The
time may come in the near future when
it will be the judgment of wisdom to
give them an organic connection with US.
Only thus can we prolong the existence
of our Order beyond the lifetime of the
present generation.
Memorial Day,
1t is with great pleasure that we see.
the growing interest that all the people
take in the services of Memorial Sunday
and Memorial Day. 1t is not only graft
tying to us to know that neither we, nor
our fallen comrades, shall be forgotten
by the people of this land, but also it
augurs well TO our beloved country.
Here on these sacred affairs are kindled
and rekindled the fire of patriotic de-
VOD1CH. WHICH, we bFuSU WILL dloAS
the mountain tops and down through
the valleys until the end of time Com
rades, let us ever remem Der the sacred i'm
port of Memorial Day, and so conduct as
to bring honor to ourselves and our fall
en- heroes. Let the children and the
youth be taught what these things mean
And let all our citizens know that the
day is for them as well as for us, and let
them be encouraged to use their best en-
beavers to bring about a proper and uni
versal observance of the OCCASION. Let
us in every possible way iscountenance
and discourage the tendency which seems
to be growing in some quarters to take
the time for races and contests and holl-
day games, wholly inconsistent with the
delightful solemnities and grateful recoi-
lections of the day. Memorial Day is
needed for our country as we'll as for us
and our fallen comrades
In the matter of pensions and other
aid to our needy comrades, our good
State has been both just and generous.
I would recommend that the Committee
on Pensions urge our next legislature to
make at least as generous appropriations
for this object as were made by the last
legislature.
Concerning the subject of National
Pensions. something ought to be said.
and said plainly. Let us approach the
subject candidly and without passion.
We gratefully acknowledge that our gov
ernment has, as rule, dealt generously
with it's veteran defenders. Vast sums
of money have been paid in the aggre-
gate to relieve the distress of our wound
ed and disabled comrades. There mas
ever been class of low politicians who
have sneered at all pensioners, and even
all Grand Army men. as bummers,"
"bounty jumpers" coffee coolers, etc.
But the great mass of the loyal people
have not been carried away by these
slanderous epithets. The public senti-
ment of grateful country has found
expression in the progressive pension
legislation. Many have felt for few
years that the time had come when every
veteran defender of the Union should re-
ceive a pension from the government
which he helped to save. In lieu of this
the law of 1890 was passed, by which
every disabled Union soldier, and his
needy dependents, are entitled to receive
pension of from six to twelve dollars
per month, according to the. measure of
disability. This law was accepted as