The National tribune., 1894-09-27
A STRONG REPORT.
That of Committee on Legislation
Presented at the 2Sth National
EnCampment.
New YORK, Sept. 10, 1894.
Gen. JOHN G. B. ADAMS, Commander-in-C Chief


Legislation during your administration must
necessarily be one of progress.
Acting under instructions of the National
Encampment at Indianapolis, this committee
have endeavored to urge upon the SD Con-
gress. at its long session, the duty incumbent
on this great Nation to give preference in every
public employment to the survivors of the war
for the Union 10y the enactment Of a law which
would, though tardily, carry out the promises
made these men in Sections 1894 and 1875, Re
yised Statutes United States. passed March 9.
1863 But, alas as the war days reeede further
from the remembrance of the people Of the
generation of which we formeda part, and the
sacrifices and suferings of those days are I'M
known, except by tradition, to those that have
since been born. the greatest Indifference seems
TO be shown on the part of our National law
makers toward those who fought the battles of
the Union ami still survive.
In consequence, but scant attention is paid
90 any appeals made for justice to these men.
And this will continue to be s0-and until too
late for our comrades to profit theTehy-unless
we, as members OF the Graud Army of the Re-
public become more closely united in - fra
ternity" which means something" rs a cardi-
nal principle, and the motto OF our Order is
regarded as more than figure OF speech among
ourselves
Besides this, there is a great need that those
charged with the law making power in the
National Congress shall attain higher and
broader patriotism than they now seem pos
sesscd of.
Your committee have faithfully tried TO dis
charge their duty so as TO secure to all veterans
of the civil war legal right to preference in
every public employment under the National
Government, but have received little encour-
agement. The Committee OF Reform in the
vii Of he Of a n "a
having the bill II. L. No. 324 eDanating from
your committee, and other measures of relief
of like character, in charge, have made no re-
poTt-not even an adverse One-ou the subject
matter, notwithstanding the fact that the bill
referred TO was introdu ced by Comrade and Hon.
Amos J. Cummings, member OF your COM
miItee, Sept. g. 1893 and that Congress was in
almost continuous session for nearly 10 months
No argument, written or oral-and both were
made-had the desired effect.
While many of the Department Commanders
OF our Order the National and Department
Presidents of the Woman's Relief Corps. La
dies of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
the Commander-in-Chiefo OF the Union Veteran
Legion, have given your Committee much val
liable and fraternsl assistance the campaign
ended without results
This can hardly be wondered at when we
reflect that the men who fought to destroy the
Union now dominate ana control in both legis-
lative branches of the National Government.
No successful appeal can be made to enemies
OF this country-many OF them as much so
now as they were in the war days; and
may be permitted to say here that those not
now reconstructed never viii be-for justice to
the soldiers and sailors OF the Union. Such
men do not understand-they never did-the
meaning Of Patriotism. For them ''0ld Glory"
has no charm, home and country no signif-
canoe. They are not Americans.
In many OF the States a better feeling is each
succeeding year more plainly shown to the
veteran, and legislation has been brought about
by individual comrades and Departments of
considerable advantage to veteran interests.
In this good work New York, the Empire
State, stands pTe-eminent.
The obligation to honor the soldier and
sailor, however, is greater the National
Government than on the States II the latter
have cause for gratitude to the veteran. why
should not the Nation, whose very life depend
ed on them, render these men equal or greater
homer?
as matter of fact, there is still no law
extant through which preference is given
the veteran-as matter OF right--in its civil
employ by the National Government This is
especially true to those who served faith
fully and well, but whose honorable discharges
came-Well earned-at the end of their terms
Of enlistment, or when the war had ended
How long, Lord how long?
Il is also unfortunate, but true, that every
the war has affected the veteran in the public
service TO his detrment. To this there has
been no exception. Not one of these men was
or is, even now-safe. except where public
officials were, or are, patriots. fractional poll
tics are neither better nor worse than partisan
politics In this respect. And this will continue
90 be so until law is passed which protects
the veteran-a law making it criminal Of
Tense for public official to discriminate against
hun. Such diseases require heroic treatment,
Oh otherwise there is no radical cure.
All veterans should stand, in the eye of the
Law. on an equal footing in the matter of
preference, and each ones appointment to or
retention in the public service should depend
solely on himself He should be judged en-
trely on his own merits, according to his
ability and fidelity to duty. No veteran SOL
dier or sailor viii expect more than this.
There is but one way to accomplish the result
we seek. 1t is this: The Grand Army of the
kepnblic-assisted by its most worthy auxil-
larry, the Woman's Relief Corps and other
Kindred patriotic organiZations-united as one
IN common cause-must continue to attack
the citadel in which the later-day-as well as
any remnant of the acknowledgements OF the
Union veteran are intrenched, and never cease
advancing, charging and firing Oh them until
the promises made by the Nation to the veter-
ans IN its hour Of deliyerance are faithfully
carried out
This committee have been somewhat ANNOYED
IN the discharge Of their duty by lack of dis
positlon-a refusal in fact-on the part Of the
Executive Committee Of the Council of Admin
istration 10 furnish them the necessary station
cry 10 carry on In a proper way the work COM
United 10 them by the National Encampment.
The item Of expense is not considered of con-
sequence, because not single dollar has been
charged the National Encampnent for the
time, services or expenses of any OF its members
since this committee was first appointed but a
committee OF this great organization. appointed
by its National bOdy-if worthy its confidence
is entitled to some consideration.
Those charged with committee work by the
GRAD Army Of the Republic, involving Fra
ternity, Charity and Loyalty, should have q sup
port behind them which will manifest itself to
those VINO, for the time being, in control of
the Government and those who make or execute
its laws. Each comrade should exhibit a spirit
of fraternity greater than we have yet seen;
every Post should take an active interest in
its membership; and the Department should
render all the aid they can in the same direc-
tion.
"0ne for all and all for one" should be our
motto, our guide. In this way-this alone
can We live up 20 and live out the obili gations
our great Order imposes.
In the foregoing criticism, naught is set
down in malice. Such thing should not again
happen.
We should fail in our duty, indeed. unless we
specially mentioned with a kindly remem-
brance, COmrade and Hon. John A. Picker, of
South Dakota. To him the veterans OF this
Nation are indebted that in their behalf on
the HQOr of the House of nfati ba