The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-10
A MAGNIFICENT 81
BY Past commandments Alger.

Gen. Russell A. Alger replied to the toast,
1.-THE Grand Army of the Republic" at the
banquet of the Marquette Club, at Chicago, on
the anniversary of Gen. Grants birthday, as
| follows:
Gen. Sherman said to me on one occasion:
al do not believe man ever stood guard in
front of the enemy at night, or passed through
the crash of battle, without in a measure
telling upon his physical system" He added:
Nor did any man ever carry knapsack,
haversack, gun, and ammunition on those
long marches sleeping on the ground at night,
exposed to all kinds of weather, living upon
bareback and other army fare without injury
to him. 1t may not show its effects in 10 years
or 20 years. but the results are sure to come"
Thus more than 100000 men found them
selves without employment and with little left
to begin again the battle of life.
From these survivors sprang the great organ
ization known as the Grand Army of the Re-
public. Organized primarily to perpetuate the
fellowships and ties born of danger, and the
love of country and loyalty to the old flag,
under which they had marched and fought,
its members were upon an equal plane with
out regard to former rank in the army. A
private soldier became Commander-in-C Chief,
while the General in command of the armies
served in the ranks. In later years its chief
work has been that of charity. It's members
have not included all of the survivors of the
war. as many live in too remote places to attend
Post meetings. Its membership included Grant,
Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas, and Meade, who
served in the ranks, and were, with all other
members, simply comrades" Added to the
long list of great names was your own i'm
mortal Logan, who for many years stood at the
head of the organization, and probably more
than any one man strengthened and augmented
its numbers.
The Grand Army of the Republic is not in
any sense political organization. 1t stands
for fraternity, charity, and loyalty. No dis
loyal utterance ever comes from the lips of
Grand Army comrade. Their patriotism is
without alloy, their devotion to their country
as true as the needle that points to the pole.
Its members had enlisted in their young
manhood, with an average age of about 90
years With the enthusiasm of youth they
gave their services and offered their lives in
the hottest cause that has ever marshaled men
since the days of the Revolution.
For the pittance they received in wages mot
half the amount paid common laborers at home)
they marched, bivouacked. fought and died
without a murmur. By their valor alone the
country was rescued and has been enabled
unitedly to grow to the greatest in Importance,
in wealth and intelligence. of any upon the
globe.
have sometimes thought that like the in
heritance of many who enjoy the fortunes
gathered in toll by their fathers that there
are many in our day who do not appreciate the
value of American citizenship, having no part
in the struggle that made and saved it.
After quarter of century of ceasless toll,
a sentiment grew that the Government was in
duty bound to lend hand in caring for these
veterans and their dependent ones, and a law
was enacted in 1880 granting honorably dis
charged soldiers and sailors who were wholly
or in part disabled. pension of from So to SIP
a month, according to the measure of their dis
ability; the maximum being 80 cents day,
Ia mi Hav
sum upon which man could support himself
and family in any great degree of luxury.
To-day, be it said to the credit of the people
of the United States, there are about 100000
names upon the pension-roll This great num-
Der includes soldiers and sailors, their widows
mothers and children.
In their own ranks the Grand Army con-
tributes in charity millions of dollars annually,
without ostentation or publication TO the world
| for their unfortunate comrades. Very much
has been said of late in adverse criticism of the
| pension-roll under the belief that many names
had been placed there fraudulently and by con-
| spiracy. We find, however, in answer to a
communication sent by your own United States
| Senator. Gen. Palmer, to the Commissioner of
Pensions concerning the frauds Dissolved under
| date of the 18th inst. the Commissioner reports
that there had been 1898 cases suspended
under the act of June 81. 1890. OF this num-
Der the rate had been reduced on 1920 cases;
| 1,604 names had been dropped from the roll,
/ and payment had been resumed in 1920 cases
to April IL instant, leaving 1,049 cases in which
| payment OF pensions is still suspended, and
upon which final action has not been taken.
| Thus fades away the charge of Gigantic
frauds"
Surely out of 100000 pensions. with only
| 1904 names dropped from the roll, and prob
| ably large per cent. of those because re-
examination did not show a sufficient disability
| to entitle them to a pension, does not make I'D
ifoh1 Ia anrA
! of late been led to believe existed. The death
| roll of our veterans numbers more than
| division annually; soon it will be an army corps
and not long hence all will have passed from
earth.
This is the Grand Army of the Republic.
| This is the organization made up of the best
blood of the land. These are the unsel6sh men
who offered ali to save their country from dis
| union. They are the men who, in the silent
watches Of the night guarded the Nations life,
and buried in the trenches by thousands COM
rades who had died ia the hell of battle during
the day. These are the men who sent loving
messages TO homes made desolate by the death
| of loyal comrades; the men who marched by
night and day; suffered every privation and
danger that can come to men. Gods best peo-
pie! the saviors of the Republic.
In the hearts of all there shonld well up
gratitude and loving homage for the services
they rendered. Go to your cemeteries on the
Both day OF next month and count the flags and
other tributes Of love placed upon the graves of
those who have been mustered out" Visit
the National Cemeteries in the South and read
upon the headstones over the graves of tens of
thousands of those loyal men, nearly one-half
known only by number. registered as "un.
known" and you will appreciate in some
measure the great sacrifice they made. Was
there ever in the history of this world such
matchless testimony of the love of country
such patriotic followers of Nations flag?
1t is no fault of that Grand Army that we
are not in the full tide of prosperity today
Perhaps we have not guarded as well as we
should what they so nobly saved. Men in their
strife for gain and IN their political campaigns
have pandered too much to that element which
now seeks TO wreck what was so fairly won
Wish plenty Astounding men by thousands are
in want, business is suspended, factories are
idle. mines are closed, and the laborer walks
the streets without employment What is the
remedy? We need in times like these the
wis@st counsel, calm judgment, carefully ma
uIed plans, restored confidence, less of agita-