The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-29
r SMAcKs OF POLITICS.
WHAT G. A. n. MEMBERS SAY OF
THE ANDERsONVILLE ORATOR.

| The speech 10 he Made Tomorrow
by MIR. Walter Il. COrbett, ex-
United states NIarshaI-He Il Re
ported to Have said He Would
Make the Race for Marshal Next
Time IL He Can Get the G.. A. n. In
dOrsemenf-G. a. n. Men Here say
He VIII Never Get II.
The members OF the Grand Army in
Savannah are not taking very kindly to
the fact that the Memorial day grafton at
Andersonville Is to be delivered to-mor-
row by Mr.. Walter p. Corbett Of Macon,
especially in view Of the fact that he is
reported 10 have made some statements
which are pot altogether In accord with
the principles which form the foundation
Of this organization.
The particular statement referred to,
and to which exception is generally taken
by the members OF the post here, is that
Mr.. Corbett is reported to have said that
II he could get the Endorsement OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic he would
make the race for marshal Of the Southern
district OF Georgia, anticipating, OF course.
that the next administration will be re-
publican.
At the meeting of the department en-
eampment for Georgia held in Atlanta
some time ago an invitation was extended
to ex-President Harrison to deliver the adj
dress at Andersonville, but on account OF
other engagements Gen. Harrison could
not accept.
Then 1t was that another orator had to
be looked out for" said member Of the
G. A. R. yesterday. land we all think that
it was through the Macon post, which is
the Z. s. Jones Post No. s. that Mr.. Cor
bett was secured to make the address. As
is well-known, Commander Brown of that
post is Mr.. Corbett's brother-in-law.
There is no doubt" he continued. that
this was done for a political purpose The
fact that Mr. COrbett made that state
ment, and we have all heard here that il
was attributed TO him on good authority.
shows what end he has In view l have
heard too that Mr.. Corbett Is not even a
republican. / want to say very clearly
that have no objection whatever to the
Memorial address at Andersonville being
made by southern man. nor by a confed-
crate soldier. but let IL be a man who was
a soldier and who is qualified to speak on
such an occasion. There are 1900 dead
soldiers buried at AndersOnvile, and
what does Mr. Corbett know about them?
Why didn't Commander Brown of the Ma
con post, who was soldier, make the adj
dress himself? None of us here have any
objection whatever to the address being
made by southern man, but we do not
like the idea of its being delivered by a
young man who has had no experience
NJ n q faNH vrrHHN
stances that he expects to talk about
AS far as politics is concerned, il is GER
tain that Mr. Corbett will not get any in
dorsement from the Grand Army for any
position, II that Is what hess looking for
as has been reported. 1t was politics
that caused the disruption of the G. A. r.
In 1870, few years after its organization.
and since that time it has been absolutely
against its principles to allow any poIti-
cal matter In any shape whatever to enter
Its discussions, deliberations or actions. 1t
Is organized entirely on non-political lines
and the member who at any meeting at
tempts to say anything about politics is
shut right off. If Mr.. Corbett is trying to
make political capital as is reported out Of
this occasion. he will hardly find 1t as easy
matter as he may think"
The sentiments expressed above are
those of several Grand Army men here
who have been discussing the matter for
some time. They have nothing personal
whatever, they say, against Mr.. Corbett
but they have well defined impression
that he is seeking to secure the indorse-
ment Of the q. A. r. in a political way. and
this they will not hear to, If they have
any say In the matter. There has been
considerable correspondence between
members of the Savannah post, and those
of other cities on the subject, which has
generally been on the same line.