The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-12
SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM.


Principles on which the Order is Founded.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some little
time ago you asked me TO give you some ideas
concerning the interests and extension of the
Order of the Sons of Veterans. / fear / may
owe you an apology for lack of earlier attention,
but my official duties at the time as Division
Commander for Rhode Island, difference be-
tween our Division and National Headquarters.
i'll health and many duties have forbidden an
earlier reply.
The Order of the Sons of Veterans is founded
in the same spirit of patriotism that in 1861 so
nobly responded to Abraham Lincoln's call for
volunteers, and which counted not death. suf
| fering treasure in the weary years of the
| struggle for freedom from slavery in united
! Nation. 1t is the same love of liberty as
amazed the world at Bunker Hill, endured at
! Valley Forge and triumphed with the lilies of
France at Yorktown. 1t is alike the hope of
| the American name and the honor of the
American heart
do not need 10 say that the principles of
| such an Order are correct; that its members
! honor the veteran soldier. sailor, marine of
| the Republic; that, albeit unostentatiously yet
| truly, as far as in their power lies, their infu-
ence is cast upon the side of patriotism the
enshrining of Memorial Day in the hearts of
the people, the broadening of good citizenship,
and in making the fire of patriotism living,
vitalizing power throughout the land.
If such an organization as this misses its
mark, failure must result from disgust Mt in
competency, or from the dead weight of mall
adm nistration. No officer in any organization
on the face Of the earth can ever achieve sue.
cess by forgetting that he is the servant and
trustee of those whose committee he became.
Untrue to his trust, he NAV fade like the Au-
| tnmn leaves; but he has left an injury behind.
The Sons of Veterans this month hold their
14th annual National meeting-the session of
the Commandery-in- Chief As this representa-
tive body is the supreme source of power in the
Order necessarily its deliberations and actions
are Of great Importance to the organization
1t is undeniable that harm has heretofore at
times resulted, and it is hoped that expert
ence may now prevent any errors.
If there is any one general difficulty that the
Camps-the units-in our Order have expert
enced in their efforts for growth, it has been
in the interference suffered from the Com
mandery-i n-Chief. While generally this has
doubtless occurred from the best of motives
yet the Order as whole has, nevertheless,
suffered the injury, and for several years. at
least the feeling has been rife that smaller
spirit of dictation and greater spirit of deve-
opment would prove more successful.
At the Encampment held last year at Daven-
port the Commandery-in-Chief wisely restored
to the Order a whole the military spirit
separated q few years before, allowed the we'll
loved uniform OF the United States Army, COM
plete in every particular, to be worn by mem
bers of the Order, and placed the control of
military organizations in the the hands of
Divisions exclusively. This was common
sense legislation, and only needs to be com.
pleted now by positively prohibiting COM
mander-n- Chief from having ANYTHING to do
with the vexatious bject of uniforms. and by
leaving that matter to Divisions and Camps.
whom il moro vitality concerns, and who know
best what really benefits and what may injure
them.
former Senior Vice Division Commander
Of the Division of Connecticut and now Cap
tain of Camp James B. Bowen, has copy
righted an excellent monogram design of the
letters S. v" The Encampment at Daven-
port allowed Divisions to use them, and as
Commsndery-in-C Chief officers are seldom expert
Generals, ii would now be in decidedly good
taste TO prescribe the use OF this design for them.
This officer has generously offered to present
full set in gold to the Commandery -in-Cbief
and TO assign it the copyright without pay
ment, on condition that no charge be made to
any for the use OF the design. His liLerality
deserves the highest praise.
There are some little points in connection
with uniforms that require attention. The use
Of miniature chevrons for non-cOmm issioned
officers who do not wear a q. S. A. uniform, tho
substitution Of the arms Of the Order for the
arms of the United States, and the letters
IS. v" or Division letters for the letters
=" U. s" when the q. S. Army uniform is worn,
with the principle always IN mind of approx
nation to the Army military standpoint In
all these matters of uniforms it is well to re-
member that a grain of good sense may exist
in the rank and file of the order.
The court-martizl methods now allowed need
some alteration to rescue from possible official
oppression. An officer should be tried only in
the County OF his residence, and not as now,
possibly, anywhere in the United States
No sentence should have any effect pending
any final appeal TO the Commandery-in-C Chief
at its annual meetings. In fact, by the ey-
press terms now of the Constitution an appeal,
without Limitation. lies from any order or ruiz
ing of the Com mander-in- Chief to the Com
mandery. Under the general rule of law this
operates at least as stay of proceedings. The
principle is protection, and simply needs more
complete statement.
il is very difficult to speak Of the new three.
degree ritual in force but few months. 1t
ought TO be allowed, it might seem, to all who
wish it. if it helps any part of the Order. 1t
might seem desirable at the same time to allow
briefer form to those who arerse to ritual
istic work
The ritualistic discussion is the edge of a
stili broader question, namely, provision in
the organization Of the Order. in the different
Divisions, OF something that ght be termed
simply society (of some particular kind in
In the Sons Of Veterans. Ii would meet
simply as any body ordinarily does, without
National requirement as to meetings. uniform.
or Ritual. Perhaps il would meet but once or
twice year, as do many other valuable pa
triotic societios. An s. V. Camp in New York
City has once petitioned for something Of this
kind, and the subject is bound to come up
again. 1t would undoubtedly bring the Order
many excellent members who wish only a
nominal connection and use of their time.
For the great bulk of our Order, at present.
the military path is the wayof success, particu-
lar w in fha ali af
triotic work, with the social atmosphere of
good-fellowship are factors of strength, but in
great many cases the power of a free and in
tellgent military spirit is promoting its sta
bility and winning renown.
If my own little views are of any interest to
you, ] shall certainly not begrudge any time it
may have taken to state them.
Yours in f., c. and L.,
WILLIAM NJ. p. BowEy,
Past Division Commander
Division OF Rhode Island.
Gen. Miles VIII