St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-15


given by the post in honor OF the cleo
ton of Capt. J. ]. McCardy as de-
partment commander. DR.. I. n. Ma
han, commander of the post, presided.
and speeches were made by Judge Kerr,
Capt. McCardy, Adjt. Gen. Mertz, DR..
Park Ritchie, Gen. j. w. Bishop, DR..
Aigbee, Col. Keatly and Albert Schef-
fer. An orchestra, composed of men,
bers of the Sons of Veterans, rendered
number of musical selections, vocal
selections were rendered by Miss Lulu
Webber and the Alpine quartette, and
e. j. Bishop recited.
On being called upon, Judge Kerr
said that it might be that the Ven
ezuelan question was probably about
settled. but there was a question of
principle involved, and that was as to
whether the Monroe doctrine has been
settled. He had heard it argued that
1t would be best for all the South
American countries if they were under
the British government; that the Mon
roe doctrine did not mean anything, and
that 1T was better to sacrifice most any
thing in preference to bringing on
war. While he had a great deal of
admiration for the British people, he
had none whatever for the British
government, because it had always
been tyrannical and oppressive
The Italians were defeated in Alb
yssinia, and he thanked God for it.
but England is backing Italy in its
selfish aggression. The British gov
ernment was only prevented from TAX
ing sides with the South in the re-
bellion by the threat of Russia, and
no matter what might be said about
the Russian government the speaker
always felt kindly toward it for the
stand it took in this conflict, and he
always would. AS for the argument
that the Monroe doctrine does not
mean anything, he considered it the
golden rule of international law. Judge
Kerr then went into brief history of
the Monroe doctrine to show that prac-
tically the same condition of affairs ex-
lists today that existed when the doc
trine was first declared. He said that
while he does not belong to the same
party as the president of the United
States, he hOnors him for the indie
pendent stand taken by him in the
matter.
We have erected in the harbor of New
York a statue symbolizing Liberty Enlight-
enlng the World continued Judge Kerr. "If
the argument OF those Americans opposed to
the Monroe doctrine are to prevail, we should
turn that statue face about and have it gaz-
ing in over the land instead of out over the
sea, and inscrbe on it: We have a good
thing here Let US keep it and let the rest
OF mankind go to the devil But 1 say to
you this is not my kind of patriotism
AS to the claim that it was better to
sacrifice almost anything rather than
bring on war, he quoted from Rus
kin, who had been forced to the con-
clusion that war was the foundation of
progress in art, civilization, manhood
and morality. The speaker would not
go as far as Ruskin, but he thought
principle should not be sacrificed to
avoid war. 1t was not war that threat
ened the stability of this country, but
the spirit of commercialism that has
made merchandise out of everything,
including man, his mind, morality, and
whenever a notion reached such a
stage it was on the road to decay. In
conclusion, Judge Kerr said he pro-
posed to teach his boys to respond
willingly when their country's safety
demands it.
Commander McCardy said that if it
was not for Comrades Albert Scheffer
and Nick Flynn he would not be
present, intimating to them was chiefly
due his success in securing election as
CdpI- MCCdTQy Cnon COlQ
a little story about the reappointment
of Adjt Gen. Mertz and finished by
introducing that official to tell the bal
ance.
Adjt. Gen. Mertz said that under the
new system of organizing picket posts
the organization would have more re-
cruits this year than for a number OF
years past. An application had j.st
been received for new post at Lake
field. He confessed he was frightened
when McCardy was elected, and whan
the commander put his hand on his
shoulder that settled it, 1t was more
than he could stand, and he trembled,
but he felt greatly relieved when the
new commander announced his ap-
pOintment.
Dr. Ritchie was introduced as the lat
est recruit in the post, and said that
While peace-loving people, the people
of the United States have demonstrated
the fact that they can fight, ''and if the
British lion should stray into our back
yard, We will give it's tail such a twist
it will take it years to get the kinks
out of it,
Gen. Bishop said he was glad the
contest at Minneapolis ended as it did.
Commander McCardy was not a Min
nesota soldier, but it was remarkable
thing that Minnesota soldiers do not
get elected to the high positions in this
uOl U6CduSe MINNESOTA soldiers do
not know good thing when they see it,
nor was it because they have not got
cheek, but because they have been act
ing as hosts ever since the war, and
their guests have been elected to the
positions. Gen. Bishop concluded by
calling on his son, e. J. Bishop, to give
a recitation. Young Mr.. Bishop re-
spCnded and won an encore.
Dr. Higbee was the next speaker, and
he urged the VOIInp folks tO IlGa fhoir
influence to get the old soldiers not
members Of the G. A. r. to join at
once
Col Realty referred to the striking
out of the word national Legislature
from the constitution and the substi-
tuition of the word federal legislature
at the time of the adoption of that
instrument, and it was this word fed
eral in the constitution that led to
the division and the war of the re-
bellion. One good result of that war
aside from the abolition of slavery
was the restoration of the word ma
uonal legislature in place of federal
In the constitution, so that if any for
eign foe attempted to make war on |
the United States it would be met by |
the soldiers of a united nation.
Mr.. Scheffer referred to some of the |
maneuvers in the recent contest for |
commander. He said that Adjt. Gen
Mertz was a primary element in the |
fight, because McCardy had refused
to say in advance that he would re-
appoint him. while Mullen had linked
himself with Mertz. The first time the
speaker knew that McCardy contem-
plated reappointing' Mertz was when
he put his paw on him. In conclu-
sion, Mr.. Scheffer said that when this
country needs It's young men to dafenl
1t, 1t Will be found that they have |