The herald., 1896-06-14
Re,,v 70 "Oue sided Pstrlo tlsm +"

communications. but does not assume re.
sponsibility for the sentiments expressed.)
Reply to lone sided Patrle tlsm"
Editor Herald: With your permission
desire to say few words In reply to
an article in your issue of Wednesday,
the 10th inst, under the general heading
of ITO the Editor" entitled "One Sided
Patriotism" and signed q United
States American, which I presume
never was good at guessing conundrums
and besides had always supposed that
when a man said he was an American
that covered the whole ground.
Were it not for the fact that some Of
the friends of the comrades buried in
the Catholic cemetery on Buena Vista
street, seeing the article and not know
ing to the contrary. might think.fhat
the statements made were true, should
consider 1t unworthy OF notice. but un-
der the circumstances I deem 1t better
to reply.
am sorry the author had not man
hood enough to sign his name to it. nei-
ther had the moral courage to come out
fair and square, like a real. genuine.
straight American and strike straight
A, If he had anything to say. instead
of hiding behind a criticism of the G. A.
r. on Memorial day; but then l sup
pose these must be some of the charac-
teristics of United States American
and ought not to complain.
This honorable CO gentleman would
have you believe that the G. A. R.. and
particularly Kenesaw post. No. 1O6, os-
tracised the fallen heroes who had found
a resting place in the Catholic cemetery.
The G. A. r. octracises no comrade or
the union army on account OF either colS
or, creed or nationality. Any and all
are accepted on the same conditions
and receive the same welcome, and on
Memorial day especially, every enort
is put forth to see that the grave OF no
soldier is left unremembered.
While any religious denomination or
other organization, or an Individual IN
public or official capacity, may be open
to criticism, the religious views or opin-
ions of any private individual. as such,
are sacred.
That is a question which rests entire
Iy between him and his Maker
He also says their graves in the Cath
olic cemetery, year after year. are treat
ed with a neglect which calls for some
very strong words of condemnation. l
admit it, and not only theirs. but very
large majority of the entire cemetery Is
allowed to grow up to weeds ana pre-
sents an unsightly appearance, worse
than the rear yard Of any house in the
city. But the G. A. r. is not responsible
for this neglect and to show how Tar
his criticism of the G. A. r. IN this re-
spect Is true, permit me to say that
prior to last Memorial day the comman-
der. officer of the day and quartermas-
ter of Kenesaw post went there with
flags, hunted out and marked all the
graves they could find. and placed one
headstone that had been allowed to lie
without being put in position.
Not content with their efforts thus far
the officer of the day, together with
good, true, loyal, young man by the
name of Joe Caulfield, went second
time and succeeded in finding others
and erected another stone at grave
they had hitherto been unable to hnd:
making seventeen IN an: ana "a al
ious year q comrade Of the same post
went there and in his efforts to see that
none were omitted, applied to the prop
er authorities for information as to
where the comrades were buried anu
was refused the ,sired information.
And lust here let me say that stree the
organiza ton of Kenesaw post there has
not been a single year that they have
failed to see that the grave of every un-
ion soldier or sailor they were able u
find was remembered in the strewing
of flowers.
In former years Kenesaw post had no
lot of it's own, but now with the aid of
their gallant relief corps. God bless
them, they have succeeded in buying
some lots in Evergreen cemetery, ana
at these lots, as is perfectly proper, they
hold their memorial services. which ac-
counts for their being no longer held at
the Catholic cemetery. as there is not
time between the morning service at the
cemetery and the joint service in the
afternoon for anything more.
To make sure that none were over
looked a detail was sent to place flow
ers on the graves in that cemetery. not
withstanding the fact that the post has
not a single member buried there; and
the relief corps appointed special COM
mittee of three to prepare suitable pieces
for the grave of Comrade Gelcich, which
duty they performed fully.
1t has been their custom each year.
when preparing flowers for Memorial
Day, to make one or more pieces espe-
cially for his grave. and this year was
no exception in that respect.
With the facts above given before you,
it is hardly necessary to say that this
United States American Is wrong, all
wrong, when he says that the name of
the post was changed from Gelcich to
Kenesaw because Comrade Gelcich was
Catholic and was buried in Catholic
cemetery. Away with such nonsense.
He talks about bigotry; If there Is any
worse degree of bigotry and hatred to
be found on the face Of the earth than
| he displays in that article, would like
| to know where 1t is. The memory of
! Comrade Gelcich is honored and respect
| ed the same today as when the post bore
| his name.
1 have been q member Of the post for
| five years and I do not think I have
missed five meetings during that time,
| and am free to say that have yet to
hear the first word Of disrespect to him
| or his memory.
| Our friend (?) also refers to rousing
| reception given by Uncle Sam post at
| the Soldiers home to the ladies of Union
| Circle No 10, ladies If the G. A. r. and
| Washington Council No. 7, w. A. P. A..
| in recognition of their having presented
| that post with Bible for the post room
| and stand Of colors, as though it was
| some terrible disgrace. In the name of
common decency, I ask, could they do
anything less and act the honorable?
| VIII our friend ca please rise and ex-
| plain what this has to do with the neg
| lect of the graves Of comrades in the
Catholic cemetery on Buena Vista street
| or the changing 1f the name Of the post?
He gives a~fofg list of generals whom
| he says were all Catholics. Without
| going into any controversy as to wheth-
| er he is right or wrong in every instance,
l am perfectly willing to accord to all
| Of them the honor they so richly deserve,
and If our friend (?) will take the trou-
BILE to look the matter up think he will
| find G. A. r. post named after nearly
if not quite, every one of them.
In conclusion, will say that IL United
States American or any one else inter-
! ested will furnish to Kenesaw post No
J 106. East Los Angeles, the name
| COMPANY regiment and date Of death of