The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-04

public, has become a most impressive and in
structive national holiday. So long as the
observance of the day is kept in all of it's
genuineness and purity, not given up to
frivolity and amusement, it will impart to all
a truer sense of the obligation resting upon
us as citizens. In honoring our dead we
increase our devotion to the living, leading
us to nobler deeds of fraternity and charity
that shall warm the cold, clothe the naked
and feed the hungry.
CoIored Posts.
This administration inherited from the
former the unsettled question of the organi-
cation OF a colored post at Austin, Texas,
over the protest of the Department of Texas.
The executive of the council of
administration took the matter up. and after
going over all the papers filed in the case,
directed that the department commander of
Texas be instructed to muster the post. On
receiving this order of the council, the COM
mander OF the department made such repre-
sensations as to the applicants for muster
that | deemed 1t advisable to send a trusted
ana impartial comrade to visit Austin and
ascertain the true condition Of affairs. Past
Department Commander Stormont, of In
diana, was delegated to perform this service,
and on visiting Austin and meeting the ap-
pllcants and the comrades CT that place, he
was convinced that some of the objections
TO their muster were well grounded. The
applicants had a conference with Comrade
Stormont and decided to withdraw their ap-
piication for muster, which stopped further
action In the matter.
1T this action had not been taken and the
report OF Comrade Stormont had shown the
applicants worthy of membership in our or
der, the post would have been mustered.
shall never forget that the only men who aid
ed and shielded me in my escape from a rebel
prison had black faces. This is a serious
problem in Southern departments, but no
honorably discharged veteran should be dis
eliminated against on account. of the color of
his skin. There must be other and valid
reasons for his rejection.
School Histories.
1t has been aptly said that the public school
is the nursery of state, and it is quite i'm
portant that the food therein supplied for the
child should be pure and wholesome. and
Of such flavor that obedience to law and love
OF country be early imbibed and deeply
rooted. Because of the large and ever In
creasing number of children of foreign born
parents of our country, it is particularly
important that the history of our country
subject IN the curriculum of all our schools.
and that it should be carefully and correct,
iy taught. While it is possible under our
benefcent public school system that ali
children may be pupils, yet through
the circumstances Of the parents, or the in
clination of the child. tits shown by sta
number who at one time or another attend
said schools ever reach the grade of adj
vaneed scholarship. Hence the Importance
that the first impression of this subject
gained from the study of primary school his
tories should be correct and patriotic. The
subject of the history of our country, espe-
NAN~AAJ - rAAoS GIL r lAaI lCldlGS 10 In6 D6T106
of the war for the Union. is one that 1 con-
slider OF the utmost Importance, and / can
think OF no more useful or patriotic work for
this great organization of ours to encourage
than to see to it that in every fepartment
such histories are used in the schools "a
properly reflect the spirit Of truth and LOYALTY
ana Justly record the services of our COM
rades, the soldier citizens of our land. III
this end l heartily commen the work of the
Departments of Pennsylvania and Indiana
ana congratulate them on the good results
obtained and recommend that the good work
be taken up in all departments. and suggest
the appointment of a committee on sehooi
histories, who will supervise the work and
report the results to the next national en-
campmenr
Military instruction In Public
Schools.
The report of Comrade Henry H. Adams
chieI aide IN charge OF military instruction in
public schools, shows that great interest is
being created in that branch of our work.
and | direct your attention to his Interesting
report on the subject. l believe that this
work should be vigorously prosecuted.
The report of the judge advocate general
covers all decisions and opinions that have
been rendered during the year.
me committees on picket posts, Sons of
Veterans. in memory of loyal women of the
war. revision of service book. expenses at
tending Memorial day in the South and a.
encampment for its action. ana to which /
direct your earnest attention.
Archives at PhiIadeIphia.
BY direction Of the last national encamp.
ment 1 visited Philadelphia cnd appointed a
custodian to take charge of the archives of
our order, arranged for the necessary cases
and shelving for the rooms set apai, in In
dependence hall, and appointed a boa d of
survey to examine and DESTROY useless pa
pers. Comrade ]. Henry Holconb was ap-
pointed custodian at a salary Of $50 per
: month"; He has carefully tabulate- End fled
aftpaperss that have accumulated ut national