The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-13

children who are taught to say. we give
our heads and hearts to Goo and our coun-
try; one country, one language, one flag
will learn to love the flag as the emblem of
liberty and power. The schools will thus
become the center for patriotic emotions,
for our flag carries with it American ideas.
American feeling, American history. 1t is
a rainbow of love signaling that the religion
Of the country sterling patriotism - will
never be obliterated while il waves over our
land. And L heartily commend the work
the patriotic committees have done in in
Producing into the public schools the patri-
otto primer as q textbook ana encouraging
the general observance Of all patriotic holt
days.
The Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Or
phans' Home is the pride of the State.
Here over six hundred children of soldiers
find a home. and thousands have gone from
it's protection a credit to the institution and
the State. 1t was the first great beneficent
act of the Department of Indiana TO es-
tablish this home, and no future act will
ever be more commendable. From the time
the first cornerstone was laid of the insti-
tuition UP to the present time l have been
a frequent visitor to this home. Not many
years ago the administration building was
burned down. but thank to the patriotic
and lbcrty-loving people of the State OF
Indiana. an appropriation was made at the
next subsequent Legislature of the State,
erecting upon the same spot a far better
and more cOmmodious building. Appro-
priation followed appropriation until it be-
came the peer of any similar institution in
the United States, a credit to the State Of
Indiana and a monument to the patriotism
of our people.
The members of the board of visitors
charged with the interests of the home
during the year are Col. j. b. Black, Benz.
Starr, IT. +. Boyd, Charles Myerhoff, w. j.
Hilligoss, Theodore Wilkes, w. t. Scott,
James Liggett. They have been faithful in
the discharge of every duty committed to
them. | wish to express my grateful APP
probation of the efficient work done by this
board, and refer you to the able report of
Chairman J. b. Black, who has indeed been
a friend of the institution and a promoter
of all the magnifcence of the home OF
which we are so proud. The work OF SUI
perintendent Graham is warmly COM
mended.
while we regret, with feelings of pity
and shame, that many of our comrades
have been unceremoniously and without
sufficient notice dropped from the pension
roll. we are glad to know that during the
past year there has been a decided halt in
this nefarious and unwarranted practice,
which has received nothing but criticism
and condemnation from the patriots and
lovers Of the Nations defenders. 1t is to
be hoped that the wrongs and outrageous
treatment of comrades in the past will be
fully condoned and made right in the fu-
ture. Their can be no question but what
the great masses of the people earnestly
desire to see exact and complete justice
done in the way of disburslng ana dis
tributing pensions.
Let the Congress of the United States,
by wise and well-considered legislation, see
to it that a pension shall be as stable ana
as lasting as the life OF the pensloner, ana
shall be protected and made SO Whlle inns
is a government, and that the phghted falth
and honor of the government snail be
stamped upon every certlncate saying no
man or men, party, President or adlnlnls-
tration shall by word, act or deed, reduce,
take away or inValidate the sacred contract
written upon the face OF any pension certl1-
cate, and that but one charge can pc mace
that shall have a hearing before the people
of this Republic as against a pensloneF, anu
that charge must be fraud; and then let the
pensioner, by attorney or otherWlse meet
face to face with his accuser, and the mat
ter be tried as fairly as If ne was IN any
court of justice in the land. L 40 most
earnestly insist mat WhIle tne g Iea bbeJnefit
to many -Union soldiers, their WIDOWS
and orphans, yet the benefits received un-
der that act should not be accepted or APP
nlied for while there is a reasonable OPP
portunity to successfully prosecute the
claim under the act of July IA, 1856. ou
Let our efforts be EXTENDED loWdIu an
ex-Union soldiers, widows and chlloTen IN
securing to them the very best results SO
far as pensions are G1hG 6rine th ene greatest
good in the future. l have seen many COM
rades during the last year VINO unquestlonc
ably contracted their disablllties IN me oa
dutv i'm the United States service VINO nave
accepted a pension under act OF June "a
1890. and are now compelled. on account OF
LAPSE of time, death of comr3oes' pnysi-
clans and neighborS, in the evening OIL thelr
lives. to accept and live upon a pension ol
from IS to $l2 Qor 1t CAM De more NOR m iedt
have been drawing from $Il to $3O a month";
and in many cases $50 or $72 a month.
"In many instances soldiers nave ac-
cented 3. pension under what was known as
the new law act, thinking that with the
money they might receive they could theh
go to distant States or places and aunt up
old comrades and friends ana prosecute
their old law claim; but, my comrades, TINS
is not business. 1t IS not Ifea1ng y3 tar
off while your comrades are dying at the
rate of thirty thousand annually; Your
witnesses will soon be gone, ana then, I'M
loss there is an amendment to our pension
laws. you can never receive what is justly
due YOU from the government. hunt up
your witnesses now, put your case In the
best shape possible, and then you have dis
charged your duty to yourself, your Wlfe
and your children.
II most respectfully ask the encampment
to speak. by resolution or otherwise, In no
uncertain tone upon the practice in the de-
partment at this time in sending out speciaI
examiners. l know many of them VINO
never soldiered a moment in their lives,
going about over the country as special
examiners, pretending to be a friend TO the
soldier when at heart they are his bitter
enemy.
STATE SOLDIERS HOME.
mo act of the Legislature ever met with
more hearty approval by the patriotic peo-
pie than the act of 1895, appropriating $4,000
to erect buildings for the State Soldiers
Home. Indiana furnished 10000 brave men
from 1861 to 1865. Many of these soldiers
who did return home are broken down in
health or manned by disease or wounds re-
ceived in line of duty and to-day in their
old age are unable to care for themselves.
But a generous State they so bravely de-
Tended has not forgotten to wisely provide
for them and their good wives a splendld
home. The board appointed by the Gov
ernor consisted of five members; Jas. X.
Carnahan, David n. Foster, Jas. b. wal
lace, Christopher j. Murphy and |: b. Nc
Donald. They held their first meeting Feb
%. 1895. No time was lost by the board;
Contracts were let and the work pushed
rapidly forward. January. 1896, the build
ings were sufficiently complete to begin the
admission of eX-soldiers and their wives or
widows, but the home was not formally
opened till the LIST day of February. me
buildings were properly dedicated July 4,
1896. In addition to the buildings erected
by the State, thirty cottages have been
erected and furnished and are now occu-
front an inscription showing by whom or
what county such cottages was donated:
There are now present in the home sou
members. The board is to be congratulated
on selecting Colonel MegreW as comman-
dant. His past experience in the manage
ment of a state home was valuable in the
opening of this one. His official duties have
been multiplied and laborious, and he has
lone his best to serve his comrades ana
add comfort TO the members of the home.
The board of trustees have most earnestly
guarded every interest of the Grand Army
of the Republic and the Nations defenders.
on Monday, May s. / made my last ofil-
cial visit at the home. and by a close and
it's departments and as good order as. will
be found in any branch of the national
homes. | recommend that the state home
committee be continued. and that each COM