The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-27

we're then read -epe'ss
General Clarkson. COMMANDER IN ch,s,.
John II Mullen. vice commander in chief.
y. ". Buckley. Jr.. vice commander. A
n. Johnson, surgeon general; M. b. Inv
LOT. chaplain In chief: G. b. Burmeister
u'ant general; A. J. Burbank. quar-
termaster general: @. A. Suydsn. inspec-
Tor general; General Clark. Judge advo-
cate' y. y. Wynans, senior aide do camp
ana cnief Of stan. II. l.. Zalinski cher
aade de camp and military instruction an
public schools. :.
Inc annual report Of Commander in
Snlei j.. .. Clarkson was in part as fol-
ows once more We nave assembled in
annual encampment to render an account
OF our stewardship. to renew old assocla-
uons. to legislate for the present, to plan
lot the future. We meet in fraternity,
cnarty and loyalty. and may all our
nearts unite as one in sustaining the
great objects OF our order
| l may De permitted to make special al
,us,on 10 my visits in the Southern de-
uartments. where | made it point to
come In contact. as much as possible. with
eue men who wore the gray and their
iiiehus MY reception there will ever be
warm spot in my memory; my conception
OF American manhood and American BRAY
erv has been greatly magnifed | met 10
| warmer grasps. no heartier Godspeeds in
now friends. I found Old Glory floating
as nigh. her stars as bright. her stripes
as broad In the Southland as at home.
MY sentiment. 'one country, one flag, one
people, one destiny" met as hearty re-
sponsc in Georgia as in Massac husetts.
ana more than once. after my public re-
ceptions there. repeated to myself over
the work OF the G. A. r. in that country.
the doxology Praise God From Whom All
blessings Flow The Grand Army of
the heDuhlic can do no grander work for
their country today than to strengthen In
those good people their devotion to the
land we so dearly love--to help blot out
the resentments of the past.
Comrades. this is a wonderful country
OF ours. One who fills the high position
OF commander in chief and visits the vari-
Gus departments and studies our varied
and wonderful resources. can not but DC
convinced that II we only knew one an
other better If we only realized how great
we are in everything that goes to make
UP great country. we would indeed lie
one country and one people, before whom
the world would stand in awe.
The beginning of the end Ia in sight.
the day of smaller things il upon us We
are far past the meridian individuality,
and as an order. the stream is running
rapidly down the hill. Age and poverty
are making great inroads into the ranks.
SUSPENSIONS are numerous charters are
being surrendered. The hearts are In the
right place. but the inevitable is before
us. What shall we do? Stand shoulder to
shoulder until the last file is closed Re-
cruit the ranks until every honorably dis-
charged is recorded In the descriptive
| book, and every suspended comrade is
again touching elbow with his fellows. Els
| tablish picket posts along the whole line,
| cheer up the weakening, encourage the
thoughtless. Stand by your comrades
though all the world assail.
| Owing to the steady decrease In the
| membership and the very small burden I'm"
posed by the National per capita of ga
| cents believe that the best interests of
| the order would be subserved by an IN
| crease of " cent in the per capita. max
| ing 1t cents per ann,inl.
During 1896 there were cared for in the
National homes 27,33s veterans, besides
many more In the State homes.
| There Is deep meaning to Memorial
Day. 1t means not only tribute and
honor to the dead but it means strong
and lasting lesson In patriotism 10 the liv-
Ing. The assembling OF the children, upor
thess occasions and their participation Ii
the solemn exercises of the day, make i'm,
pressions upon their young minds that
time can not efface, and as a result o.
such participation our children are grow
ing up so strengthened and imhued will
love OF country and the flag and reverence
for the veterans who imperiled their live
for them. that as they grow up they VII
be to our nation as a great rock OF de-
ferse against the waves Of trouble tina
may beat without avail.
In many of the Southern cemeteries W
were aided and our duties lightened by tn
CO. operation OF the Confederate veterans
and we thank them, and would help then
In their sacred works.
l am not one Of those who believes tina
a day established thirty years ago, b.
our beloved Commander in Chief Logan
and since made holy day. and holida
by legal enactment in the majority Of tn
States should be changed simply becaus
lot of hoodlums and thoughtless men an
women desecrate Il by games and Iaces
large majority of our people are observer
of the Sabbath day and they do not con
slider parades and public demonstration
seemly upon that day, and their wisne
should be respected, for we look TO Their
rather than to the thoughtless for tn
moral support we need III games an
races can not be suppressed on such sacre
DAYS nv moral suasion and the effect of tn
participation in it's sacred work by vas
members Of our best citizens, then n
, change of day could effect such results.
The Grand Army Of the Republic believe
in military instruction in the pubic scnoois
because 1t is good for the boys mentally
morally, physically, and above all, patriot'
cally.
The committee on pensions have give
much attention to this branch OF the wori
until quite lately with but little enec
Within the last few months the iatc
strings have been loosened and many JUST
entitled pensioners have had their case
acted upon; others. stopped without caus
I have been restored to the rolls, and IN
machinery of that great department OF u
government seems to have been oiled VII
the oil of human kindness and with muc
J less friction than before. | believe II WI
not be long until every case properly mac
nm will be reached and receive attention.
No subject in which the-';fand Army
interested is more important than thi
! the truth Of history should be taught
our children. 1t is certainly not the o.
: iect OF the Grand Army OF the Repupl
! N keen open the wounds OF the war, Dl
of this we are determined, that one side
! that struggle was right and the other SIC
was wrong, and we were not the wron
side. and we do not intend that our chi
dren shall be taught that we were.
The desire for public office is a laudan