The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-27
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
COmmander-in-Chi CIarIxsOn's Ac-
count of His StewardshiD


At the close of the welcoming speeches
General Clarkson announced that as it
would take an hour to clear the hall and
exclude a number who had gained entrance
who were not entitled to be present at the
secret session, it had been decided to pre-
sent the reports of officers at the open ses-
sion. The first report was that of the com
mander-in-chief. Mr.. Clarkson said in
part:
II have given the entire year to the work
OF the order; have travelled somewhat over
33,OVo miles; have visited every department
that could reach at their encampments.
some at other than their encampment
dates, besides very many posts and re-
unions, and have been spfendidly received
everywhere by veterans and all other citi-
zens, and by reason of these visits have
been greatly impressed with the spirit and
enthuslaSm of the comrades and the very
nigh position the order occupies in the
hearts of our people.
may be permitted to make special al
fusion to my visits in the Southern depart
mentS, where [ made it a point to come
IN contact, as much as possible, with the
men who wore the gray and their friends
MY reception there will ever be warm
spot IN my memory My conception of
American manhood and American bravery
mas Deen greatly magnified. | met no
warmer grasps. no heartier godspeeds in
patrlQuc work than from our enemies, now
TRENDS. L found Old Glory floating as high
her stars as bright, her stripes as broad in
the southland as at home. My sentiment
one country, one flag, one people, one des-
tiny, met as hearty a response in Georgia
as in Massachusetts, and more than once
after my public reception there l repeated
20 myself, over the work of the G. A R
IN that country the dOXOogy Praise God
from whom all blessings flow The Grand
Army of the Republic can do no grander
work Tor their country to-day than to
strengthen In those good people their d;aVo-
ton to the land we so dearly love-to help
blot out the resentments of the past''
General Clarkson then spoke of his par
ia 1n NFs1lfa
ton exercises at New York and the un-
ESlilng ceremonies of the Logan statue at
Chicago. and told of his successful efforts
to induce President Mckinley to attend the
present encampment. Continuing. he said:
Comrades, this is a wonderful country
of ours. One who fills the high position
pt commander-in-chiet and visits the va
rlous departments, and studies our varied
ma wonderful resources cannot but he
convinced that If we only knew one another
better If we only realized how great we
are in everything that goes to make up a
Great country. we would indeed beone cotln-
Try and one people before whom the world
would stand in awe
BEGINNING OF THE END.
The beginning of the end is in sight; the
day of smaller things is upon us. We are
far past the meridian indivld, suy. and as
an order the stream is running rapidly
down the hill. Age and petty are MAX
ing great inroads into the ranks Suspen-
sions are numerous; charters are beina
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 Recruit the
ranks until every honorably discharged
soldier is recorded in the descriptive book
and every suspended cOmrade is again
touching elbow with his fellows Establish
picket posts along the whole line cheer uD
me weakening, encourage the thOughtlcss
stand by your comrades, though all the
world assail.
Owing to the steady decrease in the
nam allsaTa alaf 2
posed by the national per capita of 20
cents, | believe that the best interests OF
the order would be subserved by an in
crease of one-hah cent in the per capita
making it cents per annum.
During 1896 there We're cared for in the
many more In State homes. Much salts
faction is afforded by the thought that the
last days of many thousands Of the old
veterans have been, are being and viii
continue to he made comfortable and com
paratiVely happy and free from the trials
and struggles OF the outside world with
Whlch they are by age ana iniirmity unable
10 contend. The good thus accomplished
ny magnanimous people is beyond com
There is deep meaning to Memorial
lay. 1t means not only a tribute and an
honor to the dead, but it means a strong
and lasting lesson in patriotism to the liV-
ing. The assembling Of the children upon
these occasions and their participation in
the solemn exercises of the day make i'm
pressons upon their young minds that time
cannot effaCe, and a result of such par
ticipation and of the lessons of patriotism
taught in the public schools which the
Women's Relief Corps and the comrades
have so greatly encouraged, and the part
they take in the demonstrations at our de-
partment encampments. our children are
growing up so strengthened and imbued
with love of country and the flag and rev
erence for the veteran who imperiled his
life for them, that, as they grow up they
will be 10 our Nation as j. great rock of
defense against which the waves of trouble
may beat without avail.
INC 10 IA rr-rs
Every request for flags with which to
decorate the graves of our comrades in the
atonal cemeteries, and in many instances
Continued on Fourth PageA