The National tribune., 1897-09-02
THE 3IsT NATIONAL ENCAMPMENr.
The 31st National Encampment OF

The 31st National Encampment Of
the Grand Army of the Republic has
met, transacted its business and passed
into history. Itself and what it did were
eminently creditable to the grand Order
for which it legislates.
The selection of Gen. J. p. s. Goblin
for Commander-in-C Chief is an eminently
satisfactory one. He is fine type of
a true American citizen. His history
is common one in our country. He
was poor boy, and learned the trade
of printer, at which he worked until
he could fit himself for the bar. He
had scarcely begun practice when Fort
Sumter was fired on, and he enlisted.
He entered the three-years' service as a
Captain, was a faithful, ever-readyfor-
duty soldier; did whatever came to his
lot with fidelity and courage, and the
close of the war found him Colonel and
brevet Brigadier-General. He re-
turned to his home and profession, and
has won high success in civil pursuits.
With all this, he has kept in close touch
with his comrades, and has been efficient
and helpful in everything that promised
TO promote their interests. He is a
Commander-in-C Chief to whom every
comrade can point with pride, and
his administration of the Order is sure
to be highly successful.
The selection of Cincinnati for the
next meeting-place will Ee universally
approved. 1t is a beautiful city, with
abundant first-class accommodations,
and very convenient to the great mass
VI Liz
In the matter of legislation the En-
campment called for reform in the
odious rules and practices of the Pension
Bureau introduced by the Cleveland
regime, and asked for an age pension of
So per month to all veterans who shall
reach the age of 90.
Strong ground was taken for such an
amendment of the Civil Service rules
as viii give real preference to veterans
in all departments of the Government
employment.
There was warm struggle over the
proposition to change Memorial Day to
the last Sunday in May, and Com
mander Shaw, of the Department Of
New York, made very eloquent and
forceful presentation Of the reasons for
the change But the reasons on the
other side were set forth with even more
force. and the Encampment, we think
wisely, decided against the change.
The Committee on School Histories
made an exhaustive study of the whole
subject, and found all the histories in
common use in the schools very faulty
many of them positively obnoxious to
our ideas of what the youth of this land
should be taught The Encampmeni
accepted the Committees work, and
gave its Endorsement to Its findings
with a more definite pronouncemen,
than ever before on the importance o.
proper teaching of loyalty and patriot
ism in our public schools.
The plans for making National Parks
at Vicksburg, Stone River, and Apo
mattox, and for connecting the battle
fields around Fredericksburg by goot
roads, was Endorsed. Also, the plan TO
converting the site of Castle Pinckney
in Charleston Harbor, into sanitariun
for Union soldiers, and for the erection
of Soldiers Home on the Fort Dodg
military reservation in Oklahoma.
These were the major acts of legisla
ton. There were many minor ones @
excellent character.
The tone of the Encampment wa
high. 1t met every question presente'
to it frankly and fully, and decided
upon the loftiest plane of patriotism
truth, and right. The Order can wei
be proud of Its National Encampment