Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-26

~ % NSiits per
Care for the Helpless.
During 1896 there Were cared for in the
national homes 27,3Ss veterans, besides
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 will con-
tinue TO be made comfortable and COM
paratively happy. and free from the trials
and struggles of the. outside world with
which they are by age and infirmity unable
to contend. The good thus accomplished
pare.
There is a deep meaning 10 Memorial day.
Ii means not only tribute and an honor
to the dead, but it means strong and last
ing lesson in patriotism to the living. The
assembling of the children upon these occa-
sions and their participation in the sol
ernn exercises of the day make i'm
pressions upon their young minds that
time cannot efface. and as a result
children growing up so strength
ened and fmbucd with love of country and
the flag, and reverence for the veterans
who imperiled their lives for them that as
they grow up they will be to our nation
as great rock of defense against which
the waves of trouble may beat without
avail.
Every request for flags with which to
decorate the graves of our comrades in the
national cemeteries, and in many instances
for funds to defray the necessary attendant
expenses, We were, through the generosity
OF the posts and Women's Relief Corps,
able to comply with. and We know of no
neglected graves of known or unknown.
In many of the southern cemeteries
were aided and our duties lightened by the
cooperation OF the confederate veterans.
and we thank them. and l would help them
in their sacred works.
In a number of cases, too, the ceremonies
were made more elaborate and impressive
by the presence of regular troops. directed
by Comrade Russell A. Alger, the Secretary
of War, to participate.
FRvOrs Military Instruction for Youth
The Grand Army of the Republic believes
in military instruction in the public schools
because ii is good for the boys, mentally,
morally and physically, and above all pa
triotically. 1t is my hope that this depart
ment of work may be kept in good hands.
The committee on pensions have given
much attention to this branch of the work.
until quite lately with but little effect
Within the last few months the latch
strings have been loosened and many Justly
entitled pensioners have had their ca ses
acted upon; others, stopped without cause.
have been restored to the rolls, and the
machinery of that great department OF the
government seems to have been oiled with
the oil of human kindness and honest obli-
CATION. and to be running much more
smoothly and with much less friction than
before. / believe it will not be long until
every case properly made up VIII be reached
and receive attention.
True History Must BE Taught.
No subject in which the Grand Army is
interested is more important than that the
truth of history should be taught to our
children. II is certainly not the object Ct
the Grand Army of the Republic to keep
open the wounds Of the war; but of-this
We are determned-that one side in that
great struggle was right and the other side
was wrong; and We were not the wrong
side, and we do not intend that our chill
dren shall be taught that We We're
The desire for public office is laudable
one, especially to men who have braved
their lives for their country, who are
capable. and unable to properly maintain
themselves in other channels The veteran
believes himself entitled to consideration
and he is; but he should not the Grand
Army for that purpose. If he asks indorse-
ment Of his post, there are comrades there
of other political faiths who cannot in
dorse him, or, if successful, he may dis
place another comrade. Personally. L will
indCrse comrade, if capable every time
rather than one who is not comrade: but
officially L VIII lndorSe no one. In the case
of one department / have been compelled
to require the withdrawal of circular
issued for political purposes. and doing evi-
dent injury to aspiring and worthy COM
radeS.
Again. parties are using the emblems of
the Grand Army for advertising purposes. !
They are too sacred for such use, and we
ment of laws making such use illegal.
Would Organize Sons of Veterans.
1 am more than ever impressed with the
of Veterans, of encouraging them to take a
high stand on the side of good order. good
morals and good government. / believe ii
would be encouragement to these young
men to invite them to hold their annual
gathering at the same time and place as
we hold our encampment.
After thanking the vice commanders AMI
his personal staff, who had splendidly sus-
tanned him in his work, and the comrades
who had been so uniformly kind, indulgent
and courteous, he concluded thus:
Let us keep the old flag to the fore.
Let her every gentle wave be to in
SEPARATION for greater devotion to our own
and our country's best interests, and every
star beacon light. leading us on to
higher and greater ambition"
Report of the Adtutant General.
Adjutant General Charles F. Brrmester's
report contained the following figures:
1.-The total membership of the order in
good standing June so, 1896, was 1902
posts, with 340,610 members; on December
81, 1885, 1876 posts. with 32I, 412 members:
on June 80, 1897, 7,106 posts. with S19. 456
members. The gain by muster-in was TO-
534; by transfer, 4,:'S1: by reinstatement, |
IL .207. from delinquent report, 6.sOt; total
81 $40.
1.-The losses were: BY deaths. 7.515: hon.
orable discharge, ,257; transfer, 4,642; sus-
pension 30 III; dishonorable discharge. All;
by delinquent reports. S.9S1; by surrender
of charter. SOC: total, .1S3. Including the
members remaining suspended June 30,
1897 $4,000, the total borne on the rolls
is 362, SIG.
1T will be seen from the above that
new element of loss has introduced itself, |
which might be said to mark the begin |
ming of the end'-the loss by surrender of
charter One by one the boys have drop
ped away. Joined the posts on the other
shore. until there are not enough left to
keep up the organization, and the charter
is surrendered, and the remaining few af-
filiate with another post in the neighbor-
hood, or remain afloat with transfer