The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-09-02

to be running much more smoothly and with
less friction than before. l believe it will
not be long until every case properly made
up will be reached and receive attention.
The report of Comrade Mark B. Taylor,
the chaplain-in-chef, shows the greatly in
creased interest manifested everywhere in
the observance Memorial day. In many
of the Southern cemeteries we were aided
and our duties lightened by the cooperation
Of the Confederate veterans, and we thank
them, and would help them in their sacred
work.
In 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. | am not one of those
who believe that day established thirty
years ago by our beloved Commander-in-
chief Logan, and since made holy day, and
holiday by legal enactment in "a majority
of the States, should be changed simply be-
cause lot of hoodiums, or thoughtess men
and women, desecrate it by games and
races large majority Of our people are
observers of the Sabbath day and they do
not consider parades aud public demonstra-
ton seemly upon that day, and their wishes
should be respected for we look to them
rather than to the thoughtless for the moral
support need. If games and races can
not he suppressed on such sacred days ny
moral suason and the effect of the particpa-
ton in its sacred work by vast numbers Of
our best citizens then no change of day
could effect such result. The Grand Army of
the Republic believes in military instruction
IN the public schools, because il is good for
the boys mentally, morally, physically, and
above all periodically
Ne subject in which the Grand Army is in
terested is more important than that the
truth of history should be taught to our chill
dlen 1t is certainly not the object Of the
Grand Army of the Republic to'keep open the
wounds of the war, but Of this we are deter
mined that one side iii that great struggle
was right and the other side was wroug-and
We We're not the wrong side. The Grand Army
of the Republic is not political organization
The veteran believes himself entitled to con
sideraton, and he is, but he should not use
the Grand Army for that purpose. Personally
| will endorse a comrade, if capable, every
time, rather than one who is not a comrade
but officially I will endorse no one. In the
case of one department | have been COM
PEELED to require the withdrawal of crcu-
lar issued for political purposes and doing
evident injury to asprants and worthy com
rades. Parties are using the emblems of the
Grand Army for advertising purposes. They
are too sacred for such use, and we should
ask our legislatures for the enactment of
laws making such use illegal.
Who can measure the length or the
breadth or the height or the depth of
woman's love and devotion, or who can
measure the value Of the service rendered to
US by our great auxiliary, the woman's relief
corps? Their work, indeed, has just COM
menced, and we wish that their numbers
might be increased by the enlistment, in this
one body, of every loyal woman of the land
whose circumstances would permit her CO.
operation. | am more than ever impressed
with the Importance of organization among
the Sons of Veterans. | believe it would be
encouragement to these young men to hold
their annual gathering at the same time and
place as We hold our encalnpment. Let us
keep the old flag to the fore. Let her every
gentle wave be to us an inspiration for
greater devotion to our own and our cOun-
try best interests, and every star beacon
light leading us on to higher and greater