The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-27

|
by SUSPENSION, 30,771
by dishonorable dis
| charge, All
by deliquent reports, 9S1
by surrender of chartar, COG
Total, 81, 1888
In good standing June 30, 1897, 80, 45l
| Remaining suspended, 43, 800
Total membership, 1882, 916
| We are far past the meridian indiyid-
ually, and as an order the stream is run
ming rapidly down the hill. Age and
poverty are making great inroads into
the branks. Recruit, the ranks until
| the descriptive book, and and every
suspended comrade is again touching
elbows with his fellows. Stand by your
comrades though all the world assaiI
Owing to the steady decrease in the
membership and the very small lrden
imposed by the national per capita of
3 1-2 cents, believe that the best inter-
ests Of the order would be subserved by
an increase of one-half cent in the per
capita, making it 8 instead of 2 1-2 cents
per annum. The reports upon the Sold
lers' homes afford much satisfaction at
the thought that the last days of very
many thousands of the old veterans have
been, are being and will continue to be
made comfortable and comparatively hap
py, and free from the trial and struggles
of the outside world, with which they are
by age and infirInity unable to contend,
81, 1888 veterans were cared for in National
homes during 1896, besides many more
in States homes.
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 cases 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 obligations and to be
running much moro smoothly and with
less friction than before. believe it
will no t be long until every case proper
ly made up will be reached and receive
attention.
The report of Comrade Mark B. Taylor
the chaplain -in-chief, shows the greatly
increased interest manifested everywhere
in the observance of Memorial day. In
many of the Southern cemeteries we
were aided and our duties lightened by
the cooperation of the Confederate vete-
rams, and we thank them, and l would
help them in their sacred work
In a number OF cases too, the ceremon-
les were made more elaborate and i'm
pressive 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 80 years ago by our beloved
Communicating Chief Logan, and since
made holy day, and holiday by legal
enactment in majority of the states,
should be changed simply because a lot
Of hoodlums, or thoughtless men and
women, desecrates it by games and races.
large majority Of our people are OBJ
servers of the Sabbath day and they do
not consider parades and public demon
STATIONS seemly upon that day, and their
wishes should be respected, for we look
to them rather than to the thoughtless
for the moral support we need. If games
and races cannot be suppressed on such
sacred day by moral suasion and the effect
of the participation in its sacred work by
vast number of our best citizens, then
no change of day could effect such re-
suit The Grand Army of the Republic
believes in military instruction in the
public schools, because it Is good for
the boys mentally morally, physically,
and above all periodically.
The Grand Army of the Republic is not
q political organization. The veteran
believes himself entitled to consideration.
and he is, but he should not use the
Grand Army for that purpose. Personal
ly will endorse coInrade, if capable,
every time, rather than one who is not
a comrade, but officially l will endorse
no one. In the case of one department
I have been compelled to require the
withdrawal of circular issued for politi-
cal purposes and doing evident injury to
aspiring and worthy candidates. 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
Relief Corps Their work, indeed has
just commenced, and we wish that their
numbers might be increased by the enlist
ment, in this one body, of every ioval
woman of the land whose circumstan-
ces would permit her cooperation. am
more than ever impressed with the i'm
portance of organization among the sons
of Veterans. I believe it would he en-
couragement to these young men to hold
their annual gatherings at the same tina
and place as we hold our encamnmant
Let lis keep the old flag to the fore T of
her every gentle wave be to us an insni1
ration for greater devotion to our own and
our country's best interest, and ever
star beacon light leading us to hiobagr
and greater ambitions.