The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-27

departments, where I made it a point
to come in contact, as much as possible,
with the men who wore the gray and
their friends. Ny reception there viii
ever be a warm spot in my memory;
my conception of American manhood
and American bravery has been great
ly magnified. met no warmer grasps,
no heartier godspeeds in patriotic
work than from our once enemies
now friends. I found Old Glory float
ing as high, her stars as bright, her
stripes as broad in the Southland as
at home. My sentiment, One coun-
try, one flag, one people, one destiny
met as hearty response in Georgia as
in Massachusetts, and more than once
after my public receptions there I re-
peated to myself, over the work of the
G. A. r. in that country, the 'Doxolo-
gy,' Praise God From Whom ALI Bless
ings Flow The Grand Army of the
Republic can do no grander work for
their country to-day than to strength
en- in those good people their devotion
to the land we so dearly love-to help
blot out the resentments of the past
During 1896 there We're cared for in
the national homes 81, 1873 veterans. be-
sides many more in State Homes Much
satisfaction is afforded by the thought
that the last days of many thousands
Of the old veterans have been, are be-
ing, and viii continue to be made COM
Portable and comparatively happy and
free from the trials and struggles of the
outside world, with which they are, by
age and infirTnity, unable to contend.
The good thus accomplished by a mag
unanimous people is beyond compare.
There is a deep meaning to Memorial
Day. 1t means not only tribute and
an honor to the dead, but it means a
strong and lasting lesson in patriotism
to the living. The assembling of the
children upon those occasions, and their
participation in the solemn exercises of
the day, make impressions upon their
young minds that time cannot efface,
and as result of such participation,
and of the lessons of patriotism taught
IN the public schools which the Wo-
mems Relief Corps and the comrades
have SO greatly encouraged, and the
part they take in the demonstrations at
our department encampmentS, our
children are growing up so strengthened
and imbued 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 ma
ton as a 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 neces-
sary attendant expenses, we were,
through the generosity of 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 we were
aided and our duties lightened by the
cooperation of the Confederate veter-
ans. and we thank them. and I would
help them in their sacred works.
THE desire for public office is a lauda-
bic one, especially to men who have
braved their lives for their country, are
capable and unable to properly main
tain themselves in other channels. The
veteran believes himself entitled to con-
sideration, and he is, but he should not
use the Grand Army for that purpose.
II he asks Endorsement of his post
there are comrades there of other polit-
ical faiths who cannot indrse him, or,
if successful, he may displace another
comrade. Personally I will indofse a
comrade, if capable, every time rather
than one who is not comrade, but Of
| win indorSe no one. In the case
,of one department, I have been COM
PEELED to require the withdrawal of a
.circular issued for political purposes
and doing evident injury to aspiring
and worthy comrades.
Again, parties are using the emblems
of the Grand Army for advertising pur-
poses. They are too sacred for such use
and we should ask our Legislatures for
the enactment of laws making such use
Illegal"
Adjutant- General Charles F. Bur
.1nester's report contained the following
figures:
The total membership of the order in
good standing June 30, 1896, was 1852
posts with $40, $40 members: on Deem
Der 81, 1896, 1916 posts with 327 ,412
members: on June 80, 1897, 7,106 posts,
with 1896 members. The gain by
smuster in was 1888 by transfer ,3S1,
by reinstatement 11207, from delin-
quent report 6.S07; total, 1921 The
losses were: By deaths 1915, honorable
discharge /, Z57, transfer 4,642. suspen-
sion BOTH, dishonorable discharge All,
by delinquent reports 1881. by sur
render of charter 606; total, 54,1S3. In
Guiding the members remaining sus-
pended June 80, 1897 $500. the total
borne on the rolls was 362.S16.
The report of Quartermaster-Gen
A. J. Burbank showed receipts of S16,-
$50, of which IS, 100 came from the per
capita tax and expenses of $40, 722. The
balance on hand being Sill, the cred
its to the different funds being as fol-
lows: General fund, S162; Grant Monu-
ment fund, So, 1873; Sherman monument
fund 1891; Southern memorial fund,
81, j93. The assets amount to So, 2S9, and
there are SIG, 900 in United States bonds.
The report of Inspector General
Charles a. Suydam contained the fol-
lowing:
Posts having a relief fund 1,642; ag-
gregate of funds. S516.021; expenditures
by posts for relief, S132, 263; total in
hands of post quarter masters, $685.
75S: value of other posts property,
81. 976. 526: posts with Woman Relief
Corps attached, 1924; posts with Sons
of Veterans attached, 1889.
AS a rule the reports received were of
a satisfactory character, showing that
the order generally is in good condition.
At this afternoons session a motion
to proceed to the election of a Com
mander-in-C Chief was amended TO pro-
coed with the selection of a city for the
next encampment.
Cincinnatis claims were then pre-