The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-09-17


Cincinnati, Sept. 1O.-The following
excerpts are made from the address
of the retiring commander-in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic,
whose annual encampment has Just
closed, togetherwith pension and other
statistics of interest to the veterans
of the civil war:
Commander-in-Chief Goblin, in his
report, said in part:
AS comrades of the Grand Army of the
| Republic, we can look over the events of
the year just passed with feelings of con-
graduation and just pride. No equal Pc
riod OF time in the worlds history has
| events, and the result to US, as n nation,
can not but place US upon a much higher
plane among the governments of the
world. The feature, however. that effects
US is that which relates to our participa-
ton of the occurrences as old soldiers and
citizens who, for over a third of a CEN
fury, have taught love of country and
alteration of the flag and declared patri-
otism to be the foundation stone of the
republic. To-day we behold the flag we
brought back to the nation unsullied and
undimmed. floating over a reunited coun-
try and its blessings and protection eX-
tended to the isles of the sea. To our
esteemed cOmrade. President William Nc
kinley, and his secretary of war, our past
cOmmander-in-chief, R. A. Alger, We have
given our individual and organized sup
port in the arduous duties imposed upon
them. Never in the worlds history has
there been an occasion when the expert
ence of leaders in national strife rendered
them so thoroughly competent to meet
the difficulties encountered.
\ proposition has been made to admit
into membership with the Grand Army OF
the Republic the soldiers of the wal with
Spain, regardless of other qualifications,
the principal reason being that in his
way the Grand army of the Republic
could be continued as ar organization.
even after every member who had Joined
1t under its present system had been mus
tered out. 1t occurs to me that there is
no reason for altering the rules and reg
ulations of our organization or changing
its distinctive character for any such pur-
pose. The object of the Grand Army OF
the Republic Is fully set forth in our rules
and regulations. our rituals and our
charges, and will all have been accom-
plished when the comrades who are now
authorized to compose 1t are no longer
factors within it.
II is urged By w~elI-meaning comrades
to propose the return of the flags cap
tured during the war. presumably 10 the
states recently in rebellion. l can not but
deprecate any agitation of this question.
The action of the Confederate Veterans
Camp of New York seemed to suggest n
method which will end ali discussion and
satisfy those gentlemen who continually
recur to this subject. Their resolution
presents for the consideration of the va
rious Grand Army posts and others the
proposition that n building be erected at
Washington under appropriate legislation
of congress-, to be a national depository in
which not only the captured flags. but all
such emblems and trophies of each side
as may be offered from any quarter
should properly be collected and lodged
for their careful preservation and identi-
hcatiOn. If 1t is desirable to take any
steps relative to this matter. this is the
most satisfactory solution of the entire
question.
Gen. Goblin then took the pension
question, and presented a letter from
Commissioner of Pensions Evans.
which contained the following figures:
Numbe of pensioners on
rolls Jun 80. 1S97............ S7G,140
Originals granted included
in report not on rolls. 6,S52
Reservations granted includ-