The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-08

the nation, are due IneIn, anu from tulS
present encampment there should go
forward no uncertain words as to our
united support to the government in
solving the difficult problems yet be
fore them Confident are we that the
result will justify the supreme faith
which we repose in these, our COM
rades, and through their efforts we be-
lieve the nation will continue under the
providence of Almighty God to the
higher position which He has evidently
designed for it.
War With Spain.
'.When it became evident that war
with Spain was certain, and all during
its progress, numerous letters were re-
ceived from Jealous comrades suggest
ing various methods designed TO assist
the government in its warfare against
the enemy. Some comrades desired to
have the commander-in-chief offer the
service of the entire membership Posts
forwarded resolutions rendering their
services. Various comrades submitted
plans for the raising of money in small
sums for the replacement OF the battle
ship Maine, by a, vessel of equal size
and strength. Many propositions not
as feasible as this, but containing pro-
posaIs of inventions, Which the invent
Ors believed were calculated to destroy
the entire Spanish army by entirely
new methods, were also in evidence.
Recognizing in all this only the ardent
and patriotic motives of their authors,
the cOnmander-in-chief deemed II mad
visable to accept any of them. The
government. he felt, was in capable
hands The president knew he could
have all the Grand Army comrades he
wanted. There was no reason appar-
ent why any pensiOner should be de-
prived of any portion of his pittance to
aid our finances. The wealth of the ma
ton was abundant, much more than
sufficient to meet all demands upon it,
I knew of no authority in any of the Of
ficials to accept assistance in the man.
ner. proposed. This applied also to in
Of
asmuch as every department of the gov
ernment had employed the best skill of
the world to secure the best possible de-
vices in warfare. 1t was, however, eX-
ceedingly gratifying to the commander
in-chief to realize the devotion all these
propositions exhibited, evidenclng as 1t
did the willingness of so many, prevent
ed by age from participating actively
in the service, to make what sacrifice
they could in the nations behalf Lat
terIy other propositions have come from
various sources in the shape of individ-
uaI letters and resolutions. This is to
admit into membership with the Grand
Army of the Republic the soldiers of the
war with Spain, regardless of their
qualifications. The principal reason
being that in this way the Grand Army
of the Republic could be continued and
preserved as an organization, even af-
ter every member who had Joined it
under its present system had been mus
tered out. 1t occurs to me that there
is no reason for altering the rules and
regulations of our organization or
changing it's distinctive character for
any such purpose. 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 accomplished when the
comrades who are now authorized to
compose it are no longer factors within
it. Many of them and more of their
sons are in the army at this time, and
have contributed magnificently to the
success of the operations which resulted
in so glorious a peace. They are entitled
to all the honor we can give
them. and will no doubt receive the
thanks of a grateful people: they will
doubtless, if they have not already
done so, organize a society of their
own but there can be no merit in their
becoming members of our Organiza-
ton, founded under different auspices
and based entirely upon different prin-
ciples. When the Grand Army of the
Republic has fulfilled its mission it
should cease to exist. The only organ
izatiOn of its kind in the worlds his
tory, with its records complete. it's
beyond, there is no reason why it
should not be finally closed and the
taps sound it's last requiem.
Return of Flags.
'It has been urged by we'll meaning
comrades to propose the return of the
flags captured during the war, presum-
ably to the states recently in rebellion
of this question. We have never rec
ognized the proposition that the war of
the rebellion was a war between the
states; it was a war for the Union and
the Union today is of all the states.
Those lately in rebellion are as thor
Oughly a portion of it as are those who
battled for its life and supremacy. All
captured property belongs to the gov
ernment of the Union and is as much
the property of one state, if such can
be, as of the other, and of the individ-
rT11 a1,e-sc. Of oil .,FA 70
has right to claim or hold specific ar
ticles belonging to the national govern
ment. Whatever may have been past
conditions the present behOlds sectional
lines absolutely destroyed and the men
of all the states following one flag. in
battle line, shoulder to shoulder. Let
the flags remain where they are as the
best possible place of repOse for them
and what they represented at that time
now so nearly forgotten. Any agitation
of this character seems to me to be un-
wise. Grand Army men have no de-
sire to revive any feelings but those
which brave men can accept as lead
Ing up to a more glorious Union, to a
higher appreciation of the soldiery
qualities of all the men who battled
with or against US in the days gone by.
The action of the Confederate Veterans
camp of New York seemed to suggest a
method which will end all discussion
and satisfy those gentlemen who con-
tinually recur to this subject Their
resolution presents for the cOnsidera-
IlOn OF the various Grand
Army posts and others, the pro
position that a building be erected at
Washington under appropriate legisla-
ton of congress to be a national depos-
itory in which not only the captured
flags, but all such emblems and troph-
les of each side as may be offered from
any quarter should properly be collect
ed and lodged for their careful preser-
walton and identification. If it is desir-'
able to take any steps relative to this
matter, this is the most satisfactory
solution of the entire question, and if
properly arranged, this disposition
might be a judiciOus measure. 1t would
at all events prevent the continual pre-
sentation Of this matter to the public