The National tribune., 1898-10-27

having been attracted by the magnificent re-
ception accorded to me here by my comrades
of the Department of the Potomac, wrote
/ to me asking me what its purposes are, the
writer saying that he was also editor OF an
almanac which would be circulated through
out the Middle and Eastern States and he
desired to publish something about the
Order. l took up copy Of our constitu-
ton and, after studying it again, presented
substantially what in the constitution are
set forth as the objects OF the Order; but /
think in somewhat more terse and incisive
form | wrote him as follows:
"The Union Veterans Union is an organi-
azation of batte-soldiers, sailors, and ma
rines of the war of the rebellion. The requi-
sites of memberships are good character and
fact of presence in one or more engagements
during that war-that is to say, the man
must be reputable citizen and battle-vet-
eran.
1.-THE objects Of the Order are:
"First-To preserve and perpetuate with
firmness, but without animosity, the princi-
pies of the war for the preservation of the
Union, eonteaded for on many battlefields.
Second-TO exact from The Government
proper appreciation of the services of the
Union soldier in the preservation of the in
UcgIlLy Vi .Ntstiob, tAhu Juoo hSSSSoh'eAoH
Of his claims.
'Third-Practically as we'll as theoretic-
ally, to secure recognition of the right of the
Union soldier to preference for positions of
public trust, and for employment by the
Government.
F." Fourth-To support the election to
positions of public trust of the friend of the
Union soldier, irrespective of politics or
creed and vigorously to antagOnize every
man who is inimical, or even merely lndif-
ferent to his interests.
Fifth-Effectively to care for the men,
bers of the Order and the widows and or
phans of those deceased.
''The Union Veterans Union has its Com
mander-in-C Chief with q large and efficient
staff, located at Washington, D. G., and
every request through the proper channels
for anything that can be done or obtained at
Washington for c0mrade receives imme-
diate personal attention by the Commander
in Chief and his staff of other workers"
gave this same matter to The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, here, on its request, and it ap-
peared in the issue of the 29th of September,
last. The editor kindly added to this Q
sketch of my life and published my portrait.
Now, request you. particularly, to OBJ
serve clause fourth above, and let the sub
stance thereof bring determination to your
heart In country like this-where the
people govern, where it is the duty of every
man to interest himself to see that the Ma
tion shall prosper, and to this end that a
great class of its people, the class of men, in
particular, who preserved its integrity, and
thus made it the greatest Nation on earth,
shall not be neglected-no man is of any i'm
portance, unless he has political significance,
and no body of men has any influence, un-
less it has political power
Our only hope, then, for the full obtain
ment Of our rights and for their maintenance
is that we shall show strength in the matter
of elections. / am tired OF the indifference
to the old soldier of young men and of men
who were not soldiers in both Houses of Con-
gress, in the Legislatures of the States and
in public offices, i'll that they are passive OF
contemptuous to him, declaring him of no
political importance, a back number, a bore,
and saying that thes tatute which gives pref
erence to the veteran in the matter Of APP
pointment to public Office must be ignored
because he is decrepit, etc.
The Republican candidate counts, as a
matter OF course, upon the . soldier vote,
because, perhaps rs a matter OF fact, ma
.lority of the soldiers may he Republicans;
but we want some of these fellows to find
themselves woelully mistaken. / eagerly de-
sire that we may pick out some candidate
resentative or Senator in Congress, some
'critter y who thinks himself beyond reach,
and treat him TO surprise. Now, per-