The times., 1899-03-28
VETERANS DENOUNCE
THEIR COMMANDER
Robert st. George DyrenfOrth
Held in Contempt.
The d. D. Porter Command Expelled
for Endorsing Mr.. Mckinley.
An Issue Over the Sentiments Em-
bodied in the Presidents Famous
Southern Speech.

AS the result of general order promu-
gated by General and Commander-in-Chief
Robert St George Dyrenforth, of the Union
Veterans Union. the ID. d. Porter Com
mand, No. Ie, of that organization. last
night unanimously passed a resolution de-
nouncing the action of the Commander-in in
Chief in revoking the charter of the COM
mand for expressing sentiments endorsing
the speech made by President Mckinley at
Atlanta in reference to caring for the
graves of the Confederate dead.
The history of the trouble between the
commander and the command dates back
to February q, when the D. d. Porter
Post, at the suggestion of Past Co. onel A.
H. Feather. former First Deputy Depart
ment Commander. passed the following
resolution:
Resolved, That il is the sense OF the ID. ID. Por-
Ter Command, No. lG. Union Veterans Union,
that the promise of fhe President of the United
States. recently made TO the citizens OF the South
in regard caring for the graves of their Con
federate dead. be and il is hereby heartily en-
dorsed.
/, is conceded by all that soldiers of the Con
federscy, though misguided they were in up
fought for what they believed at the time to be
right. Their raior shown many hard
contested field Their sincerity was evidenced BY
the sacrifices they made, their bravery and endur
excelled either in ancient
modern warfare In unmarked and unguarded
graves they sleep, while the emblem of
united country tfiumphantly land aud
sea. Shall we longer deny them the considera-
ZION and respect due conscientious foeg No.
Rather would we commend the action OF our IL
lustriols comrade, President Mckinley. in the
promise he has given, and this we do without
abating jot title Of loyalty to the flag
country forgetting FOR instant
heroic dead and the cause in which they
gave their lives
The Posts Refusal.
1t was the intention of the command
after securing the approval of the depart
ment commander and the Commander-in-
Chief TO send the resolution to President
Mckinney Commander Dyrenforth. how
ever. heard Of the action of the command
while the resolution was in the hands of
the department commander. and without
waiting to receive official notification of its
existence he sent communication to the
command demanding that it rescind the
resolution. This the command refused to
do. He then informed il that the resolu-
tion would not meet with his approval and
threatened that if il reached publicity he
would cxpel the command from the Union
Veterans Union. This threat excited the
ire of the members and il was voted to
openly defy him. Consequently the reso
luton was printed in The Times OF March
10. This brought forth request on the
part of Mr.. Dyrenforth TO be allowed to
state his side of the case and an interview
with him was published the following day,
follows:
Il never threatened to expel from this
organization any command which endorsed
the sentiments Of the President. I en-
tirely lose sight of individuals or officials,
and keep in view the principles of our
order only. Porter Command is very
small body. only a dozen or so, I think;
but most of them are, / am sure, men who
would scarcely be inclined TO defy their
Commander in Chief. or any other of their
superior officers.
ANY attempt to make the old rebel
cause mere virtuous mistake because of
a recent scrap with moribund Spain would
be absurd. l want TO say that the question
with me now would not be any resolution
regarding the President which the COM
mand might or might not pass, but, in the
first place, every comrade has taken an
oath that he will not. without proper au-
thority, divulge anything that transpired
at meeting of the command; in the Sec
ond place. IL there is any action against
the policy of the order few men could
scarcely prevail against some 10000; and.
in the third place il there has been any
resolution OF defiance of me the rules of
the order provide adequate remedy"
Nothing further was heard from either
side until the following general order was
promulgated March IS. and signed by Cen
eral and Commander n-Chief Dyrenforth;
Mr.. Dyr-nforth's Orders.
General Orders No. So
Headquarters National Command,
Union Veterans Union,
Washington, ID. C.. March Is, 1899.
II has the knowledge of the Com
fnsnder-in-CiIi iIief that the organization Of Union
soldiers known ID. ID. Porter Command, No. IS.
Department Of the Potomac. Union Veterans
Union, has adopted a resolution, in which, in
speaking OF the rebel soldiers, the following Ian
glIage occurs:
1T is conceded BY all that the soldiers Of the
ConfedeTacy, though misguided as they were in
upholdng the cause Of secession. nevertheless
fought for what they believed at the time to be
right. Their vslor shown many hard
contested field. Their sincerity was evidenced
by the sacrifices they made. Their bravery and
endurance were never exeelled, either in ancient
modern warfsre." "
This. like recent bills introduced in Congress
TO pension the rebels, shows, with startling inn
inediateness, TO what results any kind and gra,
eious suggestion that the Government should
cherish slain in attempt 10 wreck our
country may lead.
At regular meeting OF said organization the
spirit Of the resolution IS at variance with the
aims and purposes of the Union Veterans Enion,
and suggested that the resolution be rescindcd.
Tie organization formally refused to rescind the
resolution.
The objects of the Union Veterans Union are,
according to constitution, follows:
First. 10 preserve and pcrpctuate, with firm
ness. but without animosty. the principles oi
the for the preservation OF the Union, con
tended for on many battlefelds.
Second. TO exact from the Government proper
apprecizti0n Of the services OF the Union sol
der in the preservation OF the integrity Of this
nation and Just recognition of his claims.
Third practically. well as theoretically, to
secure recognition Of the rights Of the Union
soldier to preference for positions OF public trus'
snd for employment by the Government.
The above quoted landation OF the motives and
behavior Of persons in open rebellion against our
Government with commendation for sincerity in
.ssacrifces'' rnsde-ihe ..sscriiccs7 being in ef-
forts TO destroy the eountry-nsturaliy tends TO
lessen a Just repugnance for the treasonable aims
Of those sacrifices is in direct violation OF the
fundamental principles OF order, is well
known 10 be antagonstic TO present efforts and
the policy OF the Conmander-in+t Chief, and is in
yidors. having tendency TO obliterate all dis
tincticn, place the rebel on equality with the
defenders Of the nation, snd make the rights OF
the Union soldiers better than those OF the