Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-17

In order that the eHOrtS In this dl-
rection sta' be properly organized it
is proposed 20 form marching clubs to
participate in the large demonstrations
gotten up during the campaign. In
Philadelphia the matter has been
thoroughly discussed, and project to
organize a Barnett Battalion" will
probably be carried into effect i'm
mediately after the adjournment of the
Republican state convention. The idea
is to confine the active membership of
the battalion to men who volunteered
either for the Spanish-American war
or the campaign in the Philippines. 1t
is not proposed to shut out the vet
Grams of the civil war.
The originators of the scheme have
provided for an honorary membership
which shall be restricted to soldiers
and sailors of the war of the rebellion.
There shall be no dues or other ex-
pense attached to the honorary mem
bership and in all parades in which the
Barnett Battalion" shall participate.
the active members shall act as an
escort to the honorary members. who
shall constitute what shall be known
as the Veteran Corps
1t is believed that similar organiZa-
tion will be formed in the western part
of the state and that in other localities
companies will be organized which will
be mobilized at convenient points to
receive Colonel Barnett should he
make a tour of the state. Scenes and in
cidents, such as made the flying can
vass of New York by Colonel Roose-
welt so gloriously enthusiastic, will, no
doubt. be repeated at these gatherings
of patriotic Pennsylvanians.
ACT OF A NOBLE CHARACTER.
An insight into the character of Lieu
tenant Colonel Barnett is given in a
letter to Governor Stone, which has
just been made public, in which Bar
nett declines an appointment to the
colonelcy of the regiment, and shows
his devotion and loyalty to his old
commander. After acknowledging the
receipt of the governors telegram ex-
pressing his willingness to commission
him as commander of the regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnett wrote:
Thanking you profoundly for the
honor, | beg leave to submit the fol-
lowing:
Colonel Hawkins had been colonel
of this regiment for 20 years. 1t was
A veteran of the civil war. when the
summons of his country again came he
led his men as gaily forth to battle as
to parade, and under his leadership the
Tenth Pennsylvania became known not
only to the Union. but to the whole
civilized world.
when his health began to fail he
still kept up like the stern old Roman
A.. l. x.,; htv,.
right royalty and he fought through
the campaign of Maloos magnificently
when an ordinary man would have
been on his deathbed. Compelled at
last to retire from active duty, he
fought for his life inch by inch facing
the grim destroyer with determine
tion as intense as his own, until at last
the unequal struggle ended on the toss
ing waves of the Pacific, and in death.
as in life. he was with the boys he
loved so well.
"The laurel wreath came to others,
but not to him. He never told us. but
we who knew him best fancied that at
times he greatly worried over the
thought that because he was passed
by, the people of the state he repre-
sented and of that Union to which he
nau pleuScu HIS lie, HIS lOItulle anu
his sacred honor might possibly think
he had not done his full duty as a SOL
dier.
81 would be proud to hold COM
mission as colonel of the Tenth Penn
sylvania and did have that ambition.
But under the circumstances it seems
to me, to those officers who would
benefit by my promotion and to all Of
fcers and men in this command that
the least we can do is to allow the
name of Alexander l.. Hawkins to be
associated with the regiment during
its entire time of United States ser
vice, the crowning period of its
achievements, as it's sole and only
colonel.
Il, therefore, respectfully request
that no appointment be made to the
colonelcy of the Tenth Pennsylvania.
l.. S. ", but that the same be allowed
to stand vacant in honor of the mem-
Cry of Colonel Hawkins.
"This action is to be credited to the
entire regiment and not to me alone.
This letter has raised Barnett in the
opinion of every one.