The National tribune., 1900-02-15

Government already greatly criticised Tor
the present most unsatisfactory condition
of pension administration, and which falls
far short of having the confidence of vet
Grams. Believing that Pension Cour
of Appeals would soon bring about the
coditication of present pension laws under
decisions beyond the pale of reasonable
criticism, and that their rulings and de
cisions would soon be adopted by the Pen,
sion Office, your administration, in the
name of the Grand Army of the Republic
will press this measure upon the favorable
attention of the Congress to the best of its
ability, and it invokes the aid of all pat
riotic citizens in its behalf. And, further,
they are unconditiopally opposed to the
uncertainties and makeshifts, as they
look upon it. of the codification measure
now before Congress. They believe that
most of the trouble which has arisen in the
past conduct of the Pension Office has had
its source in the illiberal execution of pres
ent laws. rather than in any fair mlsunder'
standing of their true intent and spirit.
| Loud applause.
MILITARY INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.
l have earnestly advocated the passage
of the amended bill providing for detail OF
active or retired officers of the Army and
Navy to assist in military instruction in pub
lie schools, because | believe it prudent
and wise measure and one that should be
promptly passed by the Congress. The
Grand Army of the Republic desires to
exemplify the spirit of patriotism cultivated
on numberless battlefields into the hearts
of the 100000 children of the Nation
along safe and inspiring lines of high culture
and lofty ideals of duty before death ends
the personal record of its patriotic endeav-
ors. The bill in question aims to develop
physical as well as the mental powers of
our youth, and to educate the child in the
best possible practical elements of mani-
ness and stalwart citizenship. 1t has the
unqualified support of the leading educa-
tors of the country, and is so drawn as to
leave the control of its provisions in the
hands of local Boards, and is permiSsive
and not mandatory under the law. l can
not more clearly state my views in this
connection than to make Use of words
spoken at another time and place in support
of this desirable legislation:
| "A great Nation united in love of insti-
tutions common to the whole people, the
happy outcome of a recent StupendOus
struggle, are now in a position to estimate
accurately and dispassionately how preci-
GUS are the undivided currents of public
| speech and teachings as an indisSoluble
bond of concord in the future of our match
less Republic. And we should bear in
mind that the best equipment for defending
the rights and power of Nation is always
the wisest from every safe point of view.
| The sureSt way to maintain the dignity of
a great, free people is to lead in backing up
| the righteous sentiment of peace and justice
by all the proved resources of civilization.
War is indeed hell but wise preparation
! for meeting National possibilities in de-
| Tending and preserving the prestige Of the
| Nation will minimize the danger. Over
| whelming force, founded on righteousness,
is peace-maker of the most commanding
sort. In this view the prudent and wise
military training of the youth of our coun-
| try in our schools will add nightly to our
moral and physical National safeguards.
| Where the means to this end are so clearly
within our reach and control, it is sub
mitted that no delay should be allowed
| in making use of it. This question is one
ests of the whole people. tits not the dream
of doctrinaries, but the considerate judg-
| ment of our ablest students of history and
| leading educators. AS such ii is believed
that it should receive the support of all
patriotic American citizens, and for this
now on behalf Of the great army"
Comrade Allen G. BakewelI, the able
Chairman of our Committee on Military
instruction in the schools of the Nation
has devoted much time to his duties ard is
| entitled to great credit for his unselfsh
| and loyal services. His visit at his own
expense to Puerto Rico last year, bearing
with him hundreds of our Stars and Stripes
for presentation to the native schools, pro-
vided through Lafayette Post, 40, of the
Department Of New York, attests his zeal
TO the cause in behalf of which he is
so conspicuous a worker and advocate.
BATTLEFIELD PARKS.
/ have tried to give aid and comfort to
the wise policy of creating National Parks
covering the sites Of the great battles of the
| war Of the COS, for believe these sacred
erations, in their unchanged physical
| characteristics, and marked by suitable
monuments to indicate where soldiers from
the South and soldiers from the North
with equal courage and equal honesty of
view met in battle array to settle with the
to compose. have appeared before the
Military Committee of the House of Repre-
sentatiyeS in the interest of the worthy
| policy. as believe, and was deeply touch
| ed by the courtesy with which / was received
| as your Commander-in-Chief of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. i specially ad-
| vocated the purchase Of the area in Vir-
ginia covering the main points of interest
| where the great battles of fredericksburg,
SpOttsylvania, Charlottesville, the Wilder
| ness, Salem Church, and other minor en-
gagements, embracing the most stipend
Gus conflicts in all the wars OF the world, as
| a most worthy thing for the Nation to do,
| and to do at once, while II can be secured
at small comparative cost, and before the
forests disappear under the ak OF the settler.
| Now this region Is unscarred by changes
since the great war days, and here soldiers
from every State in the Union marched
and counter-marched in deadly struggles
in the final settlement of an appeal to arms,
as to whether freedom or slavery, Union or
disunion should be the future policy of
| the United States Of America. Now, after
| the lapse OF 35 years, a new glory has come
into the hearts OF all our people, the inspira-
tions OF a reunited country, a happy citi-
zenship, and a common love for the flag of
our Union. under which our Nation was
first established, and which is now broadly
loved alike by those who so bravely tried
to strike it down and those who SO glori-
ously defended and preserved Il in the
bloody conflict from 1881 to 1865. Such
a consummation of happy concord is among
the later conquests of righteousness, which
will be regarded in coming ages almost as
wonderful along the plane OF high civiliZa-
ton as was the new birth OF our Republic. In
all the records of the past we shall search
! IN vain for another similar parallel, and the
reason why is because we were Americans
fighting Americans, and when the verdict
of arms was rendered, like true Americans
in the short sweep of single generation
the decision was Loyalty accepted, and the
sons of the North stood by the side of the
sons of the South under leaders famous
on both sides in the great war, and gal
lantly shed their blood for full liberty of
suffering people long oppressed by old
Spain.
The whole world now admires and won
ders because of the all around greatness of
our people, both amid trials of war and the
duties of peace.
PENSION FRAUDS CRY.
] must be frank, comrades and gentle
men, in speaking of the frauds cry over