The National tribune., 1900-09-06

lily Of Nations, should by word or deed
seek for aught else than the right Self
interest, too often, it may be, controlling
force in the affairs Of men, has not been
Extensively prominent. No class of citi-
zens, it is confidently affirmed, has evinccd
greater concern for all that pertains to Ma
tioDal greatness than the men you repre-
sent. For three decades and more in
every part of this fair land and beyond
The seas, they have unflinchingly stood for
the flag and the right They have al
ways resented, and resent now, imputa-
tons put upon their devotion to that form
Df Government eXpOunded by the immor-
tai Lincoln, at whose call they took their
places on the firing line and stood there
during four years of merciless carnage.
With sober earnestness, intensified by So
Der reflection at their own firesides, and
quickened by cruel aspersions put upon
their honor which occasionally find
place in the public prints, they stand
squarely on their feet ready, if duty
seems to demand, to exercise a lawful
right in an orderly manner. They do not
shrink from discussing with their accus-
ers the issues Joined and to register at
the tribune of the people their well ma
tured Judgment upon any measure affect
ing the public veal. As they Loyalty served
the whole people in the days Of their
young manhood, so in the mellower period
of life, enriched and ennobled by the ex-
periences of fruitful past, they are not
unmindful Of duty now. If the Grand
Army is to remain secure in the atfec-
tions of the people, its membership may
well keep in mind the old maxim, "A
well beaten path is safe one." The
Chosen People may well abide in our
hearts:
"Behold how good a thing it is,
And how becoming well;
Together such as brethren are
In unity to DWELL
In the consideration Of the "pension
question" in this 34th Annual Encamp-
ment, the fact should not be lost sight of
that the ex-soldier and sailor enjoys as
| never before in his life the
| RESPECT AND GRATITUDE OF THE AMERI-
CAN PEOPLE.
Removed from the war of the rebellion
by 30 years of marvellous material growth
and advancement in science, literature,
art, commerce and manufactures, and now
| in the presence of swiftly changing events
which may lead our Government and the
| Nations of the world into paths not yet
appearing, approaching, it may be, inter-
national duties we could not avoid il we
would, it surely becomes this premier body
of the greatest soldier organization in the
| annals of men to act with moderation and
! sound discretion. Our place in the econ
| omy of our Government is secure. Of
/ this there can be no doubt. Differences
| as to measures and men may arise, but
we cannot go far wrong if we continue
in the policies of the past. We have never
yet appealed IN proper way to the people
| Of the United States in vain. Wrongs
| complained of have been rigbted, and will
be again should it appear that public ser
wants charged with the execution of the
| 10 anactaA hr ('nuprecG and ar, Oh
| by the Chief Executive, have not been
| faithfully administered. Justice often
times follows with ''leaden heel" but JUS
tice does not always slumber. AT the
Philadelphia Encampment this
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT
Was adopted.
Your Committee on Pensions respectful
ly presents this supplemental report pur-
suant to the instructions OF the Encamp-
ment:
We respectfully direct attention to sec
ton All of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, which reads as follows:
The Commissioner of Pensions shall
perform, under the direction of the Sec
| retary Of the Interior, such duties in the
execution of pension and bounty laws as
may be prescribed by the President.
Resolved. That this Encampment re-
spectfully represents to the President its
earnest conviction that Rule 225, now in
practical effect in the adjudication of
claims for pensions, under section of
the act of June 81, 1890, in the Pension
Bureau, works grave injustice to the wor-
thy exsoldier and ex-sailor, and we ex-
press the hope that you will not find il
inconsistent with your duties as an exec
utive officer to abrogate this rule and re-
establish the principle as defined in Rule
164. Under the operation of Rule 164,
formulated and put into effect soon after
the passage OF this act, unquestionably
upon sound legal propositions, in word.
the simple expression of the letter and
spirit of the law, 100000 names were
added to the pension roll of the Republic.
and to which no objection was heard for
years after its PRONUNCIATION.
Resolved, That this Encampment re-
spectfully represents that the practice in
the Pension Bureau In barring widow