The National tribune., 1901-08-08
GEN. SICKLES'S CANDIDACY.
The Department of New York Appeals 70
10

BIS support.
To the Members of the 35th National En-.
campment, Grand Army of the Re
Misunderstanding:
Comrades: 1t is my duty, as it is my
great pleasure, TO lay before you the fol
lowing resolution, which was unanimously
adopted at the recent Encampment of the
Department of New York, held at Roches-
ter, June 5, 6 and Z:
| Resolved, That the representatives
from this Department to the National En-
campment are requested, in the interest of
| the rank and file of the survivors of the
war for the Union, and to the end that
fair treatment may be secured and melted
out to them in their just claims upon the
Government, while there is yet time, to
act as unit in support of that distin-
| guished soldier, Comrade Daniel Z.
Sickles. Major General, U. s. A, retired,
Past Department Commander of New
York, for the office of Commander-in-
Chief of the Grand Army of the Repub-
| lie"
1t is proper and due to say in this con-
nection that this action on the part of our
Encampment was the direct result of n
vast number of expressions coming from
outside our own Department, calling at
tention to the peculiar fitness of Gen.
Sickles for the distinguished and onerous
position of Commander-in-C Chief, particu-
larly at this time. This feeling. which
seems to cover a very considerable por
ton of our country, was accentgated by
matters connected with the latest inaugu-
ration of our cOmrade, William Mckinley,
as President of the United States. Gen.
Sickles saw his old comrades, a little over
n third of century after the war of the
rebellion, relegated to the tail end of the
Inaugural procession of one of their COM
rades. 1t was the work of men who are
charmed with the glitter of the tinsel Of
militia adornments more than by the glory
of countless battles and Unreasonable Suf
fering. BY his stern insistence for the
right. and through his splendid diplomacy.
he forced the reversal of the program, and
to his comrades was accorded the post
of honor. With more recent history of
his efforts in their interests you are also
familiar.
The Grand Army has reached the stage
where it needs men who can serve as well
as adOrn. The work so splendidly carried
on during the current year by our present
Commander-in-Chief, Comrade Leo Ras-
sieur. will be no less onerous during the
coming year, and will probably be more
so. Gen. Sickles has passed the age of
political ambition. A full measure of his
service would be given unselfshly to our
noble Order. No outside controlling leash
would hold him in check where his COM
rades' interests were concerned. He Is a
man of stern and unyielding character
where principle is at stake. and it must
be evident to the most careless observer
of recent history affecting the interests of
our comrades that we have reached the
point where such a character is needed to
carry on the work of our Order and to
protect the interests of those who cannot
protect themselves. For otherwise their
cause is lost
We do not forget that only two years
ago this great honor was accorded to the
Department of New York. Not soon will
the memory of the gallant and lamented
late Chief, Albert d. Shaw
PASS from us; but so many of our COM
rades had expressed their opinion that
Gen Sickles is eminently the man for
the hour, that New York felt that she
could do no less than say TO you, He is
at your service. Command him and he
will obey"
To undertake to give you record of his
long and eventful life, to recite the history
of his gallant deeds, to remind you of the
mutilation of his body on the field of Get
tysburg, would imply that you are I'M
acquainted with the history Of your coun-
try So, in the briefest terms possible,
speaking as the voice of upwards of 700
Delegates assembled in our last Depart
ment Encampment, ! say for them, as
they said for themselves, New York re-
spends to the call made upon her and pre-
sents our beloved comrade, zen. Daniel
E. Sickles, for the great Office of Com
mander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic.
We do this not to honor him, not TO
crafty or flatter the pride of New York |
but we do it because we firmly believe |
that, with all honor to all other comrades, |
Gen. Sfckles is so situated and consti- |
tuted as to be able to render better serv
ice this year to our Order and to its !
rank and file than any other cOmrade we
can select.
In Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, |
CHARLES A ORR,
Commander, Department of New York. |
Address all communications to Horatio |