The colored American., 1902-08-30

lHuuSIIIOuSy mural, Capable Negroes
merely asking for a chance at the op-
portunities Of life-the well known
white mans chance"
The Colored American desires to do
honor to General Dyrenforth. 1t be-
lieves it can in no wise more fuIlydo its
duty to its readers, especially to that
large contingent of them who wore
the blue than to tell them something
of the personality of this true friend
and brave gentleman.
First, he is a true and loyal Ameri
can. He derives his first title to this
distiction by having been born in this
country fifty-eight years ago. Next, he
is the product of our great American
public school system. though his cul-
ture was subsequently broadened by
liberal education both in this country
and in France and Germany. He has
received many honorary degrees,
among them Doctor of Philosophy. Doc
tor of Medicine and Doctor of Laws.
He is an authority in many technical
matters especially in all branches of
engineering. Though in a foreign land
in 1861, he fastened home and three
days after the fall of Fort Sumpter, at
the call of his country he laid down
army of the United States, continuing
therein uninterrupkedly until 1866.
serving with conspicuous bravery not
only as line officer but also most bril-
liantly on the staff of General Rosen-
Grams and as both a signal and an en-
gineer officer
His literary attainmentS in addition
to his military experience procured for
him a most f1attering compliment in
his selection as war correspondent
for one of our metropolitan dailies dur
ing the Austro-Prussian war of 1866.
! In 1871 he entered the civil service
of the Government pursuant to ap-
pOintment in the Patent office. Here
his exceptional ability and his techni-
cal education at once made him a
marked man, and he rose steadily, be
coming Prin. EX in a little more than
two years. until he reached the honora-
BILE position of Commissioner of Pat
ents, from which he retired in 1885
upon his resignation, remaining in said
office for a period beyond the date of
his proposed retirement as fixed by
himself, at the personal request of
President Cleveland
Since leaving the civil service he has
devoted himself with pronounced sue
cess to the practice of patent and cor
pOration law. He has always been
keenly interested in the welfare of the
Veterans of the War of the Rebellion
and while in perfect harmony with the
purposes and patriotic character of the
Grand Army of the Republic. being
still member thereof, he in common
with many others of the thinkers in
that body soon came to perceive that
it was not the ultimate for the Union
Veteran. that his rights demanded the
conservatism of another and a still
more honorable organization This
conviction led to the formation of the
Union Veterans Union, which NAV be
described as the Grand Army of the Re
public in the superior degree.
General DvrenfOrth was elected Com
mander in Chief of the Union Veterans
Union first in 1899 and has been re-
elected yearly since. He is now serv-
ing his fourth term in that Office
His unusually brilliant military rec
ord. his high attalnments as a scholar
and a scientist. his perfect equipment
as a man Of affairs. his wide acquaint-
ance with the brightest and most inf1u-
entail men in all the higher walks of
life and his personal popularity have
made his selection almost idealistic and
have given the organization an impe- !
tus which is felt even by its humblest !
member and is seen in the marked in |
crease in its membership.
1t should be explained that the I'm |
ion Veterans Union, that sublime es-
Sence of the Grand Army of the Repub- |