The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-09
NO SECTIONAL Line
Gen. Torrance Speaks Of the Patri-
otto Work Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic.

There Are Now 6,511 Posts and $685.
745 Members in Good and
Regular Standing.
/ Washington, Oct. 9.--The regular annual
meeting of the Grand Army was held to-
day. Some Of the reports are given below.
i General Torrance's Address.
General Torrance began mis- address to-
i day with touching allusion to the as
sassination of President Mckinley eulo-
giving In strong terms the dead president s
character and condemning the crime, that
struck him down. He advocated the en-
actment of laws by congress which should
make certain the punishment of any per-
son who should make an assault on the
chief executive.
I'VE have never had president who
deserved to be caricatured and we never
will have one that self-respecting press
or people can afford to hold up to public
ridicule. More respect for rightful speech
with less appetite for sensationalism will
do much to wither the evil passions of
men, and to promote the safety and Sc
curity Of both life and property, in this
republic" ~
Question Of Pensions.
Taking up the question of pensions,
General Torrance related the circumstances
connected with the investigation Of the
charges against former Pension Commits
sioner Evans Speaking Of the report made
by the Grand Ar1ny's pensions committee,
General Torrance said that the acceptance
of the resignation Of Commissioner Evans
by the president Immediately followed the
presentation of this committees report to
him. Referring further to the effect pro-
duced by his inquiry he said:
Zone most gratifying result Of our in
vest1gatfon was to find that no ground ex-
listed for the wholesale charges Of fraud
so often made against the pensioners. A
large part of the last report Of Commits
sioner Evans was taken up with a recital
of cases of fraud committed or attempted
to be committed against the government
during the preceding thirty years, but
when analysed it appeared that very few
who had any military service were par
ties IT, such frauds. The yiolators of the
law were simply impostors, not soldiers.
The report further showed that the union
soldiers convicted Of crime during the
year was but one thousandth part OF one
per cent Of the total number OF the pen
sion roll. We challenge any other depart
1rent Of the government to make as ia
vorable a showing
The commander in chief also took cog
nizance Of the charge that the pension
roll contains the name OIL 1uOTS uLlOll
soldiers than there We're survivors OF the
civil war. and pointed out that there are
more than $1,000 survivors of that war
whose names do not appear on the roll
at all lie advocated legislation in their
behalf. saying: e.
Few Of these old veterans have hos
l'itai record and to large extent they
comprise the men that marched with
Sherman to the sea and fought with Grant
to Appcmatox. They took part in the
grand review in 1855 and formed a part OF
those splendid armies. Of bronzed and well
seasoned veterans that thrived on the
ii very hardships Of war. They were the
last to leave the field and among the last
to apply for relief at the hands of the
government. Fore more than third Of a
century they have borne an honorable part
in advancing the interests of the country
and at this late day when in their old
age they apply for help, they should not
be regarded with disfavor because they
did not apply earlier" '~zt< -, 49,
General Torrance declared that>"?nc
pecuniary compensation ever could be
made to those who preserved the union
for that was debt Of gratitude which
could not be paid with dollars and cents
1.-THE patriotic impulse that moved us tc
J lay all on the altar Of our country, had,
: he said, mo fellowship with mercenary
motive. We did not belittle the grandeur Of
the cause in which we engaged by cal
, culating on personal gain. The mad
equacy of our pay but added to the dignity
: of the penalties we suffered. Under the
. pitiess skies thousands Of our comrades
, suffered as prisoners of war, but no com
, plaint escaped their lips Release or
terms of remuneration Of their fealty tt
, the flag were rejected with thoir expiring
BREATH On the field of battle fruitles:
!, assaults were often made in the face o.
, certain death, but no one faltered in re-
Spouse to the unwise command Those
> we're days of unquestioned heroism, SUI
preme devotion, and unparalleled sacrifice
and in these latter days the rear guart
of that immortal army should exhibit
spirit no less heroic than that manifested
by those who fell in the foreground of thu
conflict so many years ago.
Tribute to Auxiiiares.
General Torrance paid high tribute t,
the work of the women's auxiliary organ
izations, including the relief corps and tn,
Ladies of the Grand Army Of the Re
public" and also made an appeal for thu
proper recognition Of the sons of veterans
saying on the latter point:
"Posterity, for which we fought ha.
not only arrived, but will soon become tn
, exclusive custodians of our countrys des
> tiny, and who more worthily than our son
can take up and carry forward the un
finished work Of the Grand Army of tn
Republic?"
l. kindIiness to Confederates.
He devoted considerable space to con
sideration Of the status of the ex-confed
crate soldier, repeating in spirit his. pie
Of a month ago at manifestation of goo
will and brotherly kindness towards tn
late adversaries of the members of tn
Grand Army. He said he had bee
prompted in making that appeal by tn
, belief that such actions would tend t
bring still closer together all parts of tn
country in the bonds of a common citizen
ship, and there were already, he added
evidences in the responses received fror
the southern states that he had not mis-
calculated. Indeed, She said with but tw
exceptions, the entire press of the countr
E had commended the spirit of the letter. :
Continuing on this point he said: =
cit is not expected that the Grand Arm
Of the Republic as all organization wi
embark in the building of hofMes for sol
diers north Sor south, but insno possibl
. way can the greatest fraternal organiza
ton in the world, more becomingly crow
it's labors Of love in behalf of its ow
= membership than by extending the han
of l1elpfulness to their fellow countrymer
against whom they were once; arrayed i
deadly strife The most disastrous re
: | suits of a civil war are the animositie
:. and bitter feelings engendered thereby