The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-11
A DISTINGUISHED PATRIOT.

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The Department OF Utah, @. ~ r., is
highly honored at this time. by having
present in the midst OF the old com
| rades here. the National Commander OF
the order. Corporal James Tanner He
has just passed his sixty-second year
He enlisted In the Eighty-seventh
New York volunteers at the age OF Is,
and served gloriously. He lost both
legs at the second battle OF Bull Run;
has been the recipient OF many honors.
and is a famous campaign speaker. He
was Commissioner of Pensions under
President Harrison. and was much
complained of by certain persons be-
cause he was alleged to be too liberal
In his construction of the pension laws
and In allowances of pension claims to
the veterans OF the great war But
there was universal regret among the
loyal people OF the country when he re-
signed that office. His presence at this
Departments annual encampment Is a
high honor as well as a noteworthy
pleasure to the comrades here.
Commander Tanner is brave and
typical representative OF the men who
forty-six years ago this spring and for
four years thereafter, left their pur-
suits in civil life to go to the defense OF
the country, Those men sought no re-
wards It was not with them In the
least a question Of money or personal
advantage; they were actuated by clear
patriotism. unmixed with any selfish
feeling, They were determined that the
verdict of the people at the polls in No
vember, 1860 whereby the ever Illus
trious Abraham Lincoln was elected
President should be enforced: that the
Union should be preserved at any cost;
that the Nation should be made su
premc. at no matter what sacrifice.
ard by the scores of thousands. When
President Lincoln's first call for sew
enty-flve thousand men, was Issued,
there was impatiencc that the call ad-
mitted so few. but presently all had
opportunity to go TO the front. and
right gloriously was the opportunity
embraced, 1t was a time of renuncia-
tion and conservation for both men and
women, and presently the distressing
harvest of death was begun. not to
and the cap sheaf of the triumph OF
free institutions was put In place. drip
ping with the llfe's blood of the great
martyr to freedom, the sainted Lincoln,
whose glory outshone the glory OF all
other men in that harassing period OF
war, as the light OF liberty outshines
the lesser lights OF government by heir
ship and prcrogatlre.
The noble representatives of that
time of patriotic fervor and glorious
service for the Union. are the veterans
who survive of that grand struggle for
and triumph of liberty. Not all are In
the Grand Army of the Republic; but
that is the great society which repre-
the gratitude and the honor of all who
love freedom for mankind. and of all
who enjoy the blessings OF National
life. honor. and power to the esta abllsh
ment of which the veterans OF that
glorious war gave four years of the
best Of their lives. Four hundred thou
sand OF them died in that war, and
their sacrifice VIII ever be a cherished
pride of Americans while those who
remain are justly the recipients of the
respect and honor which high duty well
done always commands.
Welcome TO Commander Tanner, And
heartfelt recognition of indispensable
service nobly done, TO him and TO all
who upheld the flag when it was as
sailed May one and all long survive.
and when at last the deathroll Is called,
may they be found ready to go-full of
honors from their country which their
valor saved, and secure in the con-
sciousness of a devotion that never
failed, and which is the highest civic
devotion known of mankind.