The National tribune., 1910-09-29
THE NATIONAL
ENCANfPMENT.
CONTINUED from page one.)

the Lost Cause if John McEIroy had re-
mained silent during all these years.
The G. A r. will honor its organfza-
ton by honoring him.
The only thing remaining out OF the
great conflict in which we were actors
is the heroic and the humane. The in
cidents common to the war have passed
into the grave of Oblivion. Its crueltles
live only by the scars ever held IN men,
ory.
Our comrades are humane Human
ity's cause is ever present in the Grand
Army Its demands are for larger SER
vice as these old comrades become
friendless and homeless. Many of them
have and are passing by the genera
tions of their time. This Republic
which we so grand!y saved will not
deny to the departing veterans the
means of comfort and care. The ques-
ton of the hour is who is best qualified
to stand in the place of authority and
ask a generous Nation not for aims, but
for the consideration of an unpaid debt,
the quality of which was more costly
than silver or gold. i
Our candidate is qualified to repre-
sent the whole Grand Army in this inn
portant duty. He is acquainted with
public affairs. He lives at the seat of
Government. He is well known to the
public men both in Congress and in the
Executive Departments. He is familiar
Grand Army, and possesses the best
possible means of communicating with
them He believes in the larger PEN |
sons for the surviving comrades. His
record on this pension question is
known in every Post of the Grand
Army.
Others here may say no more pension
legislation, believing enough has already
been done; but our candidate is man
who believes the g. a. f. need not blush
In asking more, so long as friendless,
homeless comrade is to be found.
Our candidate has the audacity of
genius. Va combination of heart, con-
science and brain which will insure a
prosperous future of great good TO our
Order. He bears an unblemiShed name
which calumny has never shaded nor
malice blackened He will bring into
office of COmmander-in-Chief TO per-
sonal or party resentment. no local or
sectional prejudice, but a brOad-mind-
ed, comprehensive and generous ad-
ministration. He will so conduct the
affairs of the Grand Army as to secure
TO the humbleSt comrade every possible
benefit which the broad charity of the
Order guarantees. He will shrink at no
responsibility nor evade the severest
duty. His nomination and election will
violate none of the time-hOnored tradi-
tions of the Order.
The coming year of 1911 will be a
grand year-a year filled with the rec
objections of 1861. filled with tender
memories of heroic past. filled with
far-off scenes of boiStcrous drum and
screaming fife; year in which thou
sand Semi-centennial campfires will be
lighted, year in which the call for
leadership will be exacting-
Believing as ws do that under the
wise leadership of John McElroy the
G. A. r., with it's ministry of loyalty. its |
transcendent faith and broad charity. |
going up and down the aisles of the |
Republic, building forever their king !
dom in the souls of men. humanity will
gather its harvest ont of our unstinting
toll
Comrades of this Encampment. in the |
name of the best Government, the only /
true Republic upon the face of the /
earth, by which our Order is named /
and known: in the name of the living |
heroes who marched with us to victory; |
In the name of all who died upon the /!
batt1efelds of the Republic: in the name /
of all who died or suffered in prisons of
hatred, where humanity was the strang-
er and brutality .reigned supreme: in /
the name of peace and progress. the
Department of the Potomac dominates |
far Commander-in-Chief Comrade John |
McElroy.
Comrade McEIroy Withdraws.
Immediately upon the conclusion of |
Comrade McKey's address Comrade Nc |
Elroy obtained recognition, and, taking I,
the platform, said:
"Commander-in-Chi and Comrades: /
! became a candidate for Commander !
in-Chief in the most bsolute good faith
and in response to the kindly uTgingS
ley thousands of our comrades all over
the country. / have endeavored to con-
duct a campaign upon which ! could
look back without the slightest regret !
Every apt in haar1 iafa by-r
gard for the highest principles of our
order. and not word has been said by
me or any of my friends in derogation
of the very estimable comrade who was
my opponent. On the contrary, / have
been made the target of the viIest and
most cawardly and the most calumnious
ISLANDERS and accusations. Nothing has
been omitted that would injure me or
my character. In entire justice to my
opponent want to say in the most en-
phatic manner that ! eXculpatc him and
his immediate friends from any knowI-
edge or consent in this. 1t was done
outside Of them entirely. The G.. A. r..
however. represents the highest order
of morality in the Nation, and a man
seeking the exalted Office of Command
er-in-Chief should bring to it an abso-
lutely unblemished reputation. With
in the last few days | have learned
that there was TO be sprung upon me
here. catching me without preparation,
charge of the most damaging char
acter, involving unfortunately dispute
with a comrade now dead This re-
lates 10 the authorship of a book called
Isl Kiegg.' There are other rumors in
connection with St Cloud, which l want
Investigated. The obvious intent of
this was to catch' me without prcpara-
tion to defend myself, and / cannot too
highly reprehend this manner of con-
Quoting campaign in the Grand Army
of the Republic, whore all should be
fairness, justice and embodying to the
utmost our cardinal principles of fra
ternity. charity and loyalty. believing
that any man who seeks the leadership
in our order should be without reason
able reproach. / hereby withdraw my
name and request the comrades not to
vote. for me until ! have cleared the
character | have borne before all men
during my life from every aspersion.
j demand court of inquiry which
Shall probe to the bottom every allie
CATION against me as TO my relations
TO anyone, man OF woman. living or
dead Thanking with an OverIoWinS
heart those who haye given me such
a generous support, I promise them
that ] shall leave no stone unturned
10 clear myself of even a suspicion of
wrong doing. Life is not long enough
nor can / do enough to show my ap-
probation Of the friends who have ad-
yocated my election IS Commander
in-Chief. l want them to all feel that
] have a personal attachment TO them
which can only be severed bV death