The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-17
s.The Grand Army of the Republic"

This is q high-sounding title, and imports
the existence of . state of war. Does war
actually exist? We hear no clash of arms,
no roar of artillery, no quick, sharp com
mands such as we used to, to direct the
movements of battalions in the melee of bat
tle We believe peace throughout our wide
borders has been officially proclaimed
Neither Grant nor Sherman, or any of the
military officials, 10 busted in the marshaliug
of hosts or preparing for the deadly shock OF
hostile armies.
What then does this imposing title import?
We understand that one, if not the main
purpose, is to promote tho interests of men
who served in the Union army during the
late rebellion, and to organize measures for
the benefit of the wives and children of such
of them as persisted in battle or by disease.
This is Q very laudable object, one which
commends itself to the sympathy and ap-
prevail of every right-minded man. But why
the constitution of secret body for that
purpose7 Why secret deliberations? Why
the exclusion of the uninitiated from partici-
patton in those deliberations? Why mystic
passwords aud grips? Why the condition of
acy? Let this organization stand forth in
the light of sunshine, and every man will
answer amen to the benevolent objects
avowed by it.
Already the people have proved thei r
sympathy for the soldier, and their willing
ness to assist him. The numerous soldiers
aid societies, the sanitary commissions, and
the various other voluntary and legal organi-
| sations which have worked for the good OF
the soldier, are SO many proofs of this fact
Yet all these organizations are popular, pub
lie and voluntary in their character.
If congress has failed to do ell it should
have done. let congress answer for the dehci
ency. It ia true that that body have been
more concerned to serve partisans and party
designs than the soldier-that they have
| looked more to the distribution of public
| spoils among themselves than to the obliga-
tions of gratitude to tho soldier, and duty te
| his destitute wife and children, but the grea'
| national heart has always and still throbs
responsibility to these claims.
| We repeat: let an appeal be made univer
| sally, to the people, and let it be done apar'
| from secrecy, and all other irrelevant OBJ
iects, and greater good will come of it thar
| from any hidden or concealed movement.
We do not know that the order styled thu
| "Grand Army of the Republic" contemplate
any other than benevolent purposes. W.
are unwilling to believe that any considera
BILE number Of its members would voluntaril,
! lend themselves to any miserable party
| someone's put we nave heafd, ana there WdJ
be truth in the report, that the object o.
some of its members is to subordinate tn
| organization to the interests of the repub
lican party, and particularly to head Of
Senator Trumbull by providing for the cleo
ton of Con. Palmer to succeed him. w,
are neither for Mr.. Trumbull nor Gen. Pal
NOR There are other men who we prefer +
either or both of them, but, in Difference t
plain dealing, we are ready to say the.
should he left to stand or fall by their owl
merits-that neither should be sacrificed 70
the advantage of the other by any species Q
political lsgerdemain-by any artifce tina
will not stand the test of public scrutiny ant
public approval--Springtield Register.