Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-29
Grand Army of the Republic.

The Reunion of the Grand Army
of the Republic at Providence brought
together one of the largest meetings
of war veterans that has been
held in the country. We gather from
the addresses aud reports made upon the
occasion that the spirit and ideas OF the
soldiers who fought the battles of the
Union have not changed. They are ready
to meet the South in kindness, but are
firm in maintaining the honor and justice
of the cause in which they fought and
bled, and opposed to all steps TO make
rebellion as respectable as loyalty TO
country. In his address Gen. Hartranft
said:
1t was not only by the cultivation of individual
Qualities OF the mid and body that we were ben
gifted by the war. We learned lesson OF deep
err significance. We have passed th ough the Vai-
lev OF the shadow of death, and see Clearer from
the mouptain tops beyond. The issue OF the War
was upmistakabiy the lie or death OF our nation
ality. We know where cettaIa doctrines
lead we know the results OF certain principles
we are not now TO be nlsled by false lights, nor
are we TO be uled into security by the cry oil ex-
NNSS NV
20 steadily and unlntelruptedly forward IL has
is GIBBS aud flows, the action and reaction OF
many faces. What this generation fought Tor anu
secured may be gradually lost by the negligence,
sell-lpterest anu the indifference oil succeeding
generations. Another generation may have 10
liz hi over the same ground and Tor the same OBJ
iects: but all Will not be lost; they VIII win the
easier because il has been once won. Neverlhe-
less comrades, though this war was fought upon
so plain an issue II was foaght IN lain, IN nope
and 10 charity. We entered this contest with "a
loyal faith in the principles and Institutions esIao-
l-hed by our fatneis, We fought Tor four years
animated and sustained by the hopes OF victory
and we land down the sword In the hour oil iilumpn
with malice toward none and charity Tor ALL
Upon that platform we slill stand, loyal 10 our ma
lion. hopeful OF Its future and charitable TO lis
foes On the latter we would impose no rest'Ic-
tions which ireemen ought not TO endure or ask
any submission which freemeD ought not to give
We simply ask that they give up The pistol and
the lash, coneede free speech, free press aud
free votes, and submit to the decision OF the bal
lot More than these we do not ask, aud the con
test will 10 on, in peace or in war, until they ait
secured vi all men.
These sentiments of the Commander
in Chief appeared to animate the whole
body. The concluding part OF the repor
of the Chaplain-in-C Chief, which wal
greatly applauded, was as follows:
believe in fraternity which joins in indisso
lube union justice and right. believe in CHAIR
ty which, While meiciiul ~ conquered Zoe, doe
not stultiy itself by surrendefing the fruits o
victory; that never forgets the brightness OF tina
cause winch has been made lllustiioas by the he
roc sacrifice Of those whose graves should b.
the shrines oil the nations reverence. 1 believe
in a loyalty that acknowledges Que country auC
one flag, that makes American citizenship honor
able everywhere, that calls rebellion CRIME, anc
the penalty OF treason, death. IL IS manliness IN
herited from those WAC have recruited the grand
army OF the inmortas; 1t is a manlIness, which
TO-DAY beats in hearts which have known no thl OF
but that of courage, which looks out fom eye,
that have been u0scsred by auy wrath OF war
that Can be read upon the flesh IN letter, made by
shot shell sabre stroke, that the in-
sigma OF valor, Inanness that gives to every
man OF our membership, however humble, per
mission to wear upon his breast The badge OF the
Grand Army oil the Republic
Among the resolutions adopted was one
declaring that ''in the service of memoir
al day, we seek to perpetuate the memo
ry only Of those who fought in defence OF
national unity" after the passage OF
the resolution" says the reporter of the
New York Herald, "the members of the
encampment showed their approval by
vocferous applause, clearly proving that
the organization was not ready as yet to
clasp hands across the bloody chasm.' ="