The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-10
Preparing for War in Time OF Peace.

| The Chicago Inter. Ocean recently informed
the public that in case Gen. Grant should be
elected and not seated-thCt ls, ifthe Republi-
cans claimed his election and Democrats dis
puted 1.-THE would have an army o. five hun
dred thousand men to support his cause.
Where this new electoral commissOn was to
come from, nobody seemed to know; but the
New York !Sun has obtalned some information
which may throw little light on the subject.
That paper has come into possession of "a set
of private circulars" purporting to be issued
from THE Headquarters of the Union Neter-
ans Union" in New York City THIS organi-
zatsn appears to be q revived and revised edi-
ton of the Boys in Blue" and the circulars
advise the formation, throughout the north, of
clubs or companies dependent upon the cen
trail organization. All veterans of the army
and navy are urged to unite in 1880, for "the
preservation of what was gained for humanity
by their sacrifices IN 1S61.65" The circulars
are signed by Drake De Kay, secretary OF the
Union Veterans national committee and the
following important postscript is conspicu-
ously printed:
col. Drake De Kay, Secretary National Vet,
Grams Committee:
Dear Sir accept with great pleasure the
position of chairman of the Union Veterans
national committee, and express the hope that
III my tDScUCc from Tue country Tic tSSOCld-
ton may complete its organization.
"On my return from abroad it will afford
me great pleasure to meet the Veterans and to
express to them IN person my thanks for this
mark of their esteem.
with great respect, your obedlent servant,
~. s. GRANT.
philadelphia, May 10, 1877"
Those who are deslrous of extingulshing
tine unrepentent, unenlightened and persist
ent rebel Democracy" are invited to organize
with the following officers:
"A president with the brevei rank Of colonel,
1.-TWO vice-presidents with the brcvet rank
of Northumberland
"a secretary with the brevet rank Of ma or.
a treasurer with the brevet rank OF major.
A recording secretary with the brevet rank
of captain.
"A quartermaster with the brcvet rank Of
captain.
"A marshal with the title of marshal
These officers are to he addressed by their
military titles. If their rank IN the army was
higher than the rank in the new association,
the army title must be added in brackets in
all official communications. The by laws also
declare that the command shall make use of
the tactics in use for the time beng in the
United States army" Each club will organ
I've as a battalion OF infantry; the president or
colonel, as the commanding officer, shall or
ganize as many companies rs he may deem
eXpedient, and each comany shall elect a cap
tain and two eutcnants-company command
ers completing the organization by appointing
their non-commissioned officers" The change
of a political club into an infantry battalion
will be made ION occasions Of parade, or ~hen
calLed ont TO aid IN tie suppression If d{sorder."
We may remark that the circulars sometimes
speak of Gen ULYSSES s. Grant" as chair
man." and mt Others a. "c0mmander.in-chiet."
All this would seem to indicate that the de
clara,ion of the fRter-OcedH was no idle threat,
and that preparations are actually beng made
to inaugurate the Republican candidate by
force of arms if necessary, wbetherhe Is elected
or not Four years ago we might have afford
ed to laugh at such things. but after the eX-
perience of 1867, anything Is possible. Tn
less all signs fail, Grants nomination means
good deal more than the issues involved IN a
third term.-St. Louis Republican,.