The National tribune., 1882-03-18
Special Correspondence NATIONAL TRIBUNE.


the District of Maryland appointed to arrange
for the reception of the delegates to the Ma
tiunal Encampment which meets in Baltimore
on the DIST of June are actively engaged in their
rrcparations for the entertainment of their
guests Past Grand Commander Ress is daily
i'm receipt of letters of inquiry as to the details
of the programme TO be observed, and Judging
from the interest manifested by members of the
Order throughout the country the attendance
of visiting Posts will be the largest ever known
in the history of the organization. As The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE has already indicated in the
interview published with General Rcss in its
last issue it is the desire of these having in
charge the planning of the programme to
secure the cooperation of all the representa-
tive commercial bodies of Baltimore in well
coming the "Boys in Blue" and aiding in
making their sojourn in the City of Monu-
meGts an event long to be remembered pleas
urably in future years. 1t is gratifying to
note the fact that the first response to this
suggestion comes from the representative busi-
aoss organization of the city--the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. At a meet
ing of the Executive Committee Of that body
Mr.. Powell, chairman of the Committee on
Hospitality, submitted the following report,
which was unanimously Y adopted:
WELCOME TO THE GRAND ARMY.
The Hospitality Committee, to whom vas
referred the matter of the forthcoming visit of
the Grand Army of the Republic, which is to
hold its National Encampment in this city in
June next, respectfully report to the Executive
Committee that they, to better inform them
selves as to the character of tho said organiza-
ton, invited Generals w. f. w. Ross and
Felix Agnus, of this city two of the most PROM
inent members of the Grand Army of the Re-
public in our State, to appear before them to
give in detail, the character and workings of
the organization. These gentlemen substan-
TALLY stated to your committee as follows:
The Grand Army of the Republic of the
United States is an association of the veterans
of the United States Army who were engaged
in the late civil war and their descendants,
numbering in n grand total nearly one-half
million persons, who, in their capacity as citi-
zens OF this country, arc of class known as
representative; that is TO say, in the ranks of
this great army are found the well-to-do
merchant, the professional man, the manufac-
turer. the mechanic and the politician. Of the
latter class many are members Of the present
Congress-, are Governors and ex-Governers of
their respective States. That the Grand Army
of the Republic has no political significance, as
the great national political parties of the present
dav are about equally divided in its member
ship, &c.
Therefore, your Hospitality Committee, in
view of the above representations, do believe
that as this meeting will bring to our city from
ten to twenty thousand visitors, with whom it
is desirable that VIC should have closer relations,
AID in view of the fact that as this is the first
Southern city that the organization has so
honored by holding its national encampment in
its confines, and as the members of the Grand
Army of the Republic of this State propose to
make this meeting q national event by inviting
the military of the Southern and Southwestern,
as well as the military of the Northeastern and
Western States, to join with them in showing
hOnors TO their comrades and in this way
forever break down any sectional feelings that
may remain between the opponents of the late
war that it is our belief it is not only right
and proper that our merchants and manutac.
tureps should do everything in their power to
make this event a success in every way, but
further, that our city, as municipality, should
lend its aid for this purpose.
A meeting of the Chemical and Fertilizers
Exchange was held on Wednesday, at which a
resolution was adopted declaring that "as citi-
zens of Baltimore we think it right that the
delegates to the Grand Encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic should betreated
Hospitality while in this city," and appointing
Mr. Josua Herner, jr., of the Exchange, as DEL
egate representing that body.
ACTION OF TIE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES.
1 A.
Council appropriating $4,000 to be expended
under the direction of municipal committee Of
hospitality in entertaining the delegates to the
National Convention. The committee will
consist of Mayor Whyte {ex-U. S. 6enator) and
five members Of each branch of the City Council.
In speaking OF the action of the council in this
connection, the Baltimore American says:
1.-TWO thousand dollars is not an extravagant
appropriation for the entertainment of the
delegates to the National Encampment Of the
Grand Army of the Republic in Baltimore, but
the spirit in which the City Council unani-
mously adopted the resolution is worthy Of
praise, and represents the temper of the COM
munity in looking toward al occasion that, if
properly improved, viii be one of very decided
benefit to the city. 1t remains now for our
commercial organizations and the people gem
erslly to take an earnest hold Of the reception
of the thousands Of visitors who will come here
at that time. Nothing but concert Of action
is needed in order 10 support the efforts Of the
home members of the Grand Army"
"LEr US WELCOME THEM"
Under the caption Let us welcome them"
the Baltimore Daily Nctes says:
The proposed Encampment of the Grand
Army Of the Republic i'll this city should be an
event Of more than ordinary interest to MS. 1t
will afford opportunity for the best display
of Baltimore hospitality, and we should seize
the occasion TO do ourselves honor by welcom-
ing such body of men. OF course there is
and can be no political significance either in
the conduct of the visitors or the citizens. The
talk about rcconciling the sections is now only
the threadbare dependence Of the shallowest
class Of politicians, and very weak capital they
find of it. At election times, some destitute
old political hack tries TO talk of it, but is re-
wardcd with ridicule rather than applause
The sections are reconciled, and the people all
know and feol il, and men of every class and
color are ready TO do honor to the brave men,
who, in the hour Of danger, took their lives in
their hands for what they believed to be their
patrotic duty.