The National tribune., 1882-12-21
Hail to the Chief!

|
be found very interesting interview with
| Commander in Chief VanDervoort of the
Grand Army of the Republic, in which he
gives an account of his movements since he
became the head of the Order, and outlines
his programme for the remainder of his
term of office. Since the close of the last
National Encampment General VanDervoort
has travelled 81 ,037 miles, and the plan which
he has mapped out for his winter and spring
campaign will involve an equally formidable
| Journey He does not stand in need of any
sympathy however. This is labor of love
with him, and only duty in the sense that
it is obligatory upon every comrade of the
| Order to do all that lies within his power
for its advancement He will be the first
Commander-inC Chief to have inspected every
| Department during single term of service,
but the magnificent results which have sig
nalized his administration will make it
almost imperative upon future Commander
thusiasm and activity have proved infec-
tious, and even the 1aggards in the ranks
have shown disposition to shake off their
stupor and go to work again. The rolls
show that already fifty thousand new re-
cruits have been mustered into the Grand
Army, and there is every reason to believe
that before the meeting of the next annual
Encampment that number will be doubled.
1t will be, beyond all question, if our COM
rades will but heed what the Commander
in-Chief has to say concerning the need and
value of individual effort II is an old
adage that Heaven helps those who help
themselves, and if each member of the
Grand Army, instead of waiting for some
one else to take the initiative, would set out
to see what he could accomplish, alone and
single-handed, towards obtaining recruits
and establishing new Posts, the Grand Army
would treble and quadruple in numbers in
single year. The simple fact that, out of
the million and half ex-soldiers who are
still living, not more than one-tenth are en-
| rolled in the Grand Army, is proof abundant
that there is plenty of room for individual
effort. Every word that the Commander
in-Chief says on this subject is to the point
and we hope his appeal will evoke hearty
and speedy response from our comrades
THE TRIBUNE will take pleasure in second
ing their efforts, and it will be glad at all
times to chronicle the result of their labors
in its columns and give credit where credit
is DUE
Our readers, we are sure, will all note with
satisfaction what the COMMANDMENTS Chief
has to say concerning the work which THE
TRIBUNE is doing in the way of building up
the Grand Army, for THE TRIBUNE is their
own creation, inseparably allied to the in
terests of our ex-soldiers, and sacredly de-
voted to their welfare. Up to the present
time it has been ins trumental in organizing
fifty nesy Grand Army Posts and it is increas-
ing the membership of existing Posts to
degree that it is impossible to measure But
this is, after all, only beginning, and we
hope ere long to enlist our subscribers so ac-
lively in the work that it will become the
most potential of all recruiting agencies.
Note what General Vandervoort says about
the trifling expense involved in the estab-
lishment and maintenance of Post and the
procuring of a uniform.
There are many other subjects touched
upon in this interview that deserve special
mention, but none, perhaps, of such i'm
mediate interest as that of Ladies' Auxil-
iaries and the general desirability of woman's
aid in Grand Army work We are heartily
glad to know that the Commander-in-C Chief
is in thorough accord with The TRIBUNE
on the question of opening up to the gentler
and better sex new field Of usefulness and
pleasure in connection with the Grand
Army. We have before us at this very mo-
ment letter from a soldiers wife, in which
she says:
"I seems tome as if it were but yesterday that
we saw, with aching hearts, our soldiers march
away, and we stepped into their places (as far
as might be- in the harvest field and the work
! shop, laboring with willing hands to support
ourselves and little ones, and with our sympathy
and cheer strengthening the arms of the loved
ones at the front. With what joy and pride
did we receive them when they came back
| (those who did return y and with what eager
| interest did we listen to the recital of their
exploits, not doubling for moment that their
| hOnors were ours alsO-our place at their side!
But, lo after few years what do they do but
turn their backs on US, and go off by themselves,
to talk over old times, and enjoy their pleasures
and honors alone, as much as to say that they
| do not chose to share them with u.s. Our labor
and care and sympathy now 60 unappreciated,
| for there is no longer the same need of them,
| except now and then when we are called upon
to wait upon them at some sociable or fair or
| Reunion"
We fear there are thousands of soldiers,
wives and daughters all over the coun-
try who share this feeling, and it seems to
us that the Grand Army owes it to them,
either through the establishment of Ladies'
Auxiliaries or some other tality to
give them part in its labors.
H. u TC.~