The National tribune., 1882-06-24
A SCrap of History.

established there in the Spring of 1866, one
! year after the close Of the war and there the
! Order may be said to have been born. Com
rade Beath, of Pennsylvania, says the names
/ Of those to whom its conception is owing, as
well as data concerning the initiatory move
ments, are unattainable, but he ascribes to
! DR.. 3. Z. Stephenson the honor of having
| organized the DaI0tah Post, and afterwards
promoted the establishment of similar Posts
in that section of the West Comrade Ste
phenson no longer answers when the roll is
called, but he is not likely to be forgotten
| so long as
"G1ory guards with solemn round
The bivOuac the dead"
The conception, whOsoever's it was, was q
| timely one, and it must have instantly caught
the fancy of our Boys in Blue, for by July Of
its natal year the Order numbered fifty Posts
in Illinois alone. 1t was III that month and
! at Springfield that the first meeting for gen.
eral organization was held. A gallant sol
der presided, General John NJ. Palmer, and
amid much enthusiasm the principals and
objects of the Order were formally set
forth. Notifications and changes in matters
pertaining to the conduct of the organization
have repeatedly been made since then, but
the declaration of the mission of the Grand
Army which was then and there framed has
never, save in one particular, been amended
It now, as then, voices the noblest aspira-
tons of the soldier and the patriot. 1t was
as follows:
a. To preserve and strengthen those kind
and fraternal feelings which have bound to-
gether the soldiers, sailors, and marines who
united to suppress the late rebellion.
"2. Tomake these feelings efficient in works
of kindness and material aid to those who
fought with us by land or by sea for the pre-
servatiOn Of the Union, and who now need
our assistance for themselves or their fanli-
lies, by making provision where it is not al
ready made.
For the protection of such as have been
disabled either by wounds, sickness, old age,
or misfortune.
"For the maintenance of the widows of
such as have fallen, and the support, care,
and education of their children.
"3. To establish and secure the rights of
these defenders of their country by all
moral, social, and political means in "nr
control.
ITO inculcate upon the whole col
proper appreciation Of their services ar
recognition of their just claims.
But this association does not de
make nominations for Office, or to use
huence as a secret organization for |
purposes.
"a. TO maintain true allegiance
United States of America, based /
paramount respect for, and fidelity to
tional Constitution and laws, to be IN
ed by the discOuntenancing of whatet
tend to weaken loyalty, inote to il
ton, treason, or rebellion or in any
impair the efficiency and permanency
free institutions together with n DEF 1se
universal liberty, equal rights and ju
all men"
Various reasons, the soundness o sat
cannot be questioned, afterwards Leo
striking out Of the third section, 's-
order that the non-political character
objects of the Grand Army might be the
more strongly emphasized, it was expressly
declared that "no officer or comrade of
the Grand Army of the Republic shall in
any manner use this organization for parti-
san purposes, and no discussion for partisan
questions shall be permitted at any of its
meetings, nor shall any nominations for
political Offices be made" It cannot be
questioned that the unprecedented prosper
ity which the Order enjoys to-day is largely
due to this wise and patriotic provision.
At this first representative meeting-it
could scarcely be called an Encampment-
of the Grand Army, well-beIoved comrade
alas cut down but so lately in the midst
OF splendid career, far away from his ma
tive Iand-General Stephen A. Hurlbut, was
chosen COmmander-in-C Chief. He was sue
ceeded in 1868 by General John A. Logan,
and it is to that answering friend of the
soldier that the establishment Of the most
beautiful custom Of our times and the most
loving mission of the Grand Army is due
the annual decoration Of our comrades
graves. Looking back to that now distant
period, it is difficult to realize that any one
should have ventured to dispute the pro-
priety of such pure and holy ceremony,
yet it is a fact that many earnest protests
were made against it. 1t was urged, even by
the most patriotic citizens, that the effect
would be to revive sectional animosities.
How little they guessed the depth of the
Nations affection for its sleeping heroes
The order which General Logan issued for
the observance of the first Decoration Day
bore date as of May 5th, 1868, and the 3Oth
OF May, which WAS the time specified, has
ever since been set apart for the ceremony.
In some of the States it was long ago made
a close holiday by legal enactment, and the
time is evidently not far off when it will be
as formally observed throughout the North
as the Fourth of July or WashingtOns Birth
day. The eloquent language in which Gen.
Logan's order was couched is worth recall
ing. OF the dead he said