The National tribune., 1883-03-22
sired, or furnish any information that may
be called for
The Ninth of April.

/ OF the rebellion. FOR OBVIOUS TeiSOIs tne
anniversary has never been made the occa-
sion of National holiday. By common
consent the people of the North and South
| have agreed that the triumph of brothers
over brothers should not be thus perpet-
uated in the memory Of future generations.
But while there would be manifest impro-
f priety in making the recurrence of this, or
similar anniversaries, the occasion of a Ma
/ tional demonstration, there can be no reason
! whatever why the soldiers who composed
the victorious armies of the Republic should
not celebrate within their own ranks the
return Of the day, and we have suggestion
+ to make in that connection, which we trust
viii meet with the appreciation of our read
ers without exception, and viii be carried
I out with enthusiasm.
As has already been stated in these col
umns, it is the desire of Commander-in-Chief
! Van Dervoort, of the Grand Army of the
/ Republic, that the membership of this noble
Order should reach at least 100000 before
the close of his administration. To accom-
plish that object, so dear to his heart, he has
labored diligently from the very day of his
election. The Grand Army has never had
leader that gave himself up so entirely to
the work of building up the Order as he.
1t may truthfully be said, indeed, that he
is deyoting one entire year of his life to the
cause. He has travelled thousands and thou
sands of miles, inspected every Department
except eight, and made his influence per-
sonally felt in every section of the country
east of the Rocky Mountains. With an eye
single to the welfare of the Order, and indif-
ferent to all considerations of Individual
| interest, he has never for one moment re-
Taxed the enthusiasm with which he entered
upon the duties of his Office last summer,
but has set his comrades such an example of
fidelity, constaney and resolution as has
never before been displayed within the his
tory of the Order. So far, his labors have
been attended with the most glorious re-
suits In the first six months of the admin
istration year, nearly $4,000 recruits were
mustered into the ranks-just half the num-
Der embraced in his call for the year 1t
now but remains to be seen whether the
zeal manifested by our comrades during the
first six months of the year will be MAIN
tanned to its close. To insure to Commander
in-Chief Van Deryoort the continuance of
that support is the purpose of the sugges-
ton which we are about to make.
Let the 9th of April next, the anniversary,
as we have said, of the final triumph of the
Union arms, be set apart as a special re-
cruiting day for the Grand Army of the
Republic. Let every comrade of the Order,
no matter what his occupation or position,
devote that day to the work of obtaining
recruits for the Grand Army. Out of the
million or more soldiers who still survive,
but 10000 are as yet members of the Order.
This fact clone attests the amplitude of the
field and the occasion for special individual
effort ON the part of members of the Order
to increase its numbers. Let each comrade
provide himself with blank applications for
membership on that day, and make per-
sonal appeal TO every ex-soldier of his ac-
quaintance who may still be holding aloof
from the Grand Army to join its ranks Let
that be made the sole and all-absorbing bus
mess of the day from early morning until
late at night 1t is due to the Commander
in-Chief that this return should be made for
the time and labor and enthusiasm which
he has expended, and it would be glorious
and memorable achievement if as result
of that days work, they could announce to
him that his call for 100000 new recruits for
the year had been thus anticipated months
in advance of the close of his administration
And it can be done, comrades, if you but
say that it shall be donei Between now
and Monday, the 9th of April-a period Of
more than two weeks-there will be ample
time for accommodating the field and making
, preparations for the final assault Let each
comrade lay out his work for that day a:
carefully and Systematically as if the result
2 Of battle hung upon it. Let each pre-
pare list of all ex-soldiers of his acquaint
ance who as yet are not members of ths
: Grand Army, and with that list in hi.
d pocket, on the 9th of April, let him call, i
( possible, upon every man whose name il
: upon it and obtain his signature to an appli
s cation for membership. Whether successful
: or unsuccessful he viii at least have the sat
T isfaction of knowing that he has done wha
: he can to carry out the orders of his leader
+ As for those of our soldier readers who ar
J. not yet comrades of the Grand Army, lie
Z them celebrate the day by making an appli
Il cation for membership Of their own accord
:. and let each bring some old companion il
e arms into camp with him. In case there i
z no Post in the vicinity to which to max
,f application, advise us of the fact at once, AM
Y THE TRIBUNE viii furnish blank petitio