The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-15
GRAND ARMY DAY.

GRAND ARMY DAY.
To-day is old soldiers day, and to the
veterans of the late war should be extended
every hospitality, the freedom of the city.
Year after year the ranks are thinning out.
There are tens of thousands of them yet, but
annually there are whole battalions laid
away to sleep the sleep that knows no wax
ing. The circle that gathers about the
annual campfire is growing less and less.
The veteran boys in blue are growing gray,
the entertainments of time and toll are be-
coming only too plain in many an
honest face, and the winter of old
age steals on. The fire and fervor
of patriotism is in every heart, but the
physical vigor is waning. The fingers that
gripped sword hits are now nervously
clasped over cane heads, and there is a
tremor in the stalwart forms that once so
firmly marched to martial music The re-
lentless years are conquering the armies that
the shock of battle could not turn back, and
the eyes that more than once unfinchingly
looked into musket muzzles hot with
powder and ball. are growing DIM America
presents the anomaly of an army of citi-
zen soldiery-men who have fought as val
iantly and effectively as did ever the
grenadiers of the first Napoleon. The scars
that they wear were received i'll struggles as
fiercely contested as were the fields of Rivoli,
Eckmuhl and Quatre Bras. The indomita-
BILE legions that in 81 sprang from the peo-
Pile, and were as if by magic transformed
into invincble armies, have gone back to the
people and TO their pursuits of peace. They
are gathered to-day in friendly contest, not
only as survivors of one of the most desper-
ately-fought wars of history but as the
sinews of a mighty people freed from wars
alarms from within and without. 1t
is needless to expatiate on the
debt of gratitude that we owe these men.
All the grandeur, all the great progress, all
the secured peace and prosperity that the
| American republic now enjoys was won
through their services united with those of
that great army that has answered the assem-
bly, call of death. We cannot be generous
to them-we can only attempt to partly do
our duty. The country and all its riches are
theirs. When we pension them and their
widows, we but give them that which is
theirs already. He who would give grudg-
| ingly is unworthy the fellowship of heroes
and patriots, and has no conception
of the country's obligations to these men.
Everything should be done for their comfort
and enjoyment while in the capital city of
Indiana. Indianapolis was loyal from 81 to
'65. To-day she is patriotic. 1t should be a
personal matter with each and every citizen
to minister to the needs of our veteran WIS.,
itors. Nor should the interest cease with the
jubilations of encampments and reunions
Congress should ever be reminded of the ma
TONS duty to the nations defenders, and
every provision should be made for the com
fort of veteran Federal soldiers as
the infirmitles of age creep on them. They
have honored America in the eyes of all the
world, and by their patriotism and valor
saved from dissolution the grandest republic
that ever existed. The day is theirs. Let
everything else give way to them, and
its lesson will not be lost on the boys and
girls to whom must be left this precious heir
loom rescued and preserved by those who
are our guests to-day.