The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26
DENVER ENCAMPMEN
Full Text of Commander-in Chief Van
DerV0Ort'S Address.
[speciaE % Tun TR1nuNE.l

h,
Encampment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie convened in this city to-day, and Com
mander-i in Chief Van Dervoort delivered an
eloquent address, which was received with
great enthusiasm. He spoke as follows:
Another march is ended and we have pitched
our tents, in the shadow of the snow-capped
mountains in this beautiful city on the plain,
and again clasp hands, renew the old ties, sing
the old songs, and march with steady footsteps
in grand review.
Ii is true that many who touched elbow, last
year. have passed beyond the silent river yet,
as in the days of war, when eur ranks were
thinned by disease or torn by shot and Shell
and the vacant places were filled by the re-
serve or the recruits called again and again, so
now we meet with solid front, thickened lines
and firm purpose, having drawn from the
ranks of the old grand army thousands to fill the
places of those mustered out.
We meet in a State that was not one of the
stars on the flag we fought for from 81 to '65,
| in a city that was then only station, on the
| long line of march towards the setting sun.
But the star is now cleaning on the flag, and
! the city by its wondrous growth, its opened
] hearted hospitality, and its queenly beauty has
/ become of worldwide renown, and not only do
/ its citizens warmly welcome the Grand Army
and greet them as the guests of the princely
/ CITY, but the Centennial State joins gladly in
/ the joyful acclaim.
! The land where our weary feet have halted
| in the march to the final roll call was almost
| wilderness when the war began and when it
ceased. Its mineral wealth was yet untouched;
! its plains were untitled its quarries were UNI
| opened; its fountains of eternal youth unfre
! quented save by the savage; its mountain
| peaks unexplored; its sparkling, foaming
mountain springs, rushing down through
! grand canyons to the wide plains, were as in
! the days when the adventurous white man had
not turned his wandering footsteps hither.
To-day magic cities have arisen. Untold
mineral wealth has been taken from the rock
ribbed mountains, long lines of steel cross the
foaming torrent, pierce the grand cliffs, climb
dizzy heights and carry the worlds commerce
| from the cast and the west, and it is a happy
! thought that this progress-this onward move
meut of the car of fortune, this red flame of
| the torch of liberty the glory of civilization,
the triumph of education, the wonders of the
exposition-would not have been possible had
! it not been for the victories of the Grand Army
of the Republic. We who have come from the
east to the wild, free west, greet our comrades
! from the Atlantic shores and take them to our
hearts and homes in fraternity, charity, and
| loyalty, and thank God that we are all united
in one common country and under one star
decked flag.
When / assumed the duties of my Office de-
| termined that l would show that l appreciated
the high honor by deyoting all my time and
all the energy and ability in me towards
! building up our Order.
THE WORK OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
With the cordial approval of the Council of
| Administration, to whose generous action and
constant support | am greatly indebted, | at
once commenced visiting the several Depart
! ments. / am happy to state that have visited
| all, both permanent and provisional, that were
| in existence June 23d, 1882, except Florida. In
the public and private meetings | have at
| tended have met face to face more than half
| of the membership of the Order have been
cordially received everywhere, and am earnest
in the belief that the meetings held have
greatly benefited the Order / am fully con-
WINGED that for several years to come it will be
necessary for the commander-in- chief to visit
all the Departments. Ever since the COM
nencement of this work by Comrade Wagner
and its continuation by Comrade Merrill, it has
been and will hereafter be expected and de-
manded of any comrade assuming the duties of
the Office l have not been able to respond TO
one-third of the urgent calls made upon me.
My successor will have larger field than |
have covered, and will have to at once go into
the work. | am satisfied that the meetings
held in connection with the receptions of the
COMMUNICATIVE chief should be public. He is
in no sense an inspecting mastering officer,
and is in the field simply as missionary to
arouse enthusiasm, explain the objects of the
!; Order incite emulation and enlist the sympa-
thy of all in the good work. We have one mil
lion men who wore the blue to recruit into our
Order, and this work must be speedily done or
the opportunity will be forever lost. If the
safeguards attached to the entrance of recruit
into our ranks are properly enforced, there is no
danger of getting improper material. Great
care should be exercised by the investigating
committees, and all recruiting officers should
be cautious in their jealous efforts to swell cur
ranks.
/ have visited the following permanent De-
partments: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
: New York, New Jersey, Delaware Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, Potomac, Virginia West Vir-
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin
, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Kentucky
Nebraska Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Califor-
MIA, Oregon.
] have visited the provisional Departments
, of Utah and Washington.
] have also also visited in the course of my
journey New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming
Nevada, Idaho, and Montana.
In all, thirty-seven States and Territories
, leaving only twelve, including Alaska, I'M
! visited.
have visited the Departments named below
more than once Connecticut, Potomac Illinois
. Iowa. Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana
Colorado, Missouri.
/ have attended nine Department Encamp.
ments and two semi annual encampments, and
!, the organization OF one provisional Department
Ihave delivered at Reunions, Canp-fires ban
! quets, receptions annual and semi-annual en-
campments, 143 addresses l have visited 15t
Posts; / have travelled 40 403 miles; | have
been absent from home over 265 days. Wher
at home ! daily devoted many hours to the
duties of the Office. / have written over on
: thousand letters, and can truly say that cheer
: fully and gladly have given one year of my
; life to the work.
s KANSAS LEADS THE COLUMN.
d Kansas has come nobly to the front again
this year. and is again the banner Department
The gain up TO March 31st is 424f per cent
6,79S members and 127 Posts. Missouri come
e next with gain of 354 per cent, 81 Posts, ant
t 2,105 memberships, in a former slave State
It and one desolated by the rayages of war, i
p surprising, and is due to the energy, zeal, ant
n devotion of large number of enterprisinl
@ workers; Iowa, 229 per cent, 3,038 members
II and 70 Posts; Michigan, $50 per cent, 81 Posts
and 3i60 members; Wisconsin, 1851 per cent.
C 46 Posts, 1851 members; Indiana, 100 pc
j. cent, III members, and log Posts; Colorado
l. 273 per cent, ], 1913 members, with New Mexic
e and Dakota separated from them; Illinois, 8
ii per cent? 1857 members and 60 Posts; Yer
5. mont, 90f per cent, SAT members and Is Posts
e Ohio, 79f per cent, 6,849 members, and 8
y Posts; New York 81 per cent, 1850 members
and 50 Posts; Pennsylvania 23A per cent
4,934 members, and 80 Posts; Nebraska 65
per cent, ], $50 members, and 80 Posts; Min
T nesota, 821 per cent gain; Maine, 465 per cent
If 1,434 members, and IL Posts; Massachusetts,
IDaete