National Republican., 1883-07-27

inc Nffanu army. IN every department. lne
noble women have banded together in one
form or another to assist us in caring for our
sick and destitute comrades aud those de-
pendent on them. Many of tho members
helped, suffered, and sacrificed during the
war; and many have grown mp since, and
here find an enlarged field for the develop
ment of their charitable hearts. They have
accomplished great and lasting good. | am u
firm believer in tho work of women. ! am
glad that these societies do not coniino their
membership TO the wives and daughters of
soldiers, but admit oil who are worthy to en-
gage in the work
No case of the violation of the rules and
regulations of our order in reference to poll
tics has come before me during my term of
Office. Tho case brought before the cncamp-
ment Mt Baltimore has been settled harmoni-
ously by the action Of the department Of In
diana.
The early builders of our organization
wisely forosaw the insidious influence of
partisanship. Tho grand comrades who have
preceded me in command, each referred in
strong, vigorous terms to the fact that tho
order, if IL would be lasting, must be non
partisan.
No principle is moro firmly established.
We have in our ranks men of all parties aud
crocds. Honorable service in the war for the
union IL tho only test, and We care not for
tho political faith Of any member of our no
BILE order. Faithful service in the war for
the union gives an old soldier the right to
believe, act, and vote rs he deems best
We stand in line to-day as we did when wo
marched to the front, burning with loyalty,
breaking asunder the tics of party and meet
ing on one common platform-waving aloft u
torn and discolorod honorable discharge, and
oxemplilying fraternity, charity, aud loyalty.
| have heard the doctrine advocated that
the sentence in our installation service.
"That we should stand by the soldier though
the whole world assail him." means that we
should do so If our cOmrade is u candidate for
u political Office.
The Grand Army fetters tho conscience of
no member. 1t gives the largest liberty to all.
IL stands aloOf from the strife and clash of
parties at will stand by the comrado though
the world assail him" in Sickness in distress,
when the old wounds reopen, when the wifo
and children are destitute. 1t will take old
veterans from the almshousc. twill remove
their dust and bones from pauper's grave
and bury them in holy ground. 1t will pro-
cure employment. 1t will tighten up the
desolate home with the glowing Illustration
of charity, but in all political and rel igious
affairs we will hold our independence of
thought and our conscience as something we
will not surrender to any order in the land.
In conclusion the commander in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic said:
The year to me has been one of unceasing
enjoyment. | can never forget the warm
greetings and heart welcome given me from
Maine to Washington territory. There may
be peculiarities and customs that give dis
tinctive mark to the people of different sec
tions of our vast nation, but the Grand Army
are the same everywhere. Their fraternity
as warm and glowing. Their charity rs
boundless and their loyalty unwavcring and
firm as in the olden days Our love passes
that of brothers. All, it was welded in the
fire of battle, in the gloom of prison, in the
| agony Of the hospital "in days of battle and
days of rest" Twenty years have
whitened the hair mas added the marks
of increasing years, but it has not
obliterated our Joy in meeting and greeting
| each other, in renewing the old ties, on the
pleasure of recalling the memory of days
long ago, or the sadness when wo bring back
to our thoughts the comrades who are buried
along the line of march from 1861 to 1883 l
shall never forget the year almost gone; it
will eyer be my most precious recollection. The
way was long, the march toilsome; but il was
cheered and frightened by countless tokens
of love, sweet courteses, and generous ap-
| probation, that made it u march in the vale
of paradise. have not even a bitter thought
to cast a shadow on the past. l bear "malice
toward none," l have a heart warm with fra
ternity for all, and an ardent desire for the
happiness, comfort, and prosperity of every
member of the Grand Army. l only ask
| Unat L may De relnemDereu as having
done all that l could for the order
l love next to the treasures of homo. l have
notlonged for this moment to come. Iabandon
this enlarged field of duty with regret;
shall ever be true to the Grand Army, and
do all in my power to build it up until it in
cludes every man who wore the blue.
l again thank every comrade, the loving
women, the loyal men, the grand host all
along the line of march who have cheered
me, the hundreds whom / never met face to
face, who have written me glowing words of
encouragement.
The address included full exhibit of the
past years work, showing tho Grand Army
to be in the most prosperous condition.
| The election of cOmmander-in- chief will
probably take place on Friday morning. IL
| is stated that Gen, Barnum has the support of
| twen ty-one out OF twenty-five of the New
York delegates. Nashville and Minneapolis
are struggling for the next annual encamp-
ment. Tho chances are in favor of the former
place. There was general jollifcation at
the camp last night. Tho SHERMAN Bum
mors" paraded and the Flambeau club re-
pented Tuesday nights exhibition. Every
excursion train to tho mountains is loaded
with Grand Army mon. Tho whole city will
be brilliantly illuminated tonight.