The National tribune., 1883-03-29
A Grand Army Recruiting Day.

1nmany Posts throughout the Grand Army
Lees surrender, VIII doubtless be celebrated
with rousing Camp-fres. That is as it
turn out to a man. But they should not
fail to remember that the true test of devo-
ton to the Order and regard for its princi-
pies is what each has done towards
Strengthening and building it up. 1t is for
that reason that we have advocated the set
ting apart of the anniversary solely and
wholly as a special Grand Army recruiting
day, and We desire once more to impress
upon our veterans the desirability of so OBJ
serving it. The total membership of the
Order L te-day somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of 10000 The number OF cx-saldiers
still living, however, is more than million;
that is to say, only one soldier in every
seven of those still living and eligible for
membership has as yet been mustered into
the Grand Army. Why should this be so?
Why sheuld not every veteran who served
with honor in the war for the preservation
Of the Union be gathered into its ranks?
There is his natural home. There are to be
found the NEST precious associations of his
life. There suceor and sympathy are at
hand whenever he needs them. That Frater-
nifty which knit our veterans together in
bonds Of closest affection in the days when
they fought, shoulder to shoulder, the bat
ties Of their country, is perpetuated around
the Canp-fres of the Grand Army. That
Charity which prompted the strong TO nurse
the weak and the living to minister to the
dying in many hospital and on many
battlefield, is perpetuated in its relief COM
mittees. That Loyalty which inspired our
armies to meet death with face to the foe, is
perpetuated in the vows that uphold it.
Why is it, then, that its ranks are not fuller?
Is it because those of our ex-seldiers who
have joined it do not wish to do SO, or is it
because the necessary effort has not been
made to muster them in? The latter is the
| true reason, as every comrade viii admit,
and it should exist no longer Much has
been accomplished since the last National
Encampment of the Grand Army, but the
| 100000 new recruits which Commander-in-
Chief Van Dervoort called for at the OPEN
| ing of his administration have not as yet
been raised. There still remain five months
in which to complete the quota, it is true,
but delays are dangerous. IF every comrade
! of the Grand Army will devote the 9th day
of April to the work of obtaining recruits,
or Of securing the signatures of his fellow
soldiers to applications for Post charters in
places where as yet nc Post has been estab-
lished, the membership of the Order can be
doubled in that single day. That would be
great and glorious achievement. It would
gladden. the heart Of every veteran, and
! bring Joy to the soul of the Commander-in-
Chief He himself has devoted the whole
year, sacrificing ali personal interests, to the
work. The least that our comrades can do
to show their appreciation of his efforts, is
to devote one dsy TO it, One day! What
cannot 10000 old soldiers accomplish in
one day? There is scarcely city, town, or
village IN the country, from Maine to Cali
fsrnia, where their influence is not felt
scarcely one where recruits are not waiting
TO be enrolled The field is indeed white
unto the harvest; the laboFers alone are
lacking. Come, comrades, let Ms make nc
halfway business of this. Let every one Of
Us, with a list Of ex-soldiers in one hand
and blank applications for membership il
the Grand Army in the other start out OF
the morning of the 9th of April, and do
full days work for Commander in Chic
Van Dervoort. No other incentive should
he necessary than his simple call for recruits
We can find them; we can bring them in
Let las do it, Don't forget the day-Mon
day, the 9th Of April, and notify TIE TRIB
UNE by postal card, on the morning of TIL
10th, what the result Of the work has been
so that the grand total may be figured ur
: and all may know who has carried off tn
honors.
Such Of orr er- soldiers as reside in Eocalitie
uhere as yet no Post of the Grand Afmg ha