National Republican., 1883-07-27
Twenty Thousand People Witness the Veterans
Parade in Denver
Sherman's Bummers" Enliven Camp
Life During the Evening,
A Fall Synopsis of Commander in Chief Paul Wander
voorts Annual Address.
Every Train for the Mountains Loaded
Down with Members OF the Order.


the Grand Army posts was the parade of the
Flambeau club of the Lincoln post of Topeka,
Kan. Twenty thousand people witnessed the
display. The encampment held business
meeting yesterday. Commander in Chief
Paul Vandervoort delivered an address, of
which the following lisa very complete synop-
sis: ~
Another march Is ended and wo have
pitched our tents in the shadow of the snow
capped mountains in this beautiful city on
che plain and again clasp hands, renew the
old tics sing the old songs, and march with
steady footsteps in grand review.
1t is true that many who touched elbow
last year have passed beyond the silent river,
yot, as in the days Of war, when our ranks
were thinned by disease or torn by shot and
shell and the vacant places were filled by tho
reserve or tho recruits called again and again,
so now we meet with solid front. thickened
lines aud 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 '6l to 10,
in city that was then only a station on the
long line of march toward the setting sun.
But the star is now cleaning on the flag and
the city by its wOndrous growth, its open
hearted hospitality, and its qneenly beauty,
has become of world wide renown, and the
citizens of the whole state warmly welcome
the Grand Army and greet them not only as
the guests of the princely city, but the Cen
tennial state joins gladly in tho joyful ac-
claim.
The land whore 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 un-
touched. Its plains were untitled. Its quar-
ries were unopened. Its fountains of eternal
youth unfrequentod save by the wild savage.
Its mountain peaks unoXplored. Its sparkling,
toaming mountain streams, rushing down
through grand cayons 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 COM
merce from the east and the west and il is a
happy thought that this progress, this onward
move 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
1T 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 fraternal
charity and loyalty, and thank God that we
are all united i'll one common country and un-
der one star-decked flag.
When | assumed the duties of my office /
determined that | would show that l appre-
ciated the high honor by devoting all my time
and all the energy and ability in me toward
building up our order. During the year he had
attended nine department encampments, de-
livered 143 addresses, visited 156 posts, and
travelled 4O,4OO miles. Kansas is again the
banner department. The gain in that state
to March 81 is 6,19S members and l27 posts :;
Missouri comes next with a gain of 81 posts
and 2, lO5 members Iowa, 1,03S members and
TS postS Michigan, 81 posts and 3,460
members; Wisconsin, 1861 members and
46 posts; Indiana, 4,171 members, and 106
posts; Colorado, 1874 members with New
Mexico and Dakota separated from it; llli-
nois, 3,357 members, SO posts Vermont, s17
members; Ohio, 6,S49 members, 81 posts; New
York, 1860 members, and SS posts; Pennsyl-
vania, 4 ,933 members and so posts Nebraska,
1850 members, and SO posts; Minnesota, S24
per cent gain: Maine, 1,434 members and IL
posts, and Massachusetts,, l,S1 members, and
posts. These gains are up to and including
March 81, 1888 All the departments show a
gain, and in the supplemental report showing
an increase during the June quarter the grand
est increase in the history ofthe order is noted
Illinois alone gained in the June quarter l03
posts and 3,703 members. The total gain in
or 66l per cent. During the year the follow
ing permanent departments have been or
ganized West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon,
and Dakota Arkansas and Washington, and
New Mexico, the last named being a provis-
ional department. The prospects are good in
Tennessee, whero there is now sufficient
number to organize. The Gulf department
has posts at New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Gal
weston, and sherman, Tex.
The post ut Honolulu is in fine condition
and bids fair to include every veteran on the
Island.
] am delighted at the progress made in the
work of establishing soldiers homes under
the auspices of the Grand Army. Many OF
the departments are doing wonderful work in
this direction, and all OF them should at once
take active steps toward providing homes
for the poor members of our order l had the
pleasure of visiting the homo established by
the department of Massachusetts at Chelsea
My eyes grow dim when think of that visit.
That alone would have paid me for all my la
bors in behalf of the Grand Army.
1t is the grandest monument of the splen-
did department which so nObly represents the
principles of our order. 1t is home presided
y No;sgaRy veteran and Il veterans wife. The
war-w0fNA Veterans only fear is that they
cannot be grateful enough for it,
The national homes are or will be mad
equate soon. We want our comrades near us
80 that we can visit and cheer them and
learn them that they arc precious to tho COM
rades of the Grand Army, and besides they
can be used for memorial halls in which to
preserve our records. | also passed by the
site of the home to be provided by the depart
ment of California. 1t will soon be ready,
and is located in beautiful valley close by
the mountain. Almost perpetual summer
reigns there, and IL will be delightful spot
for the weary veterans to pass away the rem
nant of their lives.
l have heard many complaints in regard to
the treatment OF the inmates of the soldiers
home ut Dayton, Ohio, and would recommend
that committee be appointed TO investigate
the statements made
Tho question of what will become of the
records and history Of the Grand Army after
the final muster-out has taken strong hold
upon my heart.
believe our record in peace will eclipse
our glorles in the war.
If the records of all the departments and
national encampments are gathered up and
forever preserved II will add greatly to the
material for the future historian TO write the
true history OF the war, l believe that when
the necessity ceases for the use of the ma
tional homes that they can be donated for this
purpose, and in the departments where they
do not exist permanent lre-proOt memorial
halls should be erected where che records Of
the Grand Army can be filed and preserved.
We have now all the records and history Of
..fs " tot flf