The National tribune., 1883-05-31
TIE GRAND ARMY.
The Commander in-Chief in Oregon
Department News.

mortal Day. and consequently 1t is Impossible
TO give in this issue any report of the ebsery-
ance of the anniversary. full account VIII
appear IN cur next issue.
During the past week we have furnished
blank applications for charters to the follow
ing:
Adam w. Meek, Trent, Mich; William c.
wooley, Banistee Mich; J. w. NJ. Brock, Stat
ford, Ohio.
TRIBUNE applications for Post charters have
been forwarded to Adjutant- General Brown at
National Headquarters, as follows:
Chapman, Neb., ten signers; Dowelltown,
Tenn, forty signers; Stockholm, n. Y, eleven
signers; West Manchester, Ohio, thirty-two
signers.
Our Oregon advices are to the effect that the
reception accorded Commander-in- Chief Van
Dervoort on the occasion of his visit TO Port
land on the 9ih inst hearty and enthu-
siastie one In the evening the hall of George
Wright Post was throngei with an appreeiative
audience in full sympathy with the Order
shortly after o'clock, General Van Dervoort,
accompanied by General Ames, Surgeon-Gen-
eral of the G. A r., and o. B. Culver, Assistant
QuartermasteT-Generalo of the Department of
where. after an instrumental solo by Miss Con-
stance Pendegast, Department Commander
Caukin introduced the Commander-in-Ch Chief to
the assemblage. After the applause had sub
sided the honored guest bowed his acknowledge
ment, and in a clear, ringing voice spoke as
follows:
DEPARTMENT CoRsTAyDER, COMRADES, LADIES
AID GENTEsEN: 1t is unnecessary for me to say
1,itrltf how 4
Department of Oregon 1t is region have longed
TO see. and yet have been unable 10 visit until the
present time. ara much encouraged 10y the growth
OF the Grand Army Of the Republic throughout the
country, and in place is this growth so marked
as In Oregon The q. A Il. Is not 4 sectional but a
national organization as devoted to the country as
were the Union troops WHO bore the national flag
and saved the Nations life. have visited over
thirty States IN the Union and can say IN truth
and honor that wherever have lourneyed, have
seen no crander views, nobler rivers. no mGhter
trees in their gorgeous setting of emerald green,
more laughing waters pour their currents into the
broad ocean than greeted my eyes IN Oregon The
glory and radiance Of your mountain peaks which
stand like watchfu sentinels, in my estimation are
n1eQualed upon the face OF the globe. Since landed
in your city have been much at home in your
midst at my fireside and hardly feel the
difference; for, though my home and myself are
many miles as0nder, remember that we are IN
the same country and under flag. The greeting
rendered 10 me by each and all OF you shows me
conclusiyely that fraternity, charity and loyalty,
the three great principles of the Grand Army of
the Republic are as carefully cultivated here as by
the Atlantic wind-sweElf shore The G. A r is a
secret organization. 1t has ITS ritual. pass, signs
counsersigns and grips sufficient for one member
20 know and aid a comrade, but when we have
exhausted this, then every woman and child may
know the balance Of our work. We have enough
secrets TO recognize each other, to point with
trembling fingers toward hearthstones, and to
relieve the widows and orphans from suffering and
want. On the 9th day Of August, lss2, i visited
BOsworth Post. O. A. r.. of Portland, Maine. To-
night in the sister city of Portland, the other
ocean, the silken ties that reach from Portland,
Maine. to Portland Oregon, bind closer together
Qf WI a
suffered in prison pens, bore the flag, stood by
their guns morally and rightfully, believing ii to be
their duty The sentiment of loyalty is firm in
Portland, Maine. as in Portland Oregon. The @.
A r. seeks 10 bind together the comrades by those
ties which dear the march, in the
camp, through the fight and after the battle. 1t
seeks TO relieve the widow and orphan and to
perpetuate the memory of the gallant dead, 50 that
Our children may love the old flag when are
gore This organization is as broad as the Union
army which with its bold front line was the SAL
walton 81 the Nation ii is composed of all parties
IN the land. 1t advances the interests of no man.
no party, candidate and no creed IL exists that
the Nation NAV not have the Haunting lie thrown
IN its face that when battle was nigh they, the
Union soldiers, Were not found IN the front rank.
Speaking Of fraternity. my coInrade Surgeon
General Ames Is from the Old Pay State, the Com
nonwealth of Massachusetts. lie represents a
Department Of the Grand ARM Of the Republic
who own iill above chelsea IN that state bought
10y money raised by the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie and the noble women related TO the comrades.
Upon this spot soldiers home has been erected,
and every old soldier in Massa hsetts whether he
in a3mshouse elsewhere has been pro-
Vidcd with shelter and to-day there is not q raIper
soldier Ia that State. shall not rest until there is
soldiers home in every State in the Union. and the
dust Of no man who wore the blue shall sleep in a
paupers grave. Great applause. And now let me
say word in praise Of that sanity, noble angelic
band who, in the days of war loved the soldiers
and watched them through their tears; who gave
husbands sons and sweethearts-the women of the
northlaId and the wives and mothers of the SONS
Of america. And hope the day is not far distant
when the Posts Of Portland viii have auxiliaries
10 them an organization Of the loyal women of this
city Applause. The hu;teringhags riddled with
shot and shell represent loyalty; the badges we are
wearing represent loyalty, as do also Memorial
Day aud the silent graves loaded with flowers
Much has been said of late in regard to granting
pensions 10 Union soldiers. No patriotic citizen
objects TO an honest soldier getting his pension.
G.liy one-tcth Of one per cent of fraudulent claim
ants have been discovered, and hope the G. A. R.
viii purge its pension roll of every fraudulent
name upon the list lGreat applause. And ask
the Department OF Oregon 10 find out the name OF
every one OF these frauds. ask you never to a.
low TIE aflsldious serpent OF politics 10 enter your
organization and care moi whether YOU are RcDui,-
lican. Democrat or Woman SufIragist but / wan,
you TO remember only those that wore the blue
ano bore the flag lGreat cheering.
The singing Of " Marching through Georges. y
in which the audience Joined with spirit, was
followed by an address by Surgeon-General
Arnes who supplemented General Van Ter
voort's speech with some forcible suggestion.
relative to the pension rolls and foreign immi.
grafton. A trio from the Amphion Glee Club
composed Of Messrs. Morgan, Morse, and Frank.
lin, then rendered Welcome to the Chief in
fine style, and were succeeded by Comrade O
b. Culver in a brief happy, and bumurou,
speech. kilograms were read from G. D. Hill
of Seattle, T. J. Babcock, of Salem, and A. G
Staples, Department Commander of California
regrcttins their inability to be present. TIL,
exercises closed with recitation by Miss Kat,
Brack, entitled q The Hear. in the War; which
was rendered in a spirited manner. Refresh
ncnts were then served, and after brief time
M social conversation the large audience dis
pcrscd.
HIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
On the 10th inst. Commander-in- Chic
Van Dervocrt, accompanied by Surgeon-Ien
eral Amos, Of Boston, Mass, visited Seattle
lie was met at the boat landing by the mem
bers of Stevens Post, No. !, in uniform. who
headed by the Seattle Cornet band escorted
the party to Yeslers Hall, which had beer
secured and decorated for the occasion. Inyi
taiinns had beer sent 10 the leading citizens /,
be pfeseit az the reception and the hall wa
crowded. After Hail 10 the Chief by tn,
band, and 4 selection by the Arion Singing So
ciety, who had volunteered their services, anG
who contributed much TO the pleasure of til,
reception, Colonel w. f. Prosser delivered AZ
address OF welcome TO which the general re
sp9ndcd in his usual felicifious manner T,