Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-30


north of Mason and Dixon's line; in
many of the Southern States scat
tered over the Territories Of the great
inland West, and clustering along she
slope which fronts the Occidsnt, are to
be found detaekments OF an army
which twenty years ago was the finest
organization the world has known.
These small groups of men are organ
lied into posts, under semi military
regulations. They have officers. uni
forms, grips, passwords, snd-a his
tory. None are very great in Numbers,
and frequently not more than dozen
assemble at regular meeting. Hardly
a member is less than forty years OF
age; the majority are white-haired,
many are old and feeble. The exist
ence Of these organizations is barely
noted, save when ON some public holI-
day a body of men. numbering perhaps
twenty rarely fifty in any small city
! appear in procession. They can be
easily recognized. Instinctiyely, as the
band strikes up, they fall into the
swinging step acquired in long and
wearisome marches of twenty years ago.
Elbow to elbow, left foot forward, guide
right, march. There is no need of com
mand they "have been there" and
their movements are. after the lapse OF
a score OF years, almost automatic.
These are posts OF the Grand Army Of
the Republic. They are constituted of
soldiers who were, in a war which oc-
CURED nearly a generation ago, en-
gagged in defending and upholding the
integrity Of the United States Govern.
ment.
The Grand Army of the Republic is
not partisan organization. From its
meetings political discussion is prohib-
tied. Only in one contiAgency-which,
God grant, may never again occur-will
it become political or partisan. 1t is
loyal TO the Government that its men,
bers supported, and reveres the flag
they carried overhead in battle. This
is Its political creed. Bot while not
partisan, the Grand Army is an exclu-
sive, IL II very aristOcratic organiza-
ton. IL has a test of membership un-
der which, of the 100000 people in
the United States. but few, compare
lively, can now qualify. Its members
mast have worn the blue" and re-
ceived An honorable discharge. This
renders IL exclusive. Ii embraces in its
membership the most illustrious war
riors in war. aud statesmen in peace, of
this or any other age. This is its arts
tocracy.
The Grand Army is now approaching
the zenith of its numerical power and
glory. IL numbers over 10000 men,
who have passed, or are now passing,
middle age. They fill responsible posi-
tions all over our common country.
They are, as class, useful, peaceable
and respected. Most of them, after
the war ended, returned to their homes
and took up the broken threads of their
several trades or professions, as quietly
as though peace bad never been dis
turbsd by the tumult and horrors Of
battle. Some, younger, ambitious and
restless ones, foand life too dull at their
homes and TUNED their faces westward.
So we find them scattered over all the
West, delighting in handshaking with
comrades and in recalling and recitIng
"reminiscences of those troubled and
exciting years of their young man.
hood.
A decade hence the Grand Army will
have ceased TO increase in hunters
The tide will have turned. Member
ship will lessen. Slowly at first, ore by
one, tired ones will halt for rest, a rest
that never will be broken. Swifter, as
years pass, will the ranks be thinned.
Twenty years hence post after post will
lack quorum and surrender its char
ter. A few old men will totter to the
cemeteries on Decoration Day. bearing
lunches of flowers and garlands Of
eserRreens. These they will cast upon
the graves of comrades, then feebly re-
trace their steps homeward. and await
their turn to go. Finally here and
there. widely scattered among a nation
then numbering a hundred millisns, a
powerful. prosperous republic. unified,
enlightened, liberal. free, white haired
old men, bent, weak and feeble minded,
will be pointed out as survivors of an
almost ancient war. These will wear
the badge Of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, the most illnstrious society ard
the most honored decoration of ancient
or modern times. A year or two afterward
there will be- none living who rightfully
can wear the emblsm. The last survi-
vor Of once Grand Army will scale the
nights and bivouac with his comrade s
on the eternal camping grounds.
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