The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
The Grand Army Non-partisan

The nomination by the Republicans for
the second place on their ticket OF that
greatest of volunteer scldiers-General John
A. Logan--and the enthusiastic greeting
with which his nomination has been re-
ceived by the ex-soldiers all over the coun-
try has resurrected the long-buried accUsa-
tions that the Grand Army of the Republic
is a political organization. A trife of color
may have been given these by the inGiscreet
utterances of jealous friends and champions
of the grand old commander
But the undeniable fact is that never in
its history has the Grand Army been so
thoroughly non partisan as it is to-day. 1t
would certainly seem that if it could pre-
serve its -partizanship unquestioned
through the heated political struggles of the
Reconstruction and Resumption periods it
should easily be able to do so in the
much calmer times which have since super
vened and it has
The best proof of this is the manner in
which soldiers of all shades of political opin-
ion have fiocked into the Order within the
last decade Whatever distrust may have
been felt with regard to its spirit and pur-
poses during the first few years of its life,
these were entirely dispelled by the firm I'M
swerying course it pursued during the tenn
pestuous strife of the years following the
war. It vindicated itself magnifcently The
bitterest local, State or national contests
| found no echo whatever inside the walls Of
any Post or Encampment. There comrades
met as in church or Masonic lodge-witI
entire obliyiousness to the party lines upon
which they were arrayed outside of it:
guarded portals. This infexible course
gained it the confidence of every ex-soldiel
in the Nation, and no one can say to-day
| who or how many of any given Post ar'
tectionists, Free Traders, or what not. Polit
ical belief counts for absolutely as little a
religious belief
Commander-in-C Chief Paul Van Dervoor
summed up this matter admirably in hi
address to the seventeenth annual Encamp
ment, using the following eloquent words:
No case Of the violation of the Rules and Regula
tions OF Order in reference to politics has com
before me during my term of Office. The cas-
brought before the Encampnent at Baltimore ha
been settled tremendously by the action of tn
Department of Indiana
The early builders of organization wsel
foresaw the insidious influence of partisanshiI
The grand comrades who have preceded me il
command, each referred in strong, vigorous term
to the fact that the Order If it would be lasting
must be non-partsan.
No principle is more firmly established. We hav
| liz our ranks OF ali parties and creeds. Hon
orable service in the war for the Union is the onl
test, and we care not for the political faith of an
member of our noble Order Faithful service i
the war for the Union gives old soldier the rigl
to believe, act and vote as he deems best.
We stand in line to-day as we did when W
marched to the front burning with loyalty, break
ing asunder the ties of party and meeting on on
common platform aloft a torn and disco
. ored honorable discharge, and exemplifying fir,
ternity, charity and loyalty
/ have heard the doctrine advocated that I'll
, sentence in installation scr:ice " That W
should stand by the soldier though the who
l world assail him. means that we should do so
; our comratie is candidate for political office
The Grand Army fetters the conscience of Il
member II gives the largest liberty to all.
Q stands aloof from the strife and clash of parte
1t viii stand by the comrade though the wor
assaiI him in sickness, in Distress when the o.
/ wounds reopen, when the wife and children al
destitute. II will take old veterans from the aim
house. 1t viii remove their dust and bones from
s pauper's grave and bury them in holy ground.
| will procure employment. 1t will tighten up Il
: desolate home with the glowing illustration
charity but in all political and religious affairs v
@ will hold independence of thought and OIL
conscience something we will not surrender
I any order in the land.
e No one has been more strenuous in incu
d eating this principle of non-psrtisansh
e than General Logan himself He never 10
e an opportunity to impress it upon the cor