Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-10-16
Disband the Grand Army of the Re.
public.


advises the disbanding of the Grand
Army of the Republic, on account of
its being a political and pestiferous or
ganization, and inimical to the inter
ests of the county, G. e. the demo,
cratic party.) Why not call on the
Masonic and other kindred organiza-
tons to do the same. There would be
as much propriety in the one as the
other. The cry of the democratic lead
ers that it is a political organization,
and is used to further the interests of
the republican party is not the case.
If it was, it proves sconclusively that the
men who put down the rebellion were
republicans and not democrats, as they
have been claiming during this and
previous canvasses. The Grand Army
of the Republic is "a benevolent organ
isation, and prominent democrats all
over the country are members of IL,
but the majority of its members are
republicans, and it is hard for them TO
sink their politics or individual prefer
ences in a campaign, more especially
| when their interests as old soldiers are
involved. When they meet together,
either as members Of the Grand Army,
of Veteran Associations, or at a Camp
Fire, they talk of the war, and the in
cidents connected Herewith. When
they sneak of the hardships and priva-
tions they endured, the causes that led
or brought about the rebellion are of
ten referred to, and the part the dem
ocratic party played is discussed, and
their references to il are not always
complimentary. The democrats, (and
we do not blame them want the past
buried in oblivion, and nothing said
about il, and if we do, they cry out
now you are 'waving the bloody
shirt" They insist on our "clCsping
hands across the crimson chasn, but
when we turn our backs, assassin-like,
they stab us under the fifth rib. What
howl went zip all along the line when
the knights Of the Golden Circle, - II
reasonable organization were ordered
TO disband by proclamation, during the
war. They claimed that their lights
| as citizens were lnterfered with Wien
they were prevented from meeting to-
gether and carrying arms, when it was
well known that they were plotting
treason and assisting theit ronfreres in
the South who we're bent on destroy
ing the best government the world ev-
er saw If the Grand Army of the
| Republic was a society Organized for
the purpose of keeping alive The dem
ocratic party, or the interest of the
people in the lost cause, democratic
papers would be full Of conmendation,
instead of invectives and denunciation.
Ii seems that our country's flag, even
in miniature, when displayed on the
breast of veteran, has about the
same effect on the average democrat,
that a red handkerchief has on a bo-
vine of the male persuasion, and caus-
es them to paw the ground and below
for their suppression; and for no 9th
er reason than that the badge Is made
from captured rebel artillery, and is
suspended by ribbon containing the
national colors, instead of the stars and
bars, the trailing emblem of the con-
federacy. The badge to a veteran is a
constant reminder of what treason cost
intrinsic worth, nor for its beauty, but
il certainly is handsomer than a section
or slice of "6ttternut" which was
worn SO conspicuously by members of
the democratic party, who were in
sympathy, if not actively engaged in
assisting and aiding the rebellion.
Disband the Grand Army of the Re-
pubhel Whenl When Grover Cleve
land is elected President of the Uni
ted States; we suppose. Comrades,
rest at ease :" As long as the people
of this country have any recollection
of the rebellion, the parties engaged
in it, or its probabie Effects If it had
been successful, our organization will
not be disbanded, nor a candidate who
knows no difference between the wear
ers of the blue and the gray, ever oc-
cupy the presidential chair. Vote as
you shot. They and their sympathiZ-
ers we're traitors in 1861 and are now
trying to secure with the ballot, what
they failed TO accomplish with the bull
let. They failed then, and they will
fail now. Disband u.s. Let them at
tempt il, and may we be there 20 see.
Jas. w Romeyn, democratic party
leader in Detroit. defends the dis
franchisement of Gen. William Te-
cumseh Sherman by the democratic
party in Missouri btcause Gen Sher-
man is Union soldier. win Union
soldiers or loyal men vote 20 sustain
such a partyl
"a campaign story of Logan is that
while travelling through West Virginia
on his late tour he got very angry and
threatened to whip an old mouutaineer
who innocently asked TO shake hands
with the man who raised the first rebel