The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-09

Meeting os the Grand Army Of the Repuh-
lic-An Immense CrOwd-PrOcessiOn
and Other rOceedings.

| Portland, Me-. had its largest crowda1ew
days ago. The Grand Army came in unex-
pectedly large numbers. On he first day a II
day long the mea sured tram OBJECT through
the streets and strains Of martial music, as
hosts 81 the Grand Army Of the Republic
/ marched from the depot to the camp, mark
Ell the Inauguration Of the nineteenth en-
campment. Delegations from various parts
of the Union formed steady and almost
uninterrupted procession from morning till
I night
On second day the grand procession was
the main feature. II had been calculated
that it would require two hours for the pro-
cession to pass, but it took more that
three hours. The most careful esti
mates Of the number Of men in
line place the figures at $4,000,
81 which number 10000 wore the
uniform III the Grand Army. Commander
int hief kountz was greeted with generous
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode in a carriage with Congressman
Reid, received a continuous ovation.
In the evening a reception was tend
cred to Commander-in-Chief kOuntz, as
representative Of the body at the
city hall. Addresses Of welcome were
commander Of Maine; by Gov. Robbie, who
also paid tribute to Gen: Grant, and by
Mayor Deering. Commander kOuntx replied
on behalf Of himself and comrades. Ad-
dresses were also made by Gov. Alger Of
Michigan, ex-Gov. Fairchild Of Wisconsin,
Gen. Henry W. Siocum Of New York and
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan preiaeed his
remarks with fervent eulogy ofGen. Grant.
He said: I'm my judgment time has not given
toany people a grander commander ofmen,
greater organizer offorces, "a more magnifi-
cent campaigner lapplausel, man
with more ability to execute than Y.
$. Grant. For this country he has
done as much as any man that ever lived
has ever done for any country"
On the third day the Comma n,ler deliver
ell his annual address. He said:
That four years ago there was a men,
bership Of 10000. On March 81, 1855,
thirtyeight departments reported 5,O26
posts and 2i?, 6S4 members, while the re-
port 81 the adjutant general shoxs the
membership to he 2s1 ,631. The large
number Of -, 2?2 reported by the adju-
tant general AZ suspended during the year
is due in Il great measure to negligence and
inefiiciency Of post officers. Our finances
are in excellent condition. We have
ON hand cash balance Of $15,22l
The question having been raised as to
whether the late Comrade DIR. b. +. Ste
venson of Springfield, H.. was really the
first mover in the organizat ion of he Grand
Army 81 the Republic. il is deemed but sim
pie Justice to his memory as well as to his
family and comrades to state that all au-
thentic records confer upon him that very
just honor. During the past eleven months
there have been issued lift y-one thousan
badges, at a profit of S6.G3O. | heartily
endorse the organization known as the Vet
Grams Rights Union. the object of hich is To
secure to ourcomra,les their rights md priv
ileges under I he revised statutes of he United
states. The union urges,as it rightfully may
and ought. that when the other qualifica-
tons are equal. the soldier should he pre-
ferred because he was "A soldier. | am op-
posed to the perpetuation Of the Grand
Army, believing the mission of great
comrs'sshiP will have been fulfilled when
the last cOmrade has joined the last muster
out. Knowing that there is nothing in the
Grand Army of the Republic inconsistent
with moreeXacting dut y ors,rctcst religion,
Ideemed il for theintere-t fthe order to APP
point IA special committee to lay its nature
and workings before the properC Catholic au-
thorities Of the United states, that they
may know our organization has nothing to
conceal. and that our purposes are com
mended by all who understand them. The
committee reported having fulfilled its mis-
sion report, that ASSURANCES had been given
by Archbishop Ryan and Gibbons that
nothing could he found i'm the aims of the
Grand Army to prevent any good Catholic
from becoming IA member. The com
mander-in-ebief deprecated participa-
tion in politics as an organization, and
urgently advocated the Mexican pension bill
ana a bill To- grant disabled soldiers PEN
sion rom the date OF Disability. lie also
urged that Decoration day tie not iesscrat-
ed by recreation and pleasure. The Wom-
ans Relief corps now has twenty-five per-
mancnt and three provisional departments,
with subordinate corps in nearly all the
states where the Grand army exists.
Resolutions of sympathy withGen. Grant
were adopted by IA unanimous rising vote,
amid great cheering.
The members oil theG A. H. spent theday