New Ulm weekly review., 1885-07-01
VETERANS At. PORTLAND.
deetinx OF the Grand Army Of the Repub-
Mc-An Immense Crowd-Procession
and, Other PrOce edings.

pectedly large numbers. On the first day all
! day long the measured tramp OBJECT through
the streets and strains of martial music, as
hosts of the Grand Army of the Republic
marched from the depot to the camp, mark
ed the Inauguration of the nineteenth en-
campment. Delegations from various parts
OF the Union formed a steady and almost
uninterrupted procession from morning till
| night
On second day the grand procession was
the main fea ture. It 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,
uniform Of the Grand Army. Commander
in-Chief Kountz was greeted with generous
applause from all sides, and Gen. Logan,
who rode in a carriage with Congressman
Reld, received a,continuous ovation.
In the evening a reception was tend
cred to Commander-in-C Chief Kountz, as
representative OF the body at the
city hail. Addresses OF welcome were
delivered by Gen. Hall, department
commander OF Maine; by Gov. Robie, who
also paid a tribute to Gen. Grant, and by
Mayor Deering. Commander X ountz 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. Slocum OF New York and
Gen. Logan. Senator Logan prefaced his
remarks with fervent eulogy Of fGen. Grant.
Hesaid: "Inmy Judgment time has not given
to any people a grander commander men,
a greater organizer offorces, a more magnifi-
cent campaigner [applause], man
with more ability to execute than D..
5. Grant. For this country he has
RI INron 1o1, 1,o+ HxyoI
has ever done for any country"
On the third day the Commander deliver
ed his annual address. He said:
That four years ago there was a men,
bership of 10000. On March 81, 1885,
thirty-eight departments reported 5,O26
posts and 269, 6S4 members, while the re-
port OF the adjutant general shows the
membership to be 2S7,637. The large
number OF "a, ,292 reported by the adju-
tant general as suspended duriug the year
is due in a great measure to negligence and
are in excellent condition. We have
on hand cash balance of SIS 1924.
The question having been raised as to
whether the late Comrade DR.. 3. F. Ste
venson OF Springfield, ILL.,, was really the
first mover in the organization of the Grand
Army OF the Republic, it is deemed but sim
pie justice to his memory as well as to his
family and comrades to state that all arl-
thentic records confer upo1f him that very
just honor. During the past eleven months
there have been issued fiftyone thousand
badges, at a profit OF S6,63O. I heartily
endorse the organization known as the Vet
eran's Rights Union, the object Of fwhichis to
secure to ourcomrades their rights and priv
ileges under the revised statutes OF the United
States. The union urges, as itrightfu]ly may
and ought, that when the other qualificsa-
tions are equal, the soldier should be pre-
ferred because he was a soldier. I am op-
posed to the perpetuation of the Grand
Army, believing the mission OF great
comradeship 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 more exacting duty orstrictest religion,
Ideemed for theinterest of the order to ap-
point a special committee to lay it's nature
and workings before the proper 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 it's mis-
SION report, that assurances had been given
by Archbishop Ryan and Gibbons that
nothing could be found in the aims of the
Grand Army to prevent any good Catholic
1rom becoming a member. The COM
mander-in-chief deprecated participa-
tlon IN politics as an organization, and
urgently advocated the Mexican pension bill
and bill to grant disabled soldiers a pen
sion from the date of disability. He also
urged that Decoration day be not desecrat-
ed by recreation and pleasure. The Wom-
ans Relief corps now has twenty 1.-TWO per-
manent and three provisional departments,
with subordinate corps in nearly all the
states where the Grand army exists.
Resolutions OF sympathy with Gen. Grant
were adopted by a unanimous rising vote,
amid great cheering.
The members of the G. A. R. spent the day
In sight seeing, attending clam bakes, ETC.,
some IN the city and some going out by
rail.
At the afternoon session the question OF
place for holding the nextannual enca1n
ment came up. San francisco received 269
votes to l79 for Louisville. A representa-
i've OF the former city guaranteed that
$lOO,O 900 would be subscribed for the en-
tertainment OF the veterans.
On the fourth day, at the morning execu-
tive session OF the national encampment a
resolution was offered providing for the
suitable recognition of Of DR.. BENJAMIN
Stephenson, as founder Of the Republic, and
recommending that a subscription from the
AAe"oAOAAeoA lpIlcuU UC uueSUeu IOr Une
purpose. Resolution adverse to the
consolidation OF the Sons of Veterans with
| the Grand Army was adopted.
| 1t was voted that the next annual en-.
campment be held some time between
October and May, and recommendation
that memorial day be observed on the
Sabbath was adopted. The committee to
which was referred Comrade Loring' g'sresolu.
tion in favor OF the So per month pension
bill reported adversely and the report was
adopted after a protracted debate. The
commander-in-chief was authorized to
appoint a committee to present reso.
lutions to the heads, of departments
at Washington in, behalf of pension
claimants A recommendation that all
petitionsto congress from posts or pen.
sion claimants besent through the national
headquarters OF the G. A. R. was adopted
Resolutions OF thanks to congress for hay.
ing placed Gen. Grant on the retired list Of
the army were also adopted
A roll ofstates was called Denominations
Tor commander-in-chief and the following
candidates were presented:
John w. Burst of Illinois, Gen. j ohm A
reynolds OF New York, Hon. SamuelS S. Bur.
dett OF Washington and Gen. Lucius Fair.
child OF Wisconsin.
Comrade Fairchild withdrew his name