The National tribune., 1885-10-22


that they not only the most deserving, but are
the best qualified 20 fill them, and if they want the
offices they should have them,- least, they should
have the solid support of their comrades The
Grand Army vote can never be controlled by any
party or set of politicians. 1t is non-politlcal
organization but il is q safeguard 10 the Republic
and Union. 1t is an organization that will do more
to purify politics than any and all other assoca-
tons. large majority of its members have passed
the age of So their whitened heads and bent forms
will soon pass out of sight but while they live the
Grand Army of the Republic will be power in the
land
OHIO
URGING THE COMRADES TO JOIN.
The following excellent circular issued at
GAINESVILLE on the 18th:
HEADQ'Rs DEPARTMENT OF OHIO,
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, 7
EVANSVILLE. o., Oct. Il. 1855.
DEAR SIR: Your name has been forwarded to
these Headquarters rs that Of member of the old
army which conquered treason its native soil 20
years ago and t" you rs loyal citizen OF the Re
public you helped TO save, desire To present the
claims OF the Grand Army of the Republican,
every sense the strongest soldier organization
known TO the hi story of the world. That you may
know of its objects, quote from the Rules and
Regulations as follows:
OBJECTS.
The objects TO be accomplished by this organiza-
ton are as follows:
l. To preserve and strengthen those kind and
fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers,
sailors and marines who united to suppress the late
rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history
of the dead.
2 To assist such former comrades in arms need
help and protection, and to extend needful aid to
the widows and orphans of those who have fallen.
3. Tomaintain true allegiance to the United states
Of America, based upon a paramount respect for,
and fidelity to, its Constitution and laws; to dis
countenance whatever tends to weaken Loyalty,
inctes to insurrcction treason or rebellion, in
any manner iiupairs the efficiency and permanency
of free institutions and TO encourage the spread
of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all
men.
Its ranks are recruited from only loyal men, as
witness this extract from our laws prescribing
ELIGIBILITY To MEMBERSHIP.
Soldiers and sailors of the United States army,
navy marine corps, who served between April
II, lS6l and April 6, 1867 in the war for the sup
preston of the rebellion, and those having been
honorabiy discharged therefrom after such service,
and of such State regiments were called into
active service and subject to the orders of Z. S.
General officers, between the dates mentioned,
shall be eligible 10 membership in the Grand Army
OF the Republic. No person shall be eligible to
| membership who has at any time borne arms
against the United States.
The Grand Army is in sense partisan or
sectarian society, and again quote from the law:
POLITICS.
No officer or comrade of the Grand Army of the
Republic shall in any manner use this organization
for partisan purposes and discussion OF partisan
questions shall be permitted at any of its meetings,
nor shall any nomination for political office be
made.
THE DUTY OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
Having thus presented the objects, defined its
purposes and explained the qualifications necessary
to membership, extend personal and fraternal
invitation TO you as a comrade who worthily wore
the blue and stood where only men dared to stand
in the hour of our countrys peril, to enroll your
name upon the roster of the Post of your choice,
and with us enjoy the pleasures which come only
of our association to assume the duties, perchance
long neglected, of caring for the widow and or
phans OF him who came not back again, and TO
assist your late companions arms in all that
pertains to Fraternity, charity and loyalty.
THE WORK OF THE GRAND ARMY
The $50 Grand Army Posts in Ohio with men,
bership of over 5000, constituting one Department
OF the great national organization of 5, 500 Posts,
and more than 5000 comrades, exert a powerful
influence for good. If the work be measured by
the standard of values in the financial world, the
soldiers aud sailors of the old army and navy
banded together in the Grand Army of the Republic,
in the Buckeye State annually expend more than
100000 in the diffusion of that charity of which the
Savior taughreieving the wants of the distressed,
mnstering to the sick burying the dead and caring
for dependent ones left without earthly protector.
Could higher, nober impulse, more sacred duty
come TO humanity?
THE MEMORIES OF '61 To '65.
You need not be reminded of obligations volun-
tarily assumed. by which the soldiers and sailors
promised, before God and man, to forever keep
sacred the comradeship of '6l TO 65 nor of how we
pledged ourselves to each other to stand by those
depending upon brave hearts and strong arms for
protection and livelihood if the issues of war
should require the sacrifice of health and strength
and life. BY the memories of the camp, the march
and the battlefield, you value your integrity as
soldier and citizen, by the fuIlness of your hopes
of reward for duty well performed, appeal to you
TO come up TO our help i'll the discharge of duty
| common TO all who saw service ia the armies OF
| the Union.
Our ranks are being thinned day by day and the
| number of disabled comrades is constantly grow
ing larger, but the Grand Army, while it finds its
choicest JOY in its charities cultvates other objects
Within Post rooms the fraernities of the past
are kept green and fresh; a spirit of loyalty is
inculcated, and the awful penalty of treason taught
by forms and ceremonies at once beautiful and
| impressive. Its object is not to keep alive the
prejudices and bitterness of the war. or promote
| the selfish purpose OF any man. We have loftier
aims than these and this appeal addressed TO the
10000 old soldiers and sailors in Ohio not affiliated
| with our Order to enroll themselves under the
| banner of the Grand Army of the Republic.
address you in the full knowledge that you must
| have observed and appreciated the value of the
| Grand Army a commanding and potent force in
your community in ali that pertains to the highest
interests of the Nation TO urge upon you the duty
Of sending in your application TO Post May
| ask that you will act on this suggestion at you,
| earliest convenience Amy information desired will
he cheerfully furnished from these Headquarters
| and should be glad, if you desire to enter upon
| correspondence on the subject here presented, TO
! hear from you fully andfreely.
| Fraternally yours, K. d. Brown, Dept. Com.
| mander.
PENNSYLVANIA
A Campfire was held on the 14th by Pepnsyl
vania Reserve Post, No. lsI, of Philadelphia
| After music by the Matthew Baird Cornet Band
| from the Home for Orphans of Soldiers, Comradt
| Storie delivered the address of welcome. He was
| followed by George Dahis who rendered recita
ton and sang a song. After recitation by DIR
| Ferguson, Mr. johnson, the colored moeking
bird" did some warbling which pleased the veter
ans very mucha Comrade Storie in behalf OF the
Post, then presented Miss Claghorn, the Treasurer
of the Home for Orphans of Soldiers with certifi
cate of membership and gold badge of the Post
| He also presented the Post with a handsome por
trait of Gen. Sckles. 1t was received by Com
| mander johnson.
POTOMAC
Arrangements have been made to repaper an'
| refurnish GA X. Hall, Cor. Ninth and ID streets
| These improvements 1t Is understood, will also b'
extended to Department Headquarters on the sam'
floor. OF the old Posts which have been meeting IL
this hall for years, John +. Reynolds Post No. G
will move TO the upper hail in the Grand Arm!
| building corner of Seventh and l. streets: Post L
may perhaps follow No 6; John 4. Rawlins, Hi
| Carson and Charles Sumner Posts will remain IL
| the old ball. One of the ablest defenders Of tn
| continuous occupancy of the old hall is Comrad
Cunning. the veteran Assistant Quartermaster
| General of this Department. He has handled th
finances ofthe Hall Committee and the Department
for IL years or more and very 10th leave the
of his labors for the Order. The Department ha
held its own during the Summer. the report for tn