The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-13
sOLDIERs, IIEUNIONs.
Private palIsll DIsCOurseS LearnGdly ON the
Subject,

Private DalEsIl DisCOurses LearnGdlyon the
Subject,
To The Editor Of the hleUigactT.
sIR:-I have devoted much more OF my
lie than was financially profitable to
soldiers reunions, Indeed | had the
honor, on my own responsibility and at
my own cost, Of issuing first call for a
popular and general aoIdiers' reunion,
As It was novel experiment, 1t at.
traCted universal attention, and the AS
ISOLATED Press gave 1t many extended
notices. General Sherman presided, and
Congress gave it unanimous vote oil en-
demement by passing my bill extending
to II many faVors in the shape oil cannon,
small arms and ammunition. 80 1t be.
came National. Almost every State was
represented at its mGetingu here in 1874,
rs and 70. Other reunions patterned
after 1t sprang up ut almost every town in
the North, for when soldiers from many
States came TO this little place and saw
tho reunions crowned with such success,
they carried the report home 10 their
more important towns, and persuaded
their comrades that II could succeed in
such small place 1t must do better in
great cities.
Before ventured my cal, indeed, there
had been many reunions. The Army OF
the Tennessee held its fret reunion in
1866. But that society was and IL exClu-
aive and aristoCratlC, and composed eXclu.
siyeIy Of commissioned officers, No prl.
yate need apply. So Of all the other great
army societies formed on the model Of the
Society OF the Cincinnati, organized by
Washington and bin officers ut the close OF
the Revolution. II was precisely this
which first suggested to me the idea. l
was then young, enthusiastic and had
some money, and threw my whole soul
and what little worldly goods had into
1t, and stuck to 1t until / made 1t q success
and saw it copied all over tho North. My
idea was this: The war Is over. We are
all mustered out. We are all equal fellow
citizens, officers and men. And upon this
basis nv call was issued with the above
result. And upon this idea the recognized
Grand Army OF the Republic and all-sOl-
diers' reunions since held have been
founded. 1t Is the true Republican idea,
and tho volunteer, officers and men all
endorsed it, though the West Point people
never did.
II struck a poplar chord in the hearts
Of all volunteer soldiers, and the idea has
come to stay until the last ono Of them
is dead.
ask no other argument.
Yet had 1t not been 80 soon after the
war, and had not the daily newspaper
press endorsed II go fully and 80 gener.
ousy opened It's columns TO my pen to
explain my innovation, 1t would surely
have failed.
Why, my postage bill for 1884 on this
head alone was $500, every cent Of which
came out Of my private purse-a very
slim one now. say nothing OF four
years hard work, at time Of life when
| could have earned $1,000 q year easily.
l was devoted to my idea and was willing
to embark all had 10 make II success
and see it initiated at every Gloss roads as
1t now Is.
Such was the origin Of the soldiers re.
union on the basis Of no politics, noCreed,
no rank, no section, and believe these
meetings have done vast good In educating
the rising generation In lessons OF patriot
ism. There the youth Of the land have
heard the story Of the war repeated an.
nually by the men who fought It's battles.
The great generals, the subordinate
officers, and the rank and file in vast
numbers, ono after the other, In the pres.
enCe and hearing Of their comrades here
related every incidence Of the late war, at
these reunion affairs, and the young men
and women have all those sacred tradi-
tions stored away in their memories.
they never could have 80 well got that
story from books. The lesson Of these re.
unions was In itself an inspiration. II
cannot be forgotten. It's influence will BIZ
felt In every avenue OF public life, in
peace and In war, for hundred years to
come. Here the youth see mon Of oppo,
sing politics, Of different creeds Of religion,
from various States, meet on platform OF
equality and harmony, and every note OF
disCord is hushed In the grand music Of
the Union Reunion. Such will be your
great reunion at Wheeling, a blessing to
all. PRIVATE DoIaELI.
Caldutn, o., Sept II.