The Arizona champion., 1886-01-16
THE BOYS IN BLUE.

the coming summer, will surpass in point of numbers and magniiccnce, all previous gatherings of the "boys in blue. As al present constituted the National Encampment proper consists of about eight hundred mem, bers who are entitled to seats. This number merely represents the official rank of the order, to whom the hos. pitalities of San Fra ncisco will be es- pecially extended, but the sessions are open to all comrades of the order and they have grown 10 be the occasions for a general re union of old soldiers. So important have these meetings be- come and so large has been the at- tendance at them during the last few years, that all the great cities of the continent are rivals for the honor of being the location sele cted for these yearly encampments of the represen- tatives of the greatest army oi citi- zen soldiers the world has ever seen. There is no adjective in the English language so much abused as the word grand" It is misused by its appli cation to the most trihlng affairs, but 
 nowhere has it been more appropriate. ly used than in describing the grand army of veterans who fought for the preservation of the Ucion. It may well be called the Grand Army of the Republic, when 1t numbers over 3oo,- oco men. More than the whole pop ula,ion of the great city they are about to visit, including its women and children.
 Numerically powerful as this great fratcrna! military organization now is and il is probibly at its maximum unless any of its members live to an exceptionally old age, before many years have passed it will cease to exist The constitution of the order pre- cludes its continuance alter the deat h of the last man who took part in the war of the rebellion As year after year passes by and platoon after platoon crosses into the silent land to join the hosts that have gone before, then each annual muster roll will show decrease, but as the numbers grow weaker, the ties of the brotherhood will become stronger, and the public honors awarded them wii be greater.
 We are not far enough away from the war yet, to fully comprehend its magnitude or properly estimate its ef, iects upon the growth and develop ment oi this broad continent, which is to be the exemplar Of enlightenment and liberty for all the world. We were practically a divided people; the elements of national disintegration were manifest and there was a great blot upon the short page of history which recorded American Independ- ence. It cost millions of human lives to straighten this out; to lay the l foundation for unihcation and com. mence another page of history free from the blur of slavery. But it was done, and by the Grand Army Of the Republic. The heroes whose bodies lie under the quiet light of the stars, beneath the sod of battle fields, as we'll as those who have passed away during the last twenty years Of peace, all belong 10 1t. They may have nev- CT worn the badge of the order, but they fought for the same eternal truths, were animated by the same spirit, and they are a part of the brotherhood. When the last yeU,sNe shall sound they will fali into the ranks fof.the Grand Army.
 No war in history records more heroic deeds, on both sides of the conflict, than that between the North and South. Supposing these armies had fought feebly or that the losing one had given up the struggle igno- miniouslv, would there have been the mutual feelings of respect and friend ship which now exists between men who stood face to face in deadly com. bat? Perhaps before another genera ton has passed away, the descendants of the soldiers who fought for the lost cause-while holding the bravery of their s;res in loyal admiration-will be among the foremost to honor the Grand Army of the Republic. Time will have shown them that the very things their ancestors fought for would have led to the decay and final dis memberment of their country, while the principles that actuated their op' II