The National tribune., 1888-11-08
cnnRAnEs. re MnRK.

comrades, the cahpalghi WIN us eACIte-
ments, with its hopes and fears, With its
qualifications and disappointments, is now
over. The issue is settled and all can re-
turn at once to their normal condition of
mind 1t is our duty to turn again, with
increased energy, to the work which has
suffered neglect by the distractions of the
political struggle. Never was the need of
active work in behalf of our comrades aud
our own interests more apparent than now.
Every year carries us further on the down.
ward road to old age, making the necessity
of closer union among ourselves more urgent,
and the duty of caring for each other and
for the widows and dependent ones of those
who have been mustered out more impera-
tive.
Let US open a campaign for ourselves that
viii equal in energetic and comprehensive
action any one that has been made on be-
half of the candidates for public Offices.
The first thing is to build up the GAR.
and cement it closer together We should
all resolve that the end of Maj. Warmers
official year shall see very few honorably
discharged soldiers outside of the Grand
Army of the Republic. There is no reason
why these men should remain without the
Order. They will not do so if an effort be
made to present to them properly the duty
of getting into line with their comrades.
The next thing is to build up THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE. THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE is the only advocate and champion the
soldiers have among the great newspapers
of the country. 1t is the only one which
can be relied upon at all times to advocate
their cause and plead for their rights
Other great papers may be friendly to the
veterans in a general way but they have
special interests to support and they cannot
be depended upon. The debt to the veter-
ans is not by any means the paramount con-
sideration with them. It is something which
can be laid aside at any time and under the
! slightest pressure. On the other hand TIE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE has but one object
! the advancement of the cause of the veter-
ans, the recognition of the debt owing to
them by the Nation, and the securing of
their just dues In the past it has been
| their eloquent champion and to its efforts is
due, in large degree, very much of the
benefits which the veterans and their wild
ows have received. 1t has fought for this
against the fercest opposition; against a solid
array of soldier-hating papers and politicians
North and South.
It will continue to do this in the future.
No strength of opposition no malignant
denunciation by the enemies of veterans
will move it from its course or abate in the
slightest degree the earnestness and zeal OF
its advocacy. 1t will continue to denounce
and oppose men without regard to party or
high position, who are hostile to the best
interests of the soldiers.
Doing this, as it has always done, it conf
IDENTIFY claims the support of every veteran
in the United States without regard to party
brother affiliations. We do not want the APP
proval ofour course to stop with a mere yer
bal expression of it. Let it take the more
substantial form of extending our subscrip-
ton list. While this will undoubtedly bene-
fit US, ii is no less a benefit to the soldiers
The more that read the paper the greater its
influence; the larger its subscription list the
more power it will have with Congress and
public officials when it demands that they
do justice to the veterans. Its subscription
list ought to be doubled before the first day
of January IF this is done it will have
most excellent influence in promoting the
passage of that legislation in Congress whicI
we all desire.
Comrades, each one among US should d.
his best that this may be accomplished. No
only send in your own subscription, but Sc
your comrades who are not now taking thu
paper to subscribe. Let every comrade worl
for the paper as it has worked for all tn,
comrades.