The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-13
THE GRAND ARMY'S LEGIONS
Commander Rea's Report Shows an Az
gregate of Almost 100000 Members.
lie Is Disappointed at Failure of Pension Leg
islatiOn, and Discussion Of the Report Re-
suits in an Exciting Incident.

ment proper began this morning the campfire
and parade OF yesterday being preliminary to
the actual work of the encampment. The Grand
Army of the Republic. the Womans Reiief
Corps, the Ladies of the G. A. r., the Army OF
West Virginia, tho naval veterans OF Sheridan's
division and other divisions, brgcde and regl-
mental associations. met in various parts of the
city, but the encampmeuts were strictly secret,
none but members being admitted. The frat
thing in order was the address of Commander
in-chief John p. Rea which was az follows
"A century ago, little band of heroic men,
fresh from the struggle for Independence In
which the political rights and moral grandeur OF
American manhood were vindicared. crossed tho
mountain range which, heretofore, had marked
the western boundary of that narrow belt OF our
continental settlement which stretched aiobg
the winding slope of the sea, penetrated the sol
itude OF the wilderness of the Mississippi valley,
| and founded on the western bank OF the 'beaa-
tful river a settlement which, in the ORDER
OK Providence, became the germ from
| which developed the imperial commonwealth
| In whose capital city we meet to-day, IN THIS
! twenty'second national encampment OK the
| Grand Army of the Republic. They we're
shomefostering God-fearine, liberty loving;
| self-saerificing, chivalrc men. They counted
the cost of every step they TOOK and took every
step that was right. regardless of cost. Poor
| In material resources, but rich in mental and
moral endowment. they founded deep DOVE on
| the granite ledge of individual Independence and
1 eternal right this great community which
| furnished for the defense of the Republic
they had helped to create, when the tine OF Its
peril came, army OF 32O, Geo men,
and gave that Republic and the
son, Rosserans, Buell.. Garfield, Sted'
man, McCook. Custer. Crook. and many others
of kiugly, deaihlsss, matchess fame. all born,
reared and inspired amid TO quiet of its foress
,,1 "A r., H..ox - hold
gressive thought, to be- the peerless command
of the armies of freedom in her final conflict
/ on this continent.
| Full detailed statements of the workings OF
our organization and Of its finances for the OIL
| cial year, will be found in the reports submitted
! by the several staff officers, all Of which are
| commended to the careful perusal and cane d
consideration of the encamoment
| ION March 81. 1857, the total membership
| OF our order IN good standing was 32O.y30.
| On March 81, 1883. it was 354, PIG. making
net gain OF comrades 10 good standing
| during the year embraced within these
dates or 33,2S0-an excess OF 1,6Sl over
| the net gain of the previous year 1t is bat due
TO my distinguished predecessor to Say that
| more than half the net gain of the last official
year was made during tine first half or the year.
| which was included within his term OF Office.
! The reports for the quarter ending June 90
show gain by muster OF 1852, and total
membership Ia good standing of 36l, 362. with
lose from delinquent reports OF
6.663, all of whom, 1t may bs as
sumed. are 10 good standing in their
respective posts. Omitting the loss FROM delin-
/ quent reports, the net gain during last quarter
! was IL, 10y. The reports show that on June 80
there were 395. 245 comrades borne the rolls,
| to which may be safely added sufficient num-
Der out OF transfer cards to swell the grand total
| to 400, GEO. Although the growth of Nr order
has been gratifying aud our aggregate member
ship IS large, there are still fully one half the
living honorably discharged soldiers and sailors
not upon our rolls, This is not from
largely from the fact that in the western
| departments, especially in Kansas, Nebraska,
| Minnesota and Dakota. which great communi-
ties have been chiefly populated by the sur
| vivors OF the Union army aud navy. they are
scattered out upon their honestsads remote
from towns. with little ready Money, and intent
\ upon the grand work OF providing homes for
themselves and their children Notwithstand'
ing the unusual political excitement which pre-
walls throughout the country, and the we'll
! known fact that our ranks full Of active
earnest supporters OF the men and measures Of
the several political parties, not single violation
OF Article Xl. Chapter D. of our rules aud regula-
tons has been brought 70 my attention. Fidelity
TO convictions begets for the like personal
| quality 10 others The loyalty OF comrades to
the noble objects and sacred mission OF our fra
| ternity need not be and is not affected or lis
usefulness impaired. by honest differences of
4 opinion upon questions OF governmental policy.
The use OF the design Of our badge for q cheap
| political campaign device has Justly occasionsd
much indignation among the comrades in all Sec
| tons While unable, by legal process, to pre-
| vent this attempt to degrade our non par It's an
| medal OF honor. We can, ana should, by resoll-
| ton, protest most earnestly and emphatiealy
! against IL No comrade who respects bis FRA
| terna, vow, and citizen other than O
| comrade who respects himself would wear
this base imitation, but il seems that the action
1 OF this encampment is necessary TO quicken
that sense of propriety inherent in all true
Americans which appears for the time to hays
been comatose in q few ill-advised and ipcousid-
| crate persons
THE committee on pensions will submit re-
| port OF its laeors. They have failed, but the
blame lies elsewhere, not with them Thebil
| reported by the committee ID the twenty first
| national encampment, aud by it recommended,
| while not so far-reaching in is provisions
| as 10 meet the demand of large
minority of the comrades, was yet so
| eninently just so absolutely free from
all objection resting upon reason. that there
seemed no possibility of its failcg TO receive
| prompt and favorable action from the national
| Congress. No man or set OF men can be found
| anywhere who will say that the relief il was
| framed 10 give should not be given. tex
eeeds in no particular the Nations promises
| In the past or the wishes OF the Nation in the
| present. Notwithstanding the ceaseless,
| earnest efforts OF our most efficient pension
| committee In its behalf, II has failed TO pass
Congress, and by this failure, wholly in
applicable and indefensiye, thousands
OF our helpless comrades, helpless
| because OF them devotion 10 their
| country in its extremity, subsistine upon the
| charity OF their comrades. and are paupers in
the mighty wealthy republic their uDselfish valor
| saved. ] cannot fifty comment upon this sub
! ject. My emotions will not permit il. Ii can
| not be that the people Of America will volun.
| tarily continue longer to withhold from those
heroic men that scanty support needed to pre-
| serve them from the paupers fate, and enable
I them to end their lives in selfrespecting manli-
ness. Ii is not to be expected That all will agrees
| upon the proposed measure, but when, after dis
| cussion and deloeration the majority have de-
| cided upon a measure, all should yield aud give
il their support.
| II have had occasion. during the year. 70 OBJ
serve the working of the Woman's Relief Corps,
| and have no hesitation in bearing testimony 70
the great aid given our posts by the efficient
| services or that auxiliary organization.
| During the year ending March 81. 1883 4. 1873
| comrades died, an increase of 1927 over the
| previous year, a death rate exceeding twelve
per day, an emphatic admonition that we have
| passed the summit and are starting down the
| western slope toward the setting sun of life.
fearless for the right, along the path
the descent will be less refulgent. but need not
be less patriotic, manly, and full Of honor IL
| will be but a short period until our ranks are so
| neagrs, and the surviving comrades so weighed
| down with the burden Of years, that our oresni-
| cation will have ceased to be an active force in
| the works of loyal love and charity which it has
| ordained. The tender ceremonies of Memorial
| Day will then be performed by others, or not at
| all 1t seems to me that IL would be the mart of