The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-12-06
DEMOCRACY AND THE GRAND
ARMY. -... i

fnl meanness III politics, the Illinois
and Indiana denlagogues Can turn out
specimens that beat the world in that
line. indiana is usually far in the
lead. but Illinois this time furnishes 4
leader who Commands few Indiana
followers in that line of work.
Tie Grand Army is now the object of
attack. Gen. Palmer, displeased at
the result Of the late election, talke up
a movement to induce all members of
the Grand Army Of the Republic Who
call themselves Democrats to v ithdraw
from that organization. Adjut~nt-
General Koontz, of Indiana, joins in
with this advice: .Th.se men do not
charge that the Grand Army has taken
any partisan action-they know that
such a charge would be transparently
unfouuded-but they claim that, soci
ally, the Democratic members Of the
G.. A. X. are ostracised, and made to
feel uncomfortable in an organization
of which 80 many Republicans are
members.
Gems. Palmer and Koontz, we are
glad to say, are not meeting with the
encouragement they expected. A few
splenetic politicians in Illinois and ln-
diana followed their example, but from
the East protest against such action
Comes from Democratic veterans who
refuse to be led or driven into such mar
row and uDpatriotic action.
This soldiers society is, aud has been
strictly loyal TO the rule: mo poll
tics in the Grand Army" Its mission
is first loyalty to the Constitution and
the Union. No man upon whom the
slightest stain of treason rests can law
fully ind admission into its ranks. It
never inquiries Of candidates for mem.
bership what party they support, but it
does require that they bring an unspot-
ted record for loyalty to the govern
ment. Second, its mission aud work
are mainly charitable. 1t does aim to
provide for the needy veterans who may
be in want, and to see that their widows
and children do not beg for bread. In
this work it does more for the relief
and comfort of poor aud dependent
people than any other charitable Or
ganization. In this excellent work, of
course, no questions are asked about
the politics of thoss who receive its
bene actions.
The Grand Army has done much to
procure proper recognition Of soldier 3
claims upon the nation. It has urged
and demanded suitable pensions for the
suffering and disabled. 1t has thrown
its influence in favor of Homes for the
disabled and iutirln, and for asylums
and schools for tue orphans of soldiers.
But - this it has known no party bias,
butappea!-d to legislators of all parties,
III the name Of justice aud patriotism.
and those appeals have usually been re.
sponded to by men Of all parties.
So far as we know no effort has ever
been made by any post of the G.. A. Il.
to defeat il candidate for Office even
"HCA aAO aAfsA OpPOCCu 70 pO1IOy W
the ueedy veterans, 80 careful have its
members been to remain clear of con-
nectiOn with party politics.
One or two soldiers societies of a pO-
litical type have been started in this
country, but, asa rule, members of the
Grand Army have not favored them.
Indeed, the exi ,tence Of the &. A, Il.
has prevented the growth of partisan
organizations among soldiers, 1t has
met and satisfied their social wants.
Its aims have been 80 humane, unpxr.
tisan snd patriotic that it's members
felt the need of no other form of assO.
cistion. We are glad to know that
Democrats who respect themselves dc
not follow the lead Of self-constituted
advisers in matters of this sort.