The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-17
THE GRAND ARMY.
News From the DepartmentS---NeW
Posts, etc.
DEPARTMENT NEWS.

comrades. which will be erected in the Lisbon
Cemetery at an early date. Preparations are being
made Tor Memorial Day, which viii be celebrated
in a fitting manner. The Lisbon battery viii turn
out on that occasion.
ILLINOIS,
Post No. $50 viii hold its sixth annual Encamp-
naeHt at Birds Aug. q, p and %.
KENTUCKYr-
Commander-in- Chief Rea was given rousng
public reception in Louisville recently. He was
met at the depot by committee and escorted to
fhe headquarters OF Geo. II. Thomas Post, where
the comrades had assembled de was then con
Quoted 10 the Gait House, accompanied by Mrs
Rea. where an informal reception was held.
In the evening Lowell H. Rousseau Camp, = oil
V. escorted him TO the Masonic Temple Iheater
where formal reception and Reunion had been
ranged by the local Posts. The stage had been set
with sylvan scenery, representing campgroUnd,
while flags hung in waving iolds from Inc painted
limbs of the trees Drums were piaced IN the
back ground and stacks of arms were on either
side. j. Y. j, C. Capt Aluton presided The
meeting WAS opened with prayer Capt. Min
ton stated that the object OF the meeting was
10 extend formally TO the COmmauderiu-Ch Chief
Of 100000 men who had fought for four years
to preserve this country unit, and were now en-
deavoriug 10 strengthen the brOtheTly love OF one
soldier for another the formal welcome that Ken
lucky knows how 10 extend as Wei as she dio the
informal lie said the meeting would be addressed
by anumbero Of speakers, chief among whom would
be Gen. Rea- The latter came 10 renew OLD ac-
ouaintances 10 recall all that desirable OF the
past, and to seal the bond that now united the sol
ciiers from one end Of the land TO the other Gen.
Rea be said, would explain what the Grand Army
OF the Republic and what II sought 10 do.
Capt RIinton then introduced Col. r. n. Kelley TO
make the opening address. Col Kelley expressed
his qualification at being able 10 welcome, for all,
the Chief OF a set OF men who had formed one side
OF the bravest soldiers that were ever known 10
the world lie slld ne was glad the thlef had
come 10 tell what the society Of which he was the
head was At the conclusion OF Col. Kelley
speech, which was received with applause, Capt.
Minton introduced COmmauder-ln-Chlef Rea. who
said:
Is was more familiar with Louisville 8 years
ago than 20 day IL was the first large city 1 ever
saw. While yet mere boy was stationed on the
outskirts OF your city. where my company was in
camp, for six weeks During tbat time 1 became
quite familiar with H. Then we had A divided
country and there weight Of gloom oppress-
Ing the land from one end 10 the other. To-day
there Is no gloom no uncertainty. We are one
people IN interest aud in heart. This Republic
stands to-day under tie old starry banner, the
grandest Government, the greatest country IN the
world, and ] can see ahead such future no
country ever knew. Great applause / am not
here 10 shake hands over bloody clasm. j quit
doing that nearly quarter Of century ago There
was a cilsil then. ana into u poured the blood OF
hundreds OF thousands Of heroes But when the
great surrender Of the was made at Appomat-
toE in 1868 we who had fought each other be-
fore met brothers, and the ties have been drawn
closer ana closer until this day there Is bloody
chasm now. The man who fought under the Stars
snd Stripes and he who fought under the banner Of
the Conlederacy got all they wanted Of blood.
Their tongues have not been half as bloody since
their hands were before that time. The only
bloody casI1, or shadow Of one that exists to-day
A. the one made by the tongues Of men who began
20 do their fighting when the war WAS over il i
my good fortune TO be at the head Of the Grand
Army Of tine Republic. am here 10 tell you what
Il Is and how Its members feel although you all
probably know.
50 This body is composed OF the smoking ruins of
FOrt sumter Fort Donelson. Nicksburg, Gettys
burg. App0nattox, and hundreds Of other spots
where brave men laid down their lives To save the
country u y an organization that comprises ali
classes. From those who were belrdess boys in
the ranks to Generals and from AGmrals to sailor
boys before the mast. all meet on au equality in the
GrTf ITs AZ N.|l Ann. af aud
Army Of the Republic Is composed Of men of all
nHtivities believers IN all creeds the German Iut
eran, tle Irish Catholic. the Pcnusy lvania Quaker
the Rhode Island Baptist the Kentucky Christian
we've got them all. There l. no organization 50
free from politics. belong to a Post which mum
bers within SIS ranks leading men Of All the great
parties Republicans, Democrats, I'rohiD.tionists
GreeubacEeTs. and iu fact members Of ali parties
political meet 10 il. All with one exception We
have 40 Anarchists; they can't get IN. This body
Is composed 81 over 10000 men who, impeIled by
love for their cOuatry. volunteered from 1861 10
the country from slavery They taught the world
that free people could govern themselves and
settle tlelr own affairs.
They taught them that slavery was a curse
not iujgriug the slave more than the master
Those who were boys then men today. think
ing men. As q result they have convictions Of
their own. and they follow their convictions
have little respect for man who does not have
convictions OF Els own and follow them, The
meauest man ln the world Is lie who won't follow
hiz OVID eofiFlelisrs There are men IA the Grand
Army Of the Republic who have convictions di-
through patriotism, winch D. a. faT above partisan
ship religion Is above seciarialisln There l. no
partisauship ia the Grand Army q the Republic to
mar Its usefulness When Buell. rode glp 10 Grant
that sunday night AZ bloody shiloh neither asked
tle other how hg voted. nor did they care. Nor DO
we care to-day Nan sinks pauy when his c0uu-
Try D. lDs peTlieo Aicausers 10 has Csyn conscience
ailo cares mol lor party The Grand Army Of the
Republic has brought about every Reunion Of the
Blue and Gray. Inc institution Of an annual Ne
moral Day 9isE -, was organized by II. The
flowers lual are tGeu strewn upon the graves Of
the men q both sides keep the fires Of patriotism
burning and bring the Nation closer together
each wear Zach flower l. worth 55tillicrss ri dol
lars - this country
There is no luminosity ia our ranks. When war
is waged between England and France or France
anc Germany. there is auim1-ity II Is the out
growth 81 centuries. But with Us ii + different
Our graudlatlers bcd side by side IUf their couu-
~ r freedom. Their blood mingled ia tie ourn-
1nG sands II Mexico, but there is not q soldier to-
day whether lie came fsym the hills % Vermont
or iie cQtl9uLe1sO % Alabama who bears the other
suimosity because they fought each other The
Tie oUt-yralgtl of Two periods Of cIviliz-
ton. The incarnation u TIE ideas of these two
periods which existed b. our country met and
fought. Eut when the war was done, those who
fought bore 30 aa-mo-ily. rs hen Gen. Lee sur
Tencerea 10 Grant "a AppomatloXr be turned 10 lis
brave men ana sand. Buys, take your mules
and 80 home. Be good citizcus and raise your
crops Tie war Is over There was no luminosity
ln tl5al Applause The only talk VIC hear Oi
luminosity comes from those who were so SLOW Ia
anger tlat tlc last CchoCs 81 The cuuulls had died
away before their iurg was arou-ed Then thew
1tg aud Loyalty are the three cardinal principle,
Of the Grand Army Of the Republic These feel.
luEs do uot begin 10 bc these when We enter 3
Post They began al tie close 0f the var. ] have
hears % salc that Our lgslliz .i0l j. secret one
and that d ought not 30 be secret We'll il j. moi
very secret Ne only have password and the
w0ria knows al. iilal g done within tue ramparts
The men tl-1t sawed Tie onion don't have ANY Sc.
crets. .5Teai applause hlea they fought 81
Mission Ridge and Gettysburg they wanted tli
world 10 see inem. lney Lad no secrets then
they are Tie same men now.
" " g ask FOR pensions for the that saved tht
country. The Nation owes II - them and itself [,
provide igr those who moi able 10 provide f0
thcuselTes- They want no com potency but cuougl
20 Keep them from tag County almshouse. ThiuI
81 the young man who fought the battles Of Ei
country. ezpending lis vital powers for IT, broker
down now going 70 the aiushouse. There is no
Confederate soldier but what would cry II Is
shame. There are now 100 brOzeu-dUwu peter
ans iu the Soldiers Homes thai have been cStal
hshed through tie efforts Of the Grand Army of Ia
Republic. Inside ~ the next four years there vii
be in lreproOf safes tie records ~ every man VIII
fought Tor tins country, with possibly few yer.
lev, exceptions. j. not that sJinsthiug2 Their
were Z-3.g9 men VINO are recorded having die
from disease during the war u was not that
They were broken u0Wg. There would have bee
<-1.v1s % those same men alive Ia 1886 had ther
been no war. Those who passed through are no,
breaking down. u Is right Tor the Government {
pension them. That H. Of our chief ends 1
bring about. The men who how broken dow
oid not hight Tor money What did they lhIlll {
the - cents day. IAcy fought Tor patriotism an
the country 10 which they gave their strength owe
them enough q keep them from tte slinslouse."
capt ~ y. AauO-d8l, Commander OF Lie Bruar
u1eHt q Indiana followed Gen Rca ia neat sllcec
81 Lie same spirit. The other speakers were Cap