The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-08-21


Wisconsin has organized a Rourishing as
sociation, and the intention Is TO enroll cver-y
tar in the state who wore the blue ia 1918.
Although not sea firing people that com
monwealth may lay claim TO one bold
sailor of the age, Lieut.. W. B. Cushing, the
hero of tho Atlantic squadron nIld the de
stroyer Of tho second Merrimnc-tlle famous
Confederate steam ram, the Albemarle So
long as the American navy lives in the nn-
nails of warfare ON tho wnve, 50 long will the
name OF Gushing stand beside that of Paul
Jones, Don't Give Up the Ship" Lawrence,
and Perry. Wisconsin hns in Gushing a
naval name to be proud of, and a demonStra-
tfon in her waters ON tho occasion of grand
veteran reunion will boa memorial to the
la,neuted sailor whose untimely death was
caused 10y injuries in the service.
Tho committee en- -navnl parade is one of
the strongest OF the whole array, and It Is
headed by seaman of largo acquaintance
and influence ON the lake, W. a Wolf. The
display OF vessels viii bc imposing and a
sham nnval battle is down as a feature. The
programme has not been published, because
tho result on the start depended somewhat on
the courtesy and libcrality OF the naval aIi-
thoriticS who control the chief supply Of
essentials for such an unusual affair. The
interest i'll naval matters has reached point
where q worthy display of the methods of
equipment and the nIaneuvers of the martial
marine will he certain of appreciation. Fur
thermore, the navy costs the country vast
sum, and there is rarely chance for the
people az large IL know even by o,scrva-
ton, Just what It all means md what Il
amounts TO. So IL Neptune looks with favor
upon the scheme af the committee In Charge,
the Grnnd Army boys will present a novelty
at Milwaukee that will not only delight but
instruct evvry fortunate behoider.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.
There arc indications that ehc Grand Army
has reached its zenith in point of numbers
An idea of the growth Of tho order may le
gained from the table of membership from
1871 to 1883 In 1871 the number was 30, Is4.
in 1872. 29,6S; 1875. 2J.:s5l. 1874, Is, ,323;
1873, a7,0G8; 1876, .5,ssn. 1877, 81, ,01D, 1873,
81 DIG; 1872 -, ,752. ISs0 l0GS4: ISSt, Sc, ,7iS:
iSS,. 49, 800: 1883. 2l5.44l. 1884. aIs, Ia:
1885, 2o4, 1ST: 1856, ~, ,5Tl; 1887. 35G, ,OOS:
lSSS, &c. .TT0. These numbers represent actIi-
al membership for which tile posts pay per
capita tax- The nominal membership, some
of which TSralS'o-. Gy.si saaso-l' lasSer. The
number of posts according to- the last uIlnunl
report was 6,3s2s The amount of rcIief dis
b,irecd for 1889 was $eI5s5.5 10 and the mum.
Der of persons aided ., $40 Tho amount dis
bursed for relief hctween 1871 and 1855, to
date Of March 81. wac 81 .t5i:s, ,59S.ass
The highest membership is In Pennsyl-
vanin, which reported for lass 4i.035. Ohio
is next md reported IL, ,4S Now York re-
ported 81 PM: Illinois, 80, ,293, Indinnn. 3d.
SSS; Michigan, 81 40, and Massachusetts,, 20
ISL.
About one-third Of tho survivors of the
Union ranks aro now In the @. a. n, and
there nTc tens of Thousands of veterans who
nrc in the country remote from any post who
cannot join, and there arc other tens of thou
sands who do not look with favor upon nc
tivtty in any secret society But wlilc re-
cruiting mny stop aud the ranks remain as
they are. except as the veterans receive one
by one the flnal muster ont, there Is n great
work to be done and no danger that IN point
of usefulness and interest the army viii suf-
fer decay.
The question of relief 10 the needy is grow
ing in Importance daily. III our shifting so
ciety many veterans are stranded ON the
shores of barrenness. In view of the fact
that the spring time of their lives was dcvot-
cd to the country. they should not be per-
mitted to want, and one OF the missions of
the Grand Amy is TO see to II thai they shall
not The relief funds of the different posts
become bank for the sustenallcp of the
neeiy, and these funds grow from many
sources that do credit TO the comrades and
also suggest how more may be done All OF
me surplus OF appropriations, all donations,
fines and forfeits. go into the relief box The
public hos teinler side for this fund, and, II
posts would mike their Cnsess known, the sum
might often receive a wilidlall where 1t does
not for simple lack OF publicity For in
stance. the expenses of post are for rentals
aud equipments necessary to keep up proper
display. In some 81 ats=. the INV provides that
the county and municipal authorities may
provide meeting rooms, and they are so pro
vided in many instanceS
corcorun post, Of New York, meets in the
Sixty ninth Regiment arIIi9ry; Cbaritss R
Lowell and John a. Andrew pests Of Boston,