Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-19

| throughout future years. and how we'll this
wish has been followed can be attested each
| year by the impressive ceremonies held from
one end of the country to the other in honor Of
the fast growing army Of the dead Consider
ing the genuine unanimity with which the
ceremonies of this day are now accepted as a
graceful and appropriate tribute to dead
heroes il is curious to find that when first in
augurated the plan met with bitter opposition
| as tending to keep alive and foster the memoir
les and animosities of the war.
This first administration of Gen. Logan's has
been severely attacked on the claim that under
1t the Grand Army was made political organi-
cation pure and simple This charge has never
been established and has probably as its only
| basis the fact that Gen. Logan himself was q
partisan OF Secretary Stanton in his fight
against the President and from the well-estab-
lished fact that number of veterans in this
city were armed and prepared to resist forcibly
any attempt to eject Secretary Stanton from
the War Department.
THE THIRD ENcAMpMRNr.
Cincinnati was the scene and May IL, 1869,
the date Of the third encampment of the order
Gen. Logan presided and in stirring address
referred to the good work which had been ac-
complished. Speaking Of the peaceful muster
ing out of the huge armies which had fought
the war the commander said: I'm fact there is
not in human history. a case cited, except
ours, in which million of soldiers were re-
moved. in day, from belligerent to peaceful
life. Probably there is no government on
earth except our own that would have dared to
try the experiment. l am confident there is
no other in which such trial would be safe.''
The report of the adjutant general showed
that the Grand Army now consisted of thirty
seven department with about $500 posts A
deficiency OF 81. TAI. 1t was reported.
This encampment was marked by radical
change in the rules by which it was expected
hot 49,, L l..
tive, but which on the contrary caused hun
dreds of posts to disband and which was
abandoned shortly. This the adoption of
grade system comprising the grades of re-
cruit. of soldier and of veteran. Recruits
could be made soldiers only after two months
OF service and regular election. Six months
service and an election were necessary to
become veteran. Veterans only were eligible
to important offices. All present and past
officers who took the degree before September
were constituted veterans while all other
members of the G. A. r. who underwent the
obligations by the same time were constituted
soldiers
This practically legislated out Of the Grand
Army all who should refuse or neglect to take
the obligations by the stated time The trouble
was now i'll getting members to take the new
obligations but III this the greatest opposition
was met Although the time for dropping
those who refused the new order was several
times extended there was little result and thou
SIRIUS OI members disappeared from the rolls.
The grade plan worked such disaster that two
years later it was abandoned entirely. 1t is
claimed that previous to its adoption there
were 2i0,00 members enrolled while less than
25,0UO remained when the system was abol-
ished
The Cincinnati encampment realized the
harm to the organization which would follow
| from the growing belief that the Grand Army
was simply secret political organization. and q
resolution was adopted declaring the non-par-
tsan character of the organization. The cleo
ton OF officers this year resulted in the re-elec-
ton Of Gen. Logan as commander-in-chief
with Lucius Falrchild. Wisconsin, senior vice
commander; Joseph b. Hawley, Connecticut.
junior vice commander. Under the new rules
the adjutant general, quartermaster general.
inspector general and judge advocate general
were to be appointed by the commander-in-
chief.
special meeting of the encampment was
held i'll New York on October 81 1869, when
among other actions, new badge was adopted.
and all members of the order then in good
standing were declared entitled to the third
grade or that OF veteran.
During Gen. LoSan's second administration
Gen. Chapman resigned the adjutant general
ship and was succeeded by W. L. Collins of
Minnesota.
THE FOURTH ENCAMPMkNT.
The fourth annual encampment met in this
city May IL, 1870, and was presided over by
Commander-in-chief Logan. Gen. Logan at
this time made a wise and patriotic address, in
which he used the expression, referring once
more to the political charges against the or
ganization, "Our only political creed being the
love of our country and its hallowed institu-
tions." Gen. Logan also further recommended
the observance OF Memorial day. The reports
made by the various officers at this encamp-
ment all referred to the difficulties which we're
being met in establishing the grade system
Among the resolutions adopted were ones of
sorrow at the death of Maj. Gen. George H.
Thomas and in favor of the recognition Of Nav
80 as a memorial day. This resolution was fol-
lowed by the adoption of a new article to tn
rules and regulations which formally estab-
lished Memorial day. The encampment re-
elected John A. Logan az commander-in-c hief,
with Lucius Fairchild, senior vice commander:
Louis Wagner, Pennsylvania, junior COM
mander; Samuel A. Green. Massachusetts, sur
geon general, and George w. Collier, Ohio,
chaplain.
During the third term of Gen. Logan the
old members OF the staff continued to serve
THE FIFTH ANNUAL ENcAMpMHNT.
On May 10, 1871, the fifth annual session of
the national encampment met in John A. An
drew Post Hall, Boston. Seventeen depart
ments were represented At the Boston en-
campment the rules were amended so as to
strike out entirely the ill-advised system of
grades, which had worked SO disastrously,
The encampment was also marked by a pleas
ant interchange of kilograms. The Universal
Peace Association in session in New York tel
| egraphed: I'VE congratulate you on a peace
| ful encsmpment As veterans, cannot you