The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-04
After the Grand Army, What!

The total number of men in the
Union army from April Is, 1861, to the
close of the civil war was 2,700,000. The
total number of deaths during the war
was $50, 200. When peace came, there
were living about 100000 men who had
participated in the suppression of the
rebellion. The latest report of the
membership of the Grand Army of the
Republic shows that there are in the
organization about 100000 men. Al
though all the survivors of the civil
war are not enrolled in the Grand
Army of the Republic, so large a num-
Der of them wear the bronze button of
the order that the thinning of the ranks
of the " boys in blue is made sadly
manifest The spectators of Memorial
Day parades who saw the marching
squads of men, each representing some
"post," were even more painfully re-
minded that more than generation
has elapsed since the memorable first
shot of the war was heard, and that
thousands of those who eluded death
on the battlefield have not been able to
escape his grasp. The last member of
of the Association of Defenders of Bal
timore in 1914, which was organized in
1912, expired in 1888. Like this asso-
citation, the Grand Army is composed
only of those who actually participated
in the struggle it commentaries. 1t will
not be many years before a national en-
campment of the G.. A. R. will be moth
ing more than the gathering of few
old men, pathetic and touching in the
poverty of its attendance. A little
longer and not one of these heroic men
will be left to inspire their descendants
with their presence and their words.
And after the passing of the &. A. H.,
what?
The sentiment is growing in volume
among Grand Army men that it is
wisest that the organization should die
of old age-among its friends, respected
and honored. While it may be possible
to so alter its constitution that, for in
stance, the Sons of Veterans could be-
come a part of the army, or that any
lineal descendant of an honorably dis.
charged soldier or sailor of the civil
war might enlist in its membership, on
the whole it is best that the Grand
Army expire when the last veteran is
mustered out of life's service. There
can be no question as to the past and
present usefulness of the Grand Army,
or as to the honor which should be
paid to it; but the reason for its main
tenance will have ceased to exist before
many years have passed. 1t represents
one aspect of most important epoch
in our national history of which we are
| Justly proud, but, on the other hand, it
perpetuates the period when brother
dyed his sword in his brothers. blood.
The time is rapidly approaching, in
deed it is already here, when North
erner and Southerner will unite in an
effort to upbuild and defend their
equally loved country. The hour, then,
has struck for ceasing to perpetuate
differences, and for conserving every
movement which makes for peace,
union and fraternity. While, then, we
would not by any means hasten the
death of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, TO whose members we owe the very
union of the nation, we cannot but be-
lieve it providential that it is constituted
as it is, and when the time comes for It
to depart let it be said, in the words OF
the burial service, blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord. "-Chicago
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