The National tribune., 1895-08-22
RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL ENCAMP-
MENT.


measure of good results which will foy
from the holding Of the National En-
campment in Louisville, and from TIT
excursions which the comrades vii
make in considerable bodies to Chatta
nooga and other places in the South.
Nothing will be more effective il
dislodging from the minds of the South
ern people the vicious ideas as to the
Unien soldiery which have been sedu.
lousy inculcated into their minds by
their own press and the Socialistic
Anarchistic and aristocratic papers OF
the North. In this work Of OBTAINING
the soldiers Of the Nation such Social
istic, rabble-rousing papers as the New
York Horid and Chicago Times have
Joined hands with ultra-aristocratic
organs, like the New York Times and
EceniRg Post. 1t is the old combina-
ton, seen in every country and age, OF
the aristocracy Of money and birth
combining with the vicious and ignorant
against the middle class
To present the Grand Army of the
Republic en- alasSe is always 10 produce
the best possible impression upon ali be-
holders. No matter how well single
comrades may appear to those who see
them, it is always possible for their ene-
mics and traducers to say that they are
simply favorable exceptions; that they
do not represent the mass; that the
body Of the Order is made up of very in
ferior, not to say disreputable, material.
We can only successfully meet this when
we come together, as we shall at Louis
vile, by the hundred thousand, and sub
stantially every man in the vast assem-
blage Is seen to be one who reflects credit
upon American citizenship, and whom
anyone might be proud to claim as
father or a relative. The most preju-
diced rebel south Of the Ohio River, the
most malignant Copperhead north of it
who looks upon the column parading
through the streets of Louisville, who
sees the comrades upon the tram-cars. in
the hotels, public buildings, and other
places where they viii congregate, can
not help having the conviction forced
upon him that they are a superior class of
men, and thoroughly representative of
the element which has made this coun-
try great and prosperous, despite the
opposition Of those who would drag
down and destroy it.
Any reasoning man who looks upon
a GAR. gathering sees there at once
sufficient reason why this country has
become what it is. lie sees the class Of
men who are the real body and brains,
soul and sinews Of the Great Republic.
They are neither the vicious and igno-
rant rabble, nor the selfish and soulless
money-grabbers, but the men who have |
done well and conscientiously every |
duty in life, whether it was cultiyating
the fields, managing their farms, toiling
with busy brains and skilled hands in
tie workshops, or fighting the Nations
enemies TO the bitter death.
To see who were the real Americans
Of 30 years ago, one must see a GAR.
gathering, and to look upon it must
make one proud that he is an American.
OF course, only very limited portion
If the South viii have an opportunity
Of seeing the GAR. in large numbers,
but even this viii do much good. The
Will make themselves pretty
numerous through Kentucky and Ten
nessee, and az far into Georgia as At
.anta. 1t will be a revelation to the
Younger generation in those sections,
who have been taught that their fathers
were overwhelmed by hordes Of ignorant
foreign mercenaries, without character
and without principle, to see the
Yankee army represented by hun
dreds Of thousands Of neatly-uniformed,
educated, selfrespecting men, whose
faces, bearing, and speech are unmis-
taxable evidences Of their character and
pOsltiOn In society.