The National tribune., 1896-03-26
TIE GRAND ARMY.
What is Being Done by the Veterans
for the Good of the Order
ALLEGED INCONSISTENCY
A Duluth Comrade's Views on Encampmen'
Parades.


A Duluth Comrade's Views on Encampmen'
Parades.
FDrToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Only few
weeks ago a military writer, enumerating the
forces in this State available in any emergency
for the defense of our Northern frontier, drew
on our war veterans for 10000 men. Stimuli
fRneously from various sections of the country
came from G. AR Posts the tender of their SER
vices 10 the Government. Indeed we are fire.
onently treated 20 similar evidences of veterans
patriotism in connection with various disturb
ances throughout the country.
While believe that in these spasms OF patriot
ism the veterans over estimate their strength,
] cannot doubt that in case of need handsome
percentage (25 or more per cent? of our war
veterans would be found doing valiant and
valuable service for their country.
And now comes Comrade HaCerty pleading
that these old boys be spared the fatigue OF
walking few blocks in the remote chance OF
their having the coveted boon once or twice IN
lifetime of attending National Encampment,
recommending that instead they all sit like
freaks in a museum, while the thousands OF
men, women and children who have come many
miles from the surrounding country, file past
and gaze at them with mute and curious in
terest.
Surg. Trader amends this plan with grand
review" ION ground often necessarily miles
from headquarters) whore the boys can touch
elbows" and selfshly admire each other.
In these and similar schemes what would be-
come of the grand opportunity for patriotic
teaching and enthusing of the people? And,
then, the selfish ingratitude of such behavior
Think lit. A city donors the veterans with an
invitation; 100000 to 100000 are subscribed;
Courthouses schoolhouses, private houses are
thrown open, and the most delicate thoughtful
ness is had for their comfort; for their pleasure
elaborate and costly decorations transform the
city into scene of patriotic beauty; the guests
arrive; the city, from the highest official TO
the lowest pebeian, bend their knee, and with
strains of costly music escort them to their
quarters.
What lis asked of them in return7 Simply to
be pleased to admire to enjoy the attentions
bestowed, and just once at stated time, the
streets cleared Of every obstruction, that they
{" fall in +" and permit the rising generation to
look upon battle-scarred veterans organized as
they march past admire them, call them theirs,
and drink in the patriotism of the scene.
Who are these who would deny the people
this patriotic pleasure? Nine-tenths of them
are men who at home walk from Is to so blocks
every day. xtentbs OF them are such men
as annually shoulder tho gun or fshing-rod,
and spend week IN camp. walking five to 10
miles every day. Tired "0h, yes; but there's
fun in it: time to rest whec / get home"
] am ashamed of such inconsistency. Give
MS the time-honored parade, pure and simple.
AS the years pass the procession will be smaller.
Let the line OF march be correspondingly short
ened and the line of carriages GLADLY provided
5or those unable TO march) heightened, and let
no veteran able to march be found in those
carriages; neither let him be found las is so
often seem making private exhibition Of him.
self along the line of march, and repeating
those stale expressions, No more marching
Tor me got enough marching in Dixie"
etc, ad nauseum.
Let rs deserve to be popular, and be willing
10 exert ourselves for the sake of others on
such supreme occasions, rememb ering that the
eomrade who doing this Coins the PARADE earns
his full need of praise though he fall out at
The first quarter post-Capt. c. p. BRAGG,
3l7 Third avenue East. Duluth, Mimi.