The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-13

THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
Commander Shively Calls Attention to
Certain Conditions.

Commander Shively Calls Attention to
Certain Conditions.
AS soon as the encampment is called
to order tomorrow Department Commander
ShiveIy will read his address. the more i'm
portant portions Of which are given below.
The commander begins with a grateful
recognition of the open-handed hospitality OF
South Bend, refers to the city's patriotic
services during the war, to Colfax the
statesman. and Eddy. the gallant soldier. He
then turns to the Grand Army. and says:
IT rejoice to know that we of the Grand
Army OF the Republic have so lived and so
wrought In the civic paths of life since our
soldier days as to still hold 50 high place
In the hearts and affections OF the good and
loyal people of our State and Nation: We
have met here on this, our seventeenth an
nual eEcampment, to renew old friendships
and TO reweld again the ties of comIadeship,
and congratulate you upon the fact that no
similar organization assemblies anywhere
upon the face OF the earth You are the
remnants as well as the representatives of
nns marched to oe the fS Of iberty Fer
four years upon field and flood you upheld
with a courage and devotion unsurpassed
in all history the institutions OF civil and re-
ligious freedom. Many and powerful were
the blows you struck, but they fell not on
the side Of tyranny and oppression. Long
and weary were your marches, but they were
always along the highway OF constitutional
liberty and justice. and the rich frutage of
your victories is to-day a Nation restored, a
flag vindlcated and the shackles off four mill
Hon bondmen. In that mighty contest you
conquered most honorable and lasting
peace. Your cause was so just, your warfare
so honorable, your terms OF peace in the
hour OF triumph SO generous, that, within
thirty years from the time the struggle
closed. thsre is scarcely scar remaining to
tell the stbry of that great strife. Your flag,
once so iercely assaied, and whose SUI
premacy was denied in eleven States OF the
Union. now, thank God. floats triumphantly
Raif
changes nave come in the feelings and senti-
ments Of those who were our enemies from
81 TO '65. The bitterness and hates engen-
dered by long and exhaustive civil war are
almost obliterated in every quarter and Sec
ton of our common country. The people
North and South. have come to realize that
we must not be enemies. we must be
friends There is a renewed love and ven-
Grafton for the old flag everywhsrs that ar
In this restoration OF fraternal ana brotherly
feeling between the North and the South the
Grand Army of the Republic has been a po.
tential factor.
THE past year has been one of much ac-
tivity in Grand Army circles. The old-time
ns neai ane an1 eevSom e sr whrn p prevailed in the
tinues in every section of the department.
Yet am forced 10 report 10 you slight
falling off in our membership during the
past year. The net loss from ali sources is
966 This loss in membership seems to be
inevitable The order touched its higii-water
mark several years ago. and the sight losses
in membership that occur and will occur
while much 10 be regretted. should not dis
courage or weaken in our featy to the
Grand Army. Let Us look the facts squarely
in the face. The germs of decay that are
inherent In our organization are doing their
sure and deadly work. and cannot be STAYED
by the infusion or new blood The members
or the Grand Army have passed the meridian
of life. Age and decrepitude are fast coming
upon thSm. and 1t Is but natural that this
once powerful organization should surely
and gradually succumb to the ravages OF
time.
During the past year the hand OF
death has been busy In our ranks. Almost
every post In the department nourns the
loss of some comrade. The total number
of deaths is 42S. among which were Ira j.
Chase. past department commander; o. r.
Weaver. assistant quartermas aster-general;
Shelby Sexton. past senior vice department.
commander. In the death or Governor Chase
the department sustained the loss Of one of