The National tribune., 1897-09-09
THE SONS OF VETERANS NATIONAL
ENCAMPMENT.
In the history of the Sons of Vet

campment superior in momentous in
terest to that now in session at Indian
apolis. Even that one which gave the
Order birth and shaped its grand career
did not exceed it in this regard, for the
reason that the organization is now TAX
ing on new birth, and new develop
ment such as comes TO every great
society after it has survived the trials
and perils of infancy, and demonstrated
It's right to live. The 16 years which
the Sons of Veterans has existed have
been the inevitable period of probation
which every great permanent organlza-
ton must undergo before it wins the
right to live. The past four years OF
that time has been a season of great
business depression which has borne
severely upon even the Oldest and
strongest Orders. When men have to
strain every nerve to merely live, they
take little interest in anything which
does not directly bear upon the main
tenance of existence from day to day.
The shape in which the Sons of Vet
Grams has emerged from this trying
ordeal may well be called triumphant.
/ 1t has come out with numbers as great
as Of some of the armies which won great
victories for the Union. 1t has more
members on It's rolls in good standing
1 than Grant had men at Shiloh, or Rose
Grams at Stone River. 1t has demon
strated It's right to live, even under the
most adverse conditions. 1t has shown
that the country needs just such an
Order among Its great agencies for
good, and that its methods and scope
are well adapted to meet that need
1t has a compact, well-disciplined,
smoothly-working organization covering
/ the entire country, with men everywhere
who have attested their interest in the
work, and their ability TO carry it for
ward successfully. Everywhere it com
mends itself to public opinion by the
character Of the men in it, their eleva-
ton Of aim, and wisdom Of management.
The past 1G years have been a season
Of preparation for the great work it is
entering upon, and we believe that they
have been well spent.
Now conditions fortuitously combine
to bring the rich harvest of those 16
years of preparation. The country is
entering upon new period of de-
velopment in every good way surprising
anything in its previous history. Every
proper thing in 1t must develop, expand,
become more active, effective, and far
reaching.
There are millions of SONS of veterans
now entering upon the first flush OF
vigorous manhood, and rapidly forging
their way to the forefront in all the
great activities Of the Nation. They
feel a kinship with one another in every
community that knits them into a dis
tinctive class. Whether a man will or
not, he has still something within him
which makes him feel that he is differ
ent from a man whose father did not
fight for his country. and be drawn to
another son Of veteran rather than to
the son Of civilian.
As these men advance in age, and
assume one after another the duties and
responsibilities which their fathers have
so long borne, they receive with them
their fathers deep, earnest interest in the
well-being and advancement of the Ma.
ton, and feel more strongly every day
that they have inherited their care and
concern for the same They could not
rid themselves Of this if they would
they would not if they could 1t is 8
complexion of their minds as deep and
permanent as the physical characteristic;
they have inherited from their parents.
These are the potent conditions with
which the 10th National Encampmenl
Of the Sons of Veterans has TO deal, and
with which we believe it will deal wisely
1t is eminently desirable that the sons Of
veterans throughout the length and
breadth Of the land shall be organized
into y GREAT noWerful Order mt las,