The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-06-20
WHY THE G. A. r. EXISTS.
Memorial Day Address Delivered by r.
w. Kunz at Ra,hmel.

w Kunz at Ra,hmel.
Below we publish part of the address
delivered at Rathmcl by Comrade II.
w. Kunz, of Reynoldsville. The article
has been crowded out until 1t Is Il trile
late, but it is interesting enough to make
good reading any time. Following is
the speech
Friendship which has It's origin in
your immediate surroundings, in the
neighborhood. in the club house, or for
that matter in the church ITSELF is not
OF such lasting character as that born
OF adversity, as that which brought men
together to share and carry heavy bur-
dcns and to meet great responsibilities,
much less than that which cemented
man TO man on the bloody field of battle.
This last one is indestructible II has
been many times sorely tried and was
not found wanting; it created such a
fraternal feeling that it surmounts
everything and will last until the bugle
calls one from the others, severing
earthly human ties, and even then our
thoughts wander beyond the graves
and express themselves by adorning
their resting places once year with
evergreen on this. by us created, grand
and noble Memorial Day.
AS everything has its wherefor, and
nothing exists without reasons, so has
the Grand Army also its motives and its
objects, but as they are, by many, not
understood, and by others willfully mis-
represented, think few words of ex-
planation why we exist is not out of or
der on this day
Freedom and liberty are fruits which
only ripen from the red blossoms Of
mems hearts blood. Such was the ex-
perience of every nation that ever de-
sired and obtained freedom such was
the lesson taught to the thirteen colo
nes which formed the nucleus of the
present U. S., hut bloodier still is the
history of the generation, now passing
rapidly out of existence, and who made
this country really and actually free,
not only by liberating six million slaves,
but also by raising the poor whites of
the South to higher spheres by pro-
tecting the old, and establishing a new
Union, which is now recognized as in
dissoluble.
On Friday, April the 18th, 1861, at
half past four in the morning, thun-
dered cannon down in the harbor of
Charleston, S. G. A shot was aimed
and fired by erring brethren against
the national ensign, which waved from
the ramparts of Fort Sumpter; fired un-
der the leadership of an arrogant, slave
holding power, who either meant to
govern or ruin the country, and to de-
'stroy the best government on earth
What was the result of that shot? 1t
was the signal for long and bloody
war. Its sound vibrated from the
South to the loyal North, from the At
lantic to the Pacific. 1t awoke thousands
upon thousands from their Indifference,
from their slnmber, who thought such
an act impossible They marched forth
to resent the insult and to do battle for
our beloved Union.
In 1865, B. +. Stephenson of the l4th
Ill. Infantry, with several others, con-
ceived the idea to create fraternal and
charitable order into which all Ex-
Union soldiers, who were honorably dis
charged and were loyal throughout the
war, could be mustered, and in April,
1865, the first Post OF the G. A. r.. was
mustered at Decatur, ILL.,, and has since
assumed such proportions that but few
soldiers stand outside the pail of our
order.
But this Grand Army has been ac-
cused OF being political machine. Oh,
how wrong We were, and are still,
sometimes yet blamed for being a secret
society, and that all secret societies
are, more or less, dangerous in repub
lie. Certainly very plausible charges
Our secrecy mainly consists in protect
ing ourselves from would-be impostors
We have no purpose which we are un
willing TO reveal to the world. The
Grand Army has no obligations which
any loyal citizen cannot take without
hesitation or reservation. 1t has NJ
political Significance. No, we are |
brotherhood Of an entirely differen
character, and unless our hearts wer'
flint we could not be insensible Or cole
70 those who stood shoulder to shoulder