Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-09-18

President. 1t came out or times OF slIlI3
and disorder. 1t has seen these pass away
and its whitening veterans have come TO
await the last call in the sunlight of peace
and union and in the reflection of work
well done and Il repose well earned. To-
day the tragedy Of 1865 is recalled
Thursday they held a grand goodwill
gathering for the purpose Of extending
the sympathy of the nation and of the
Grand Army to the President.
Senator Henderson of Nebraska also
sounded the keynote of the encampment
at the reunion of the First Ohio volunteer
light artillery. 'Tempering every breath
of happiness at this reunion is the fearful
tragedy of last Friday" said Gen. Man
derson. Il can find no words in which to
refer fttingly the wretch who has done
this thing. 1t IS for us and our sons to
stamp out anarchy and socialism as we
stamped out secession.
The Cleveland encampment nndouht-
eddy marks the climax in gatherings of
the bronzed, aged and battle-scarred vet
Grams of the Civil War II brought to-
gether scores of old soldiers, many OF
whom win not be on hand for another en-
campment Depleted numbers, the adj
vanced age and accommodating intrmities
of those who survive, the disappearance
of posts by the death of members, will
end in the not distant future the history
of the Grand Army-%an organization that
has had career that stamps it rs unique
in itself, without reference to the eXcep-
tional nature of the great events from
which it took it's rise Held together en-
tirely by community of sentiment and a
spirit of mutual helpfulness. its existence
has been a perpetual reminder of the
strength Of the bonds aud the intensity
of the patriotic spirit which united the
men engaged in the war.
Cleveland has not had the national en-
campment since 1872, and secured it this
year through the efforts Of the Business
Mems Association of that city. The To-
cal committee made ample provision for
the accommodation ana social entertain
ment of the veterans. Comfortable quar-
tiers were provided in seventy-three public
school buildings and 800 local veterans
and Sons Of Veterans acted as guides.
There Were camp fires galore, whore the
boys" could summon memories of the
breaking Of the storm OF war, enlistment,
of fearful good byes, reports of killed,
wounded and missing. the long struggle,
the final triumph. the journey home, and
the greeting. There were also reunions
of brigades, regiments, battalions, and
companies, with addresses by orators of
national reputation.
In connection with the encampment
were held meetings OF other national as
sociations, as follows: Woman's Relief
Corps, Ladies of the G.. 4. r., Daughters
OF Veterans, Sons of Veterans, Naval
Veterans, and its woman's auxiliary, Col
ored Veterans, Union ExPrisoners OF
War, and its woman's auxiliary, Mexican
War Veterans, Army Nurses, and Loyal
Home Workers. Interest in the encamp-
ment business proceed ngs eentcred III
| the election of a comm Inder-in-chlef for
| the ensuing year. Thee prominent can
| didates were consider ed. They were Dan
| lei f. Sickes of NeW York, Eli Torrance
! of Minnesota and Thomas j. Stewart OF
! Pennsylvania.
With each year the general interest in
the National Grand Army OF the Repub'
| lie grows; apparently increasing with the
| ratio in which the ranks are thinning
| This ratio has crept in the last ten years
| from 1.33 to $50 per cent. The organ
lZdliOu utdCueu as uA-h7Nttel Aa1Ah -
| 1890, whea its members numbered 409,-
| 4S9. In 1900 the enrolment was 216,669
Although Monday was the opening day
the real beginning of the eneampnent
was Tuesday, when there was great
naval parade on Lake Erie, commemora
tive of Commodore Perry's historic vie
/ tory, which occurred Sept. 10, 1913. This
following day occurred the great street
J parade. The line Of march was but TIVE
: miles in length. the long marches Of othei
encampments having faugued the Yeter
ans too much. 1t was an inspiring scene
On the opening day it was estimated
that there were nearly 100000 stranger;
| ia the city.
! The Grand Army Of the Republic has
/ had a life OF about thirty-dve years. The
/ war was over and the reunited nation was
! Just beginning to take up the work OF
| peace when the drst post was formed
The origin Of the order is traced To {
meeting Of veterans at Springfield, III.
during the winter of ls65-66, when DR.
I. B. Stephenson. who was 4 surgeon i
the Fourteenth Illinois infantry, took th'
initiative in perfecting veterans organ
ization. The first post was formed at De
catur, H., on the evening Of April .
1866, and this, with two posts establish
ed at Springfield, adopted the principle
which have been the cardinal doctrines o.
I -