Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-09-17

President. 1t came out of times of strife
and disorder. 1t has seen these pass ava.
and its whitening veterans have come tc
await the last call in the sunlight of peace
and union and in the reflection of work
well done and a repose well earned. To-
day the tragedy of 1865 is recalled.
Thursday they held 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 eneampment
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 to 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 undoubt-
eddy marks the climax in gatherings of
the bronzed, aged and battle-scarred vet
Grams of the Civil War 1t brought to-
gether scores of old soldiers, many Of
whom win not be on hand for another en-
campment Depleted numbers, the adj
yanced age and accommodating inhrmities
of those who survive, the disappearances
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 a career that stamps it as unique
in itself, without reference to the excep-
tional nature of the great events from
which ton riS Hold tOUp1 her 81
tirely by community of sentiment and
spirit of mutual helpfulness, its existence
has been a perpetual reminder of the
strength of the bonds and 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 and 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, where 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 We're also reunions
of brigades, regiments; battaEons, and
companies, with addresses by orators of
national reputation.
In connection with the encampment
were held meetings of other national as
:, faII al
Corps, Ladies of the G. A. r., Daughters
of Veterans, Sons Of Veterans, Navs:
Veterans and its woman's auxiliary. Cei~
ored Veterans. Union Ex-Prisoners Of
War, and its woman's auxiliary, Mexican
War Veterans, Army Nurses, and Loyal
Home Workers. Interest in the encamp.
ment business proceedings centered il
the election of a commander-in-chief for
the ensuing year. Three prominent can
didates were considered. They were Dan
iel Z. Sickles of New York, Eli Torrance
of Minnesota aad Thomas ]. 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 1873 to $50 per cent. The organ
ization deaehed its high-water mark in
1890, when its members numbered I09,-
4S9. In 1900 the enrolment was PIC. 600.
Although Monday was the opening day,
the real beginning of the encampment
was Tuesday, when there was a great
naval parade on Lake Erie, commemora-
tive of Commodore Perry's historic vic
tory, which occurred Sept. 10, 1918. The
following day occurrt- the great street
parade The line of march was but two
miles in length. the long marches of other
encampments having fatigued the veter-
ans too much. 1t was an inspiring scene
On the opening day it was estimated
that there We're nearly 100000 strangers
in the city.
The Grand Army Of the Republic has
had a life Of about thirty-five years. The
war was over and the reunited nation was
just beginning to take up the work of
peace when the first post was formed.
The origin of the order is traced to a
meeting of veterans at Springfield. H.,
during the winter of 1S65-6G, when DR..
F. B. Stephenson, who was surge IN in
the Fourteenth Illinois infangy. took the
initiative in perfecting a veterans organ
ization. The first post was formed at De-
catur, H.. on the evening of April q,
1866. and this. with two posts establish
ed at Springfield, adopted the prneip.es
which have been the cardinal doctrines Of
the organization.
Ever since its meeting in 1866
the Grand Army has played an important
role in the history of the nation. It has
done much for the relief Of its own mem
bers. Ii has done much for charity. aud
il should not be forgotten that in several
instances this charity notably during the
times Of the Mississippi valley yellow fe-
yer outbreaks and the CharlessoWn earth
auake4- was directed 10 the relief OF for
mer enkmies. But most ct ali it has been
a bens heial factor n keeping alive the
sentimA nts Of loyalty and patriotism
Such az organization is without parallel
amoEg Ahe societies Of war veterans tie
world ever. 1t has no predecessor and
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