Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
NOT A POLITICAL BODY
6. A. 4. Encampment is
Based on Comradeship.
DWELL ON PAST DAYS
COL. EDWARD keller. EXPLAINS
PURPOSES OF REUNION.
Order Includes Men of Every Political
Faith-Have Ever Avoided Politics
and Politicians.
DWELL ON PAST DAYS

AS an aftermath of the encampment of
the G. A. R., the following article, prepared
for The Evening Star, by Edward A. Keller,
past senior vice department commander of
Illinois, will have an especial interest:
"A Grand Army encampment is compare
BILE to no other gathering of man. The mo-
tive of its assembling is different from that
which draws any other body of men to-
gether. The Farmers Alliance. the knights
of Labor, the American Federation of
Labor bring crowds together but the mo-
tive power is class interest. To procure
legislation in the interest of agriculture,
or of hired labor, is the specific object of
the assembling of any and all of these as
sociations.
The republican and the democratic par
ties make imposing displays of their ma
tional conventions. but the impelling motive
of such assemblages is intellectual; the
rival parties get together to prepare for
war of ideas. Neither intellectual strife
nor class interest moves the veterans to as
seble. They are impelled by the sentiment
of comradeship. Private Smith of the 9th
Minnesota may be a blacksmith. Corporal
Jones of the 18th Massachusetts, a minis
ter of the gospel; Sergeant Robinson of the
I'D Illinois, an editor, and Captain Brown
of the 1st Wisconsin Battery a farmer,
and so on through the whole range of
states, regiments, professions and subdiViS-
ions of labor The one bond of unity is the
remembrance of army life and the renewal
of friendship made in times that knit mems
souls together.
THE encampment is made up of high
tariff, low tariff and no tariff men, of free
silver men, and gold basis men, and of fiat
money men, of men of divergent theories,
but of men with but a single impulse and
creed when the life or honor of the nation is
endangered. They all spell nation with a
big M though thew differ widely
to how its revenues should be collected or
of what material its money should be
made. They are nationalists without an ex-
ception. They call 1t the war of the rebel
lion. instead of the civil war.
Enduring Friendship.
THE friendships formed in war time often
are sudden, and almost always enduring.
Men from different states of different edu-
cation, meet for the first time under the
fire of the enemy. One is wounded. An
other relieves him. One is timid, and the
cool courage of another inspires him. One
is thirsty. Another gives him drink from
his canteen, from which the contents al
ways taste good. Or the long march
the stronger man lessons the burden borne
by weaker. Or a mirthful man cheers a
downcast comrade by song or story that
temporarily banishes his inconsistencies or
beguiles his sense of WEAKNESS. Such be-
come friends for life. Veteran Smith leaves
encampment that he may meet his old
friend Jones of Massachusetts. Robinson
of Illinois wants to swap stories once more
with Brown of Wisconsin, and one crosses
the continent to shake hands, 1t may be
for the last time, with another, to chat
about their agonies in Andersonville or
their meeting on the night after Cnancel-
louisville
Three times many died in the year
1891 as in the year 1871, and the death
ratio must continue to increase. But the
number in attendance does not diminish.
The knowledge of the lessening chances Of
meeting old comrade year hence
strengthens the resolve to meet him now.
TIL spirit grows stronger the flesh grows
weaker The force of individual affection
grows stronger. In days gone by Grant
was the central attraction of the camp;
then Sherman and Logan and Sheridan
were exposures of thousands of eyes but
these have Joined the phantom briigafCs
that sleep where Glory guards with sol
emn round the bivouac of the dead
Comrade to Comrade.
Now. comrade journeys to meet .arn-
rade; the magic of a mighty name no
longer lures to travel, though many hon
ored commanders Of corps and of divisions
and of brigades and of regiments and of
companies survive The sentiment of a
Grand Army encampment now sounds in
hail and farwelT to many.
of meeting is his mind weighted down with
questions of policy of this or that party? Is
he devoting his energies to the question of
pensions? Is he thinking at all of business
or selfish interests? The papers of a GER
tain political faith insist that he is Some
of the fellows who rank with the disrepu-
table campfollowers of old army days init
mate necessarily that unworthy motives
prompt the great gatherings of eX-soldierS
and that the brave men who compose them
think of little else than great, If not scan
dalouS, intrigue.
1T would be as useless as ignoble to at
tempt to defend the veterans from charges
of partisanship of self-seeking The
charges are mean. Defense Is needless.
The Grand Army of the Republic Is not a
federation of beggars. It's members are
benefactors. No encampment ever has in
dulged the aspiration of any comrade for
public life. nor has ii ever sought to make
or unmake any political party. The vet
Grams never have formed themselves into a
third party for the purpose of class legisla-
ton. They have never sought to bride or
coerce any party into favorng schemes
which they approved but they have come to
the conclusion that they viii vote for their
friends. irrespective Of party and for those
who recognize their right to hold office, even
If they are not young men. They earned
that right, and as representatives of citizen
soldiery. which in valor in numbers
never have been equaled, they have sug-
gested and again may suggest the wisdom
or the necessity of legislation for the main
widows and orphans of their dead COM
rades. 1t is right. not a privilege, that
they exercise. and the exercise of a right
needs no defense.
The G. A. r. is Not Political.
mo; only an old copperhead. instinctively
| hostile to the soldier and what he repre-
! sents; only old Bourbon with memories
| of his treason in mind, could get so far
| from the truth as to suggest or Intimate
nr
| nary questions bring the Grand Army of
| the Republic together in encampments.
| They go to these reunions purely in the
| spirit of comradeship. And what blessed,
! magnetic word, comrade.' Upon that rock
| is built the greatest veteran organization
| that ever existed will ever exist. The
holy light of freedom illumines the way into
| each comrades heart. making fraternity
| indeed fraternal.
mo man who has not had army expert
| ence can comprehend the character of army
A. -