The Washington herald., 1915-09-28
The Grand Army in Peace.

The Grand Army OF the Republic is but a rem
nant of the Union army which passed through
Washington in the grand review fifty years ago.
but it is remnant eloquent in rcminiscence and
| prophetic of the future of the nation. There were
timid souls then whose sconsciences assumed more
responsibility for the public welfare than their
| courage could support, who feared the conse-
quences OF releasing 4 million men from military
discipline, and who would have placed restraints
upon all in the interest of the general welfare.
But these soldier citizens home and into the
industrial commercial, and professional lie where
they had left off to go to war, they went into
the greai West to conquer the plains and the
mountains, gridron the country with rail-
roads to carry back to the East the rich harvests
they garncrcd, and added one of the most roman
tic chapters American history by building a
new empire where they had been taught as school
boys to look for the Great American Desert and
the inlpassablc barrier nature had planted to warn
our people to be tempted to try to extend
their dominion beyond the Rocky Mountains.
But these men, who had four years OF war,
lad learned that there was no unconquerable
deserts and impossible barriers for those who
have the courage TO venture and go forward with
Intelligence and indomitabe will. 1t menu
Der OF the Grand Army who became the Chief en-
gincer OF the Union Pacific Railroad which bound
the two coasts together with bands OF steel 1t
la member OF the Grand Army who explored the
arid regions and projected the reclamation OF that
region years before Congress authorized the work,
and he selected the very sites where the govern
ncnt is building the big dams to mpound
the waters which are to make the desert bloom
like garden. They from the Grand
Army who made Iowa and Kansas, Nebraska and
Minnesota great agricultural States and great po-
htical units in the nation before the advent OF the
Populiss and political faddiss.
This remnant OF the Grand Army illustrates
the courage adaptability, and self-control OF the
average American, who can he peaceful citizen,
til n soldier, and again citizen, to devote his
energies, aided by his experience in military life,
TO the greater development Of his country They
may have been of Sherman's Bummers in the
march TO the sea- but they also the pioneers
who conquered the plains and penetrated the
mountain Businesses to add new riches and new
glories to the republic They realized none of the
lears OF the tmid souls who ielt the destinics OF
the nation resting heavily their consciences in
1906. and who anticipated a rabblc and an orgie
OF discomfort and disorder the result Of four
ears OF marism. The only danger to those who
did not participate in that mlitarSm the encr-
Gctic and enthusiastic competition from the sol
crs, and many OF the preachers oi peace at any
price did fall before this competition They
tell out OF the ranks in business and in politics.
and the members OF the Grand Army took their
places in the halls OF Congress legi>late for the
new conditions and occupied the White House to
execute the laws. More than hall the years since
1905 have seen members OF the Grand Army in the
Presidents chair and their administrations were
conspicuous years OF great progress and great
glory ior the nation.
1t might be we'll to have some OF our new
leaders OF political fads and faucies given good
seats to witness the review OF the remnant OF the
Grand Army tomorrow, that they may look upon
the men who passed through great war and
half century ago bent their bayonetS into pruning
hooks when their Silent Commander said Let us
have peace These men, who will march with bent
figures. perhaps, but keeping step TO the music arc
after all but types OF American manhood, which
rs endowed with that best quality OF all cviliza-
tiOn-scli control which can fight or work. as con-
ditionS justify, and which does not require leading
strings unnatural restraints 10 make good cit-
ZcrS. The whose ConSCicnCtS are wciphtcd
down with lear OF the republic unless the people
are all clothed in strait jackets may be only an
other generation OF those who called Grant A
hatcher and drunkard ard Sherman a lawl.ss
leader ui blInnerS and bullieS