of valor, or from a comrade who gave up his life
that his country might live. Unlike many or
ganizations or associations of our country its mem
bers are scattered throughout the entire land and
are not restructed to a certain territory, neither
is it necessary for them to have certain qualifica
tions in order to become members, but every man
who risked his life to save the nation—from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Lakes to the
Gulf—is considered, alike, entitled to mem-
bership.
Its sole object is the promotion of fraternal re•
lations between, its members. No tie that binds
brother to brother, in any fraternity is stronger
than that which binds soldier to soldier. No
initiation however startling or impressive can
compare with that of the soldier, who waded
through rivers of blood and marched over fields
of carnage in defense of that emblem of freedom
—his country's flag.
The Grand Army of the Republic is to-day the
strongest and most powerful organization in the
land. It can, if it so desires, control our impor
tant elections, and why should it not ? Have not
those who spilled their blood in their country's
defense a right to say who shall be at the head of
the government they so nobly defended ? Be
cause of their experience is not their choice like
ly to be a wise one? Your answer will undoubt
edly be yes, There is not one of us here present
who, when the soldiers rights are affected by some
under hand legislation or by some proclamation
of an unscrupulous executive, does not feel cha
grined and who does not try to set matters right.
What appreciation for their service would we show
did we not interest ourselves in their welfare?
However, politics is not the only strong-hold
of this grand fraternity for so we may rightly call
it. What is to be done with the surplus in our
national treasury ? Shall we let it remain where
it is and allow it to go on accumulating when it
is doing no one any good and is draining the
country of national currency.
What could be a wiser and more just measure
THE FREE LANCE.
than to give it to the soldier? Did he not well
earn it? By a recent act of congress a pension
has been granted to every dependent soldier who
served in the war and helped to crush the rebel
lion. This surplus in our treasury is thus put into
circulation through the hands of our citizen sol
diery, and this body being scattered throughout
the country the money is distributed from one
end of this broad land to the other, thus giving
the soldier a great hold on our mercantile interests.
Again the Grand Army, being composed large
ly of members from the middle a ‘ nd lower classes,
is opposed to monopolies and other organizations
which tend to defraud the people and lower the
standard of our government. Through their in
fluence these combinations are to a certain extent
kept in subjection,
True, different opinions are held as regards its
political influence and the feasibility of the prey•
ent pension system ; but on a second sober thought
does it not seem just that every deserving veteran
should become the possessor of a pension certifi
cate, when he has given the best part of his life
to his country's service and is now perhaps desti
tute and no longer able to help himself?
A unique feature of the organization is that
there are no growing ranks from which recruits
can be drawn in. In the words of a past com
mander in-chief,—
"No child can be born into it; no proclama
tion of president, edict of king, or ukase of Czar
can command admission ; no university or insti•
"Arms that once could swing the saber
With a nerve of truest stool,
Now soon weary while at labor
'From infirmities they feel.
Graceful forms of manly beauty
Glowed with health and honest pride,
Never faltering when duty
Led the way where heroes died.
Over mountain, through the valley,
On with buoyant hearts they go,
Sound the charge, advance or rally,
All were welcome near the foe.
Time has wrought a transformation,
Changed thorn as by artist , . skill,
They who saved this land and nation,
Now are going down the hill."