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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1899)
20 TITE OMATTA DAILY BEE : SIT N DAT , DEOEAHVRR 3 , 185)1) ) ) . PASSING OF THE GRAND ARMY Mighty Organization of Soldiers Steadily Eecsding from VETERANS BRAVELY MARCH TO THE GRAVE An of Olil Tliry Mnrelicil < o Itnitlr , .So .Vovr 'I'lujMnri'li < < > nn Unil of JVuinlipm Xot Olill\lnn , lint ntcrnnl ( ilory. ( Copyright , 1W. by S. S. McClure Co. ) "Tho circle Is narrowing. Ono nnmc after another Is crcocd out by the black pencil of grim death. Day after day at roll call we liear of veterans who are 'not present' but 'accounted for. ' They have gone to Join the great majority of our comrades who Bleep tonight beneath the low green tunt whose curtains never fitting outward. " This WBH nalcl of .tho passing of the Grand Army of the Hoptibllc by President McKln- ley at Uio Inst national encampment. He nummcd up with brief cloqucnco tbo pathetic fltory of the soldier of the civil war. This fighting man alas ! will soon bo only a mem ory. For yearn the death rate has grown nnil grown In the Grand Army. Kach time a national encampment haa been lirld the number of well known faces that did not appear has been greater and the tread of thu old veterans who did appear has been more uncertain. Those who have attended thcfie encamp ments regularly have grown accustomed to this fading away , but oven they will be shocked when the report of the adjutant general for 1S09 Is Issued. It will show that within a twelve-month over 17,000 mem bers have gone to sleep "beneath the low green tent whone curtains never swing out ward. " The greatest previous loss for a through the nnr ns surgeon of the Pour- , tccnth Illinois regiment , coming out ns , major. Ills homo was In Springfield , 111. j After peace was declared and the troopfl were waiting to be mustered out , Dr. Stephenson - enson first broached the subject of organ izing a society that would enable the sol- dloro to continue In time of pcaco the as sociations that bed grown up during thn war. The Idea took at once , but like many another movement , admirable In ! licit , It did not grow spontaneously. The doctor laid out very carefully a plan of organization and It speaks volumes for his genius that this plan him been closely followed ever since. Without any special authority ho constituted hlnwelf "com mander of the Department of Illinois , " and on the 6th of April , 186C , "he organized the first post of the Orand Army of the Hcpubllc Decatur , III. The charter members wore. M. P. Kanan , G. It , Stcelc , Ocorgo H. Dun ning , I. C. Pugh , J. H. Nale , J. I. Bishop. ' C. niebsame , J. W. Routh , n. F. Slbley , I. ' N. Coltrln , Joseph Prior and A. Toland. | They formed "Post I , of Decatur , District of Moen , Department of Illinois. " The charter ) was signed by Dr. Stephenson as "Com- ' mander of the Department , " and by Robert i M , Woods nn "Adjutant General. " " " " " " * The OrKnttlxntlnn. At the convention all tbo state * named and Illinois were represented. In addition there were also delegates from the "Veteran Brotherhood of Kansas" and of the "Soldiers and Sailors' Union of New York. " Pennsylvania waa represented by dele gates from two posts In Philadelphia , no Rtato organization having as yet been ef fected there. For some rcaoon that does not appear , Dr. Stephenson was not elected as commander- in-chlcf. Ho was made adjutant general In stead. S. A. Hurlburt of Illinois was elected as the first commander-ln-chlcf ; J. D. Me- Kcan of New York , senior vice commander- In-chlef ; R. S. Foster of Indiana , Junior vice commandcr-ln-chlef ; August Wllllch of SHOWING TUB HAP1D DECREASE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OP THE GRAND ARMY. year , the year 18S8 , was only 8,383 , so that the death rate for 1899 was more than double. If this rate keeps up , nnd It will notonly _ keep up but grow greater each year , thel-o will soon bo nn end of , the heroes of 61. 61.It It Is 6cldom that figures tell a touching talc , but the figures of the membership and death In the Grand Army arc more touching and mournful that the most eloquent funeral discourse ever Breached. They are as fol lows : The ' 9D death rate Is not Included In the table. Hut the report of Adjutant General Thomas J. Stewart showo that the member ship dwindled from 303,003 In 1898 to 287,981 in 1890 , giving n net loss of 17,622 , or a percentage of 5.7 , a most appalling Jump from the 2.11 per cent of 1898. Slmv Urmrllii Kuiilil Decline- . It will bo seen that the order reached Its greatest height In 1891. This was over 1 twenty-five years after Its foundation. Its , growth was slow. HH decline promises to bo so rapid that the end Is almost certain in a few years moro. The man who organized the Grand Army did niH llvo long enough to see the order In KB beat In point of members. Ho died in 1871 , before it waa a firmly established In stitution , for the order was on the brink of disruption for yeaw. The founder was Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson , Ho went Worn Out ? Oliii-lanl \ \ liiu ) WOHM ) I'AMOtS TOXIC. Mariana Wine Is .1 tonic prepared upon tiuly fcIt-ntlHc principles , It is , afe and bMiellclul us well as iigteeublo. Mariana NVIno linn moid than 8,000 written eiidoicvmrnts from leading physicians In all l > urta of the world. Murlaim Wlno gives power to the brain. dtrength and olanllclty to the muscles and richness to the blood. It Is a promoter nr good hrnlth and longevity Makes the old youim ; keeps the young strong. Murla.na Wine if specially recommended for General Debility , Overwork , Weakness from whatever caiiHus , Profound Depression uiul Kxlmuatloii , Throat and Lung Dis eases , La ( Irlppo , Consumption and Ma lm la. It Is n dlituHble tonlo for the entlro system. Mariana Wlnn Is Invaluable for over worked man , delicate women anil sickly children. It stimulates , strengthens and eu&talim the ryutcin and forncoa body and brain. It combats MnlarU und IM Grippe , May bu used effectively In form of a hot K B old by all druggists. Ilowaro of Imitations. Marian ! & Co. , 62 W. 15th St. , New York , n handsome book of endorsements of emperors , empress , princess , cardinals , nrchblnhops and other distinguished rcr- Honuge * It Is nont gratia and postpaid to all uho wilto for It , . Ohio , quartermaster general ; Dr. C. McNeil I of Iowa , sutgcon general ; William A. I'llo of j Missouri , chaplain , and J. K. Proudflt of , Wisconsin , William Vendever of Iowa , T. C. ! Oborn of Illinois , T. C. Fletcher of Wis consin , T. T. Taylor of Ohio , T. K. Mihvood of Kentucky , P. J. Bramhall of New York , Nathan Klmball of Indiana and Clayton Mc- Mlchael of Pennsylvania council of ad ministration. The objects of the organization were clearly set forth In a sot of resolutions. These resolutions rnako Interesting reading , ' especially at this tlmo when the order Is passing Into the shadow , having most falth- fullv carried out thn rtfelcrn for whloh If wna , created. It was set forth In these resolu tions , among other things , that the Grand i Army was "to maintain In civil life these great principles for which it stood In arms under thu national flag ; that It stands pledged to crush out active treason , to advance - vance and support loyalty , to secure sound constitutional liberty to all men , and vindicate everywhere and at all tlmea the full and complete rights of every loyal American citizen , against all combinations ol force or fraud that may attempt to deny or deprive them of such rights. " For some time after the formal organ ization at Indianapolis the order made rapid progress. Then it stood still. Then It went backward and finally It looked a3 If It would go to pieces. Thla was duo principally to the fact that many members irltd to use the organization for political purposes. A bitter Internecine strife ensued and when the second convention , called at Philadelphia on January 15 , 18C8 , met the Grand Army was almost without logs. This , too , In spite of the fact that twenty-one stale departments had been organized , Pub lic opinion was against It , and the press was very largely against It. The member ship had dwindled almost to nothing. The twenty-one state departments were mere skeletons , Two things saved the order. One was the adoption of a resolution after a bitter fight setting forth that "tho organization does not design to make nominations for olllco , nor to use Its Influence- a secret or ganization for partisan purposes. " The other act that gave new life was the elec tion of General John A. Logan as com- mamler-ln-chlof. General Logan was then , ns bo was up to the hour of his death , one of the best beloved men In the United Statt * . The veterans of the volunteer army fairly worshipped this Impetuous , dashing soldier , and they rallied by thousands to the support of the Grand Army as jcon as his election was announced. The general took full advantage of the now-born enthusiasm. With bis well-known energy he set to work to build up everywhere. lie was re-elected in 18C9 and 1S70 , and when In 1871 he was succeeded by General A. E. Buroaldo the Grand Army bad made great headway. Ilcirlnnliiir of It AH. With this poet an a starter , Dr. Stephenson - son began the real organization of the "De partment of Illinois. " Ho appointed a staff to oxpedlto the work. This staff consisted of Colonel Jules C. Webber as aide-de * camp .And chief of staff ; Major Woods , adju tant general ; Colonel John M. Snyder , quar termaster general ; Lieutenant John B. Phclps , alde-do-camp and captain ; John A. Llghtfoot , nfisletant adjutant general. These men worked so well that within three months a etate convention was held at Springfield. This convention , which was called to order on July 12 , 1SCO , elected as utato commander General John M. Palmer , the candidate of the gold demo crats in the last presidential campaign. General John Cook T.'aa elected as assistant department commander ; General Jules G. All kinds at less Dewey . / * of thati Holiday Actual Cost & Stone Furniture We Sell Our Couch This fine Department. Company Cobbler Seat are now selling Good Rocker Furniture for less $325 This is where you get your 4 money than it can be ' Over 100 Patterns to of 'the worth when purchased man money's we antique or ; say Select From. mahogany finish. CHEAP , it does not mean absolutely A full spring button top ufacturers. Couch , covered in lutely the smallest price , but the good tapestry , for. Last spring we Fancy Rockers best goods for the least money. ? 2G.OO PniitiiBoti $1650 bought over We show 432 different Couch for . , . styles in rockers beautiful If you buy FURNITURE with 12 Pattern Couchi's with Pan- $100,000.00 in design and low in price out seeing us , we are both the tasoti covers at 23 per cent worth of Furniture in they range from discount. LOOSER. We ask simply a of the 1.25 t A Genuine Leather anticipation personal inspection , and can Couch , hair top diamond heavy advance which 27 patterns in leather Turk- f"\ < " * ftl i I v W > - \ . * * W * - . K jr ± v j _ 4 _ i I-K. _ _ _ . . . - tuilled and full GLS % U fhfb ish rockers from $18.00 up. uuviiiuc yuu Ulcll VVC arc spring , for. was made in July , and A fine assortment of Eeed Others up to $75.00 each. as the factories were rockers , $2.00 to $14.00 We guarantee the quality unable to ship ' promptly of all' our own upholstery work. ly , we have secured the larger portion of All Davenports and Colonial Sofas these goods during the at 25 to 50 per cent discount. past 30 days and find it simply impossible to A suggestion of our provide storage space This line Dining Table for so many pieces , polished oak & ' " ' 10 feet long. . . . We now propose tenet We show a fine assortment This Iron Bedstead ; line white Music Cabinets not only meet our of dining room furniture enamel finish , GO designs in tables $4.50 up Parlor Cabinets with brass trimT . IvJ | | /\QO January prices , but to ming 92 designs in side - discount them from boards $6.50 up Ladies' Desks 72 designs in Iron Beds , 118 designs in $2.50 to $20.00. chairs 75c up 25 to 40 per cent Fancy Rockers 69 designs in china Brass Bedsteads ; 43 patterns closets $11.00 up Bookcases $15 ° ° This simply means 38 designs in that other no store can buffets $6,50 up Parlor Tables A beautiful all Brass Bed stead full swell foot end and possibly approach our Special inducements in fine Palm Stands extra heavy sample pieces filling December Odd Dressers A good Folding Card table We are 35 per cent lower Prices. spring legs and hundreds of other useful and ornamental than any store in the city on , 24x24 top things all very low in price. metal Bedsteads. COME AND SEE Goods can be selected now for Christmas delivery. 1115-1117 Fartiam Street. Webber , adjutant general ; Colonel John M. Snydcr , quartermaster general ; Colonel John C. Llghtfoot , assistant quartermaster gen eral , and General John McArthur , Gen eral T. P. Mather and General I. C. Pugh as members of the committee of adminis tration. Dr. Stephenson was formally rec ognized as "the head and front of the or ganisation" by an unanimous resolution. Ho was not elected to any ofllce In the de partment because it was feared that this would hamper Ills work in organizing the Grand Army on a national basis. Acting as lomniander-In-chlef , the doctor , aided by Adjutant General Woods and Colonel Snyder , pushed the organization as rapidly as possible Into other states. With what ranldlty they worked may be Inferred from the fact thut by October , 1866 , de partments had been formed in Arkansas , Kentucky , Missouri , Ohio , .Minnesota , lowa , Indiana , Wlpconsln and the District of Co lumbia. A national convention was called by Dr. StcpheiiEOn to met at Indianapolis on November 20 , 1868. ! ! lrtli of Dcunriitlnn Diiy , The most popular act of General Logan's administration and in many respects the most Interesting in tholilatory of the Grand Army of the Republic was the creation of Decoration day ( .May 30) ) . Most persons no doubt bellevo that Decoration day emanates from congress. As a matter of fact It was Homo years after Its creation before congicss took cognizance of the occasion and made It a national legal holiday. The original HUg- gestlon came from a member of the Grand Army , whose Identity has been lost. Noth ing Is known of him except that ho lived in Cincinnati and that ho was n German by birth. Ho wrote to the adjutant general that I It would bo a gracious thing If the Grand Army should Inaugurate a movement to decorate - , orate the graves of the soldiers who had fallen in the civil war. on a certain day In the spring of the year. Ho pointed out that this custom had been observed for many yeara in Germany , where he had orved in j the army before coming to the Unltod States , | and that the practice had much to do with | keeping alive the spirit of patriotism for which the Germans are famous. N. P. Chlpman , who was then adjutant general , fell in with the suggestion at once and submitted It to General Logan , who Is sued an order on May G , 1868 , appointing May C of each year ns Decoration day , when the posts of the organization were requested to i "strow with flowers" the graves of their ! comrades. ; It Is no small wonder , In view of all this , that the tears stood In the eyes of the president of the United States as , viewing a parade of the old soldiers , he said : "The Grand Army of the Republic Is marching Into the shadows , " Have you tried Old Quaker Hyo ? 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