Atlantic to the Pacific and make it possible for one to ride from ocean to ocean across the continent.

THE UNION ARMY DISBANDS

588. The Grand Review at Washington.-When Lee surrendered, April 9, 1865, there were more than a million union soldiers under arms on the continent. Many Europeans predicted that the government could not peaceably disband such a large force of men. They urged that when the soldiers were once released from the restraint of army discipline, riot and bloodshed would follow in every section of the union. The people of the European countries, with their large standing armies, could not appreciate the difference between a standing army maintained by force of government, and a volunteer citizen soldiery maintained by patriotism. Europe's fears were altogether groundless. By November 1, 1865, fully 800,000 men had been mustered out of service, "without a fancy in any mind that there was anything else to do." However, "before the great army melted away into the greater body of citizens, the soldiers enjoyed one final triumph,—a march through the capital undisturbed by death or danger, under the eyes of the highest commanders, military and civilian, and the representatives of the people whose nationality they had saved."

For two whole days (May 23 and 24) the army of the Potomac, "which for four years had been the living bulwark of the national capital," and the army of the west, which had twice cut the confederacy in twain, marched in grand review along the full length of Pennsylvania Avenue,-the principal street of the national capital. On a platform in front of the White House stood Andrew Johnson,-made president by the sudden taking off of Lincoln,—and a large number of men prominent in army and public life, as well as many foreign representatives from the diplomatic corps. No mightier martial host was ever gathered together on the continent. These men within a few short months were to

be engaged in the peaceful walks of life-to take up life's struggle where they had left it off four years before. The memories of the war, however, were not to be forgotten but to be kept alive in the "camps of peace" of the Grand Army of the Republic, organized the very first year following the close of the war.

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

589. The Grand Army.-The motto of the Grand Army of the Republic is "Friendship, Charity, and Loyalty," and all that these words imply, toward the comrades in arms and their country which they saved. The first post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized at Decatur, Illinois, by Major B. F. Stephenson, of the 14th Illinois infantry, April 6, 1866. All the posts in a state constitute a department. The first national convention met in Indianapolis, November 20, 1866, and perfected the national organization, afterward known as the National Encampment Grand Army of the Republic. All honorably discharged union sailors and soldiers of good moral character of the war are eligible to membership. The second meeting of the National Encampment was at Philadelphia in January, 1868, where General John A. Logan was elected commander-in-chief. He ordered May 30 to be observed as Memorial Day for the purpose of strewing with flowers the graves of comrades who died in defence of their country. Memorial Day, sometimes erroneously called "Decoration Day," is a legal holiday in many states. The rules and regulations of the Grand Army of the Republic expressly forbid the use of the organization for partisan purposes.

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS

590. The First Organization of Women for active coöperation with the Grand Army of the Republic was at Portland, Maine, in 1869. Various societies of women with patriotic objects perfected a state organization at Fitchburg, Massachu

setts, in 1879, under the title Women's Relief Corps. All loyal women of good moral character are eligible to membership. The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, organized in 1881, is composed only of women who are the wives, sisters, mothers or daughters of honorably discharged union soldiers, sailors, or marines who served in the war. Each has a local, a state, and a national organization Their object is to assist the Grand Army of the Republic in its high and holy mission and encourage and sympathize with them in their noble work of charity; to extend needful aid to members in sickness and distress; to aid sick soldiers, sailors, and marines; to do all in their power to alleviate suffering. Other associated organizations of the Grand Army of the Republic, but not subordinate to it, are the Sons of Veterans, the Union Veteran Legion, Union Veterans' Union, Union Ex-prisoners of War Association, the Loyal Legion, and the Veterans' Rights Union. The veterans of the civil war are rapidly answering the last roll call. Soon taps will be sounded in every post hall in this land. History will record that no other organizations on earth can lay claim to more

glorious or more precious memories.

CHAPTER XIV

FROM JOHNSON TO HAYES

RECONSTRUCTION

1865-1877

JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION

REPUBLICAN: 1865-1869

591. Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth president of the United States, was the son of poor parents living in North Carolina. At four years of age he was an orphan; at ten he was apprenticed to a tailor. Being an ambitious boy, he learned to read with the help of one of the workmen. Writing, however, he did not yet aspire to, and it was not until after his marriage that he learned the art, his wife being his teacher. At sixteen he set up as a tailor on his own account. Settling in east Tennessee, he became the leader of those Tennessee Democrats, who opposed the rule of the slaveholding aristocracy of the state. In 1835 he was elected to the state legislature; in 1841 he became state senator; and in 1843, congressman, holding that office for ten years. He then became governor of Tennessee, serving two terms. 1857 he was elected United States senator, and proved himself a bold and active enemy of slavery. In 1862 President Lincoln made him military governor of Tennessee; in 1864 the Republicans nominated him for vice-president, though he was still a Democrat, and in 1865 he became president.

In

Johnson was a man of lofty principles and pure morals, and had a strong and keen intellect. He was, however, obstinate, quick-tempered, and lacking in the element of diplomacy. His character accounts for the difficulties he met while president.

After having been president he continued active in politics, and though several times defeated for office, became United States senator once more in 1875.

Johnson was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, December 29, 1808, and died near Carter's Station, Tennessee, July 29, 1875.

592. The Problems.-A prolonged war always leaves a country in a disorganized condition, especially in regard to its finances and its business life, and tends to breed corruption in public affairs. The war between the states had not only these effects, but one other result far different from these. It left the southern states ruined and conquered, without governments and without the materials from which to erect governments. It was impossible to turn the government of these states over to those who had just been fighting against the union. If the fruits of the war were not to be lost, it was felt that the national government must take charge of these states for a time. But that, said many, was contrary to the fundamental idea of the union, that the states must manage their own affairs. In this difficulty, many people declared that the southern states no longer existed as states, but simply as territories of the United States; others asserted that they were still states, but without the rights and functions of states, and that the central government could impose conditions at their restoration. This last was the theory generally adopted. The process of restoring the seceded states to their old position was called reconstruction.

Then came other questions: On what terms should they come back? Should these terms be easy or harsh? Who had the right to dictate what they should be, the president or congress? Finally and most difficult and most perplexing of all, what situation was the colored man to occupy?

593. Thirteenth Amendment. In regard to the colored man, one point had been quickly settled. An amendment to the constitution had been proposed by congress in Feb