The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-20
WEDNESDAY. July %. 1881.
AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL
AgRUUM

We have the profoundest respect for the
Soldiers and sailors who have been physically
wounded and disabled while defending the
interests and honor of the nation. Their pa
triotism Is sttested by deeds, which always
speak louder than professions; and with less
TO gain, and more to sacrifice, than q majority
Of their fellow-citizens who take no part in
the perils OF war for the national welfare,
they seldom look for any other reward than
the approval Of their own consciences and the
grateful regard of their countrymen. Until
this unhappy civil conflict, the United States
had but few lnvallded soldiers and sailors
to take care of, and hence q small naval and
military asylum here and there has sutiiced TO
make entirely comfortable all the brave and
worthy valetudlnarians whose honorable scars
or broken constitutions were won In heroic
encounters with the enemies of " the Stars
and Stripes" either on the land or the ocean.
But the Southern Rebellion has necessarily
wrought a marvellous change in our army
and navy. II has vastly increased both In
men and material Of all kinds, and the saddest
result of the unnatural strife consists in the
fearful numbers Of crippled patriots who have
been added to our military and naval pension
roll within the last three years and half.
These now helpless and most deserving per
sons must be promptly and adequately pro-
yided for by the nation, and there Is, we ven
ture 10 assert, not single truly loyal and
sympathetic bosom in all this land that will
not cordially respond to any proposition for
affording them prompt, generous, and per-
manent relief during the remnant of their
days.
Small and temporary local hospitals, such
rs we now have, win not answer the emer-
genGy. They are well enough in their way
and have been OF incalculable benefit to the
sick and mutilated heroes who are carried to
them for medical treatment directly from the
battle-Helds. But what the future will de-
mand when the war is over is not hospitals,
but homes for the decayed soldiers and
sailors Of the country. That requsition will
be most satisfactorily met by one grand
national asylum, ample and commodious
enough to lodge all the totally disabled
soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of
the United States, and with grounds of such
extent as viii allow the inmates freedom
enough for exercise out of doors, and even
supply the establishment with farm produce
enough to satisfy all its own wants.
Other nations have long since created such
sanctuaries for the brave men who have grown
old or become invalided in their military ser.
vice. But none, not excepting either France
or England, have yet erected any such institu-
tions as our present and prospective necessi-
ties win call for.
We are glad TO see, therefore, that memo
rial is now in circulation fer signature, which
petitions Congress for an appropriation to
found and support "National Home" of the
kind we have described, and we subjoin II
here In order that our readers may be aware
of what is proposed to be done, and be put il
the way of giving the sanction of thei
names, at least, TO 30 meritorious and benevo
lent an enterprise. The memorial reads a
follows:-
q" To the Senate and House of Representatives i
+" Congress assembled
" The undersigned citizens of the United State
1" respectfully represent that the interests OF tn
+" country, in their Judgment, require the passag
'' OF bill appropriating money for the foundin
and support Of National Home for Total
- Disd6ld Soldiers and Sailors or the Army an
/" Navy OF the United States.
" Your memoriallsts, therefore, respectful
ask Congress 70 make sultaOIe appropriation
"or 10 take such other action in reference to th
g. subject as the Representatives of the people an
" the States shall deem proper to promote a
object of such vast national importance, and {
pregnant with the interests OF thousands {
citizens of the Union who have given all the
I" best energies to their country, and who hay
e been rendered helpless by such devoted &c
vice"
Before Congress next meets, the peop
everywhere should sign this appeal, and "
have no doubt that the national legislatul
will cheerfully and literally respond to it.
is said that an ample site for the projectc
asylum, with some buildings, has already bee
secured on the left bank of the Hudson, fe
IL