Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-05-07
WHY Is NOT THE PAY OF SOLID.
ERS INCREASED

Gentleman from Africa demands all
their time aud attention. In fact when an
effort has been made in Congress TO in.
crease the pay of soldiers, the radical
members have been the most determined
opposers Of the bill and as they ruled in
both Houses Of Congress the bill has been
kicked out of the way by these Union
spltters to make room for bills to eman.
cipate, educate, feed. and clothe the
negro. If an increase of soldiers pay is
mentioned, it Is urged that the Govern.
ment is unable to do it, and that the most
rigid economy must be practiced by the
country to keep US from national bank
ruptcy. Yet, millions Of dollars is voted
perhaps the same day to ameliorate the
condition Of the African.
This seems strange, when we hear the
abolition speakers and press so loudly
proclaimiug their love and sympathy for
our gallant soldiery. On every occasion
the soldier is reminded Of the wonderful
love and sympathy that good old father
Abraham feels for them. Yet. this kind
old liietd Of theirs has never seen fit to
remind the law making power Of the nation
Of he duty they were under to remember
our country's brave defenders, and see
that they received an adequate compensa
ton for the important services they have
rendered the country in its hours of fear.
tll peril. Perhaps honest old Abe has
been so engvossed with the cares and du.
ties Of his position that he has entirely
forgotten the fact that the soldier had any
claims upon the country. Perhaps he was
not aware that the soldier had loved ones
at home dependent upon him for support;
and that the trifing compensation that he
received for his services was entirely mad
equa,e for furnishing them with the bare
accessories Of life.
VIVA: is thirteen dollars a month
towards supporting even small family in
these times? In fact it will not clo,he a
family Of three persons decenNy; and were
It not for the charity of the public the
gauDt finger Of Famine would have chilled
the life blood Of thousands of dear ones
whose images are mirrored in the soldiers
heart. He sees ia dreams as he slumbers
in the dead hour of night in the lonely
camp. amid the malarious swamps Of the
Soulh-pinched with hunger, aud SILVER.
ing with cold, the forms Of those whom
hs loves better than iile And when
charity step in and relieves the wants that
bis s"als earnings will not supply, be is
Inundated with the thought that his wife
and children like beggars, are dependant
upon the cold charity of the public for
support He has heart, and though it
beats under his shoddy blue his love is
just as strong aud pure, and his feeling
just as sensitive as the shoddy contractor
and the rest Of the ccrmoranss, who are
INDUCING in gorgeous equipage and luxu.
rious living, purchased at the price Of the
soldiers blood and tears, the cold, suffering
and hunger Of his wife and little ones.
Great God! Why is this? Why will
Congress and the Administration neglect
and refuse to increase the pay of the soldier
when they know that the miserable pit.
lance he gets will not keep his family from
starring, unless charity steps in and saves
the victim.
1t is urged by some that the large boun.
ties that were offered made the soldiers
pay sufficient, Tut this applied only to
newly enlisted men, and did not assist
those war-worn veterans, who more than
any others, were entitled 10 receive such
increased pay.
Wages in every department of industry
and trade has risen in proportion to the
greatly increased price of the necessaries
of life; but the soldier Is the exception to
this rule. The thirteen dollars month
might have been fair wages when the war
first broke out ; but at present, taking into
consideration the high rates Of living and
the depreciation Of orr national currency,
the pay the soldier is receiving is equiva-
lent to only about four dollars and eighty.
.Jfre cents a month! Yet, notwithstanding
all this, We are told that the party con.
trolling this Government is the only true
friend of our soldiery. Friend indeed!-
When that party power draws you from
your homes and makes you target for
the enemy to shoot at for only fire dollars
a month II that is friendship we ac-
knowledge we have wrong impression Of
the significance Of the word.
When short time ago the Democratic
members Of Congress passed resolution
Declaring that those employed in the army
aud navy should be paid ia gold and silver
or their equivalent, the cry was at once
raised tina. this was a Copperhead meas.
are! That it was gotten up 70 defea. and
embarrass tho Administration in It's at.
49,