The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-07-11
ssmethinx netter Thnn Word.

Tux soldiers cannot complain q the generosity
Of the country towards them, 90 far as expressions
q gratitude, sympathy aud respect are concerned.
They coms bono from tho war, where they bhvo
brsvely risked their lives. and encountered untold
br1sh'ps and privshons in the service q their
country, and are told, IN An cSuberan, vein Of
patriot SIN, that "ths nation owes them debt
which IL can never pay" We strongly suspect ths,
these hron,s1 veterans whose military experience
has Diverted them of al romance and sentimental
i,y, and who now look upon .niugs ins practical
light would very much prefer 10 SEE some tangible
proof that there disposition on the part OF Lhet
sdmirng counrymeu, 70 pay The a'oress debt
Expressions q pr.iis ADD gratitude are very vel
in their way, bat they are not current IN the
market. Tho sollisr who h,s bsen nws5 hshiing
for he Union, vlls those 81 homo have been en-.
toying In, RI, .sur.s Of lie aud making money, T.
pier sd " hear his services eSioIsl' buI
he doubtless thinks that 10 pr,cuesl nianioHahon
Of gratitude would he quito appropriate NJ" tho
Government m ghl Two tie soldiers . subsauth
evidence Of It's gratitude for their service. without
entanng any expenditure u money, and in sith a
way that both the soldiers ara ,hsconniry 81 large
would he greatly benefited. We propose this pol.
icy that the Government, by Congressional Az
thoriiy, shall gran, to every soldier who has hon
orally served in the army and To the heirs Of those
who are deceased, q quarter section Of the bes,
Government land m The territories This would
10 nothing than an &C, OF justice to tie sol
diers who we're only nominAly paid or hsir scr
vices ~ the monthly stipend which lhey received.
II would d. DO in sccordAnce with precedent, for
the soldiers Of tho Revolution, Of the war Of
1912, and Of the heIcan war, oil received do.
nations Of land. n this suggestion 10 con-
sdsrod solely In the Lgni Of natlonal self
interest," IL will 10 found desirable. The
lands owned by ths Government ia the territories
cannot oil DO settled in century by the ordinary
prosress d emigr. ion, and (. the development Of
each acre Of hat land adds to tie nsu5nal wealth,
IL 10 importAn, Vat II should be made productive
a. rapidly a. possible Tho Government price OF
land is one dollar sd twenty eve cents an acre,
but these lands arc not available wealth, hociusc
they must Hrst be developed by labor. SUPPOSE,
then, that by giving 10 cnch soldier one hundred
and nxiy acres Of land, this unprodue,ys wealth
should 90 brought into the market Few years
earlier than II Otherwise would be- It's benefits 10
tho country in that Imo would more tHau ooun-
,srbalane0 tho one dollar and twenty Ave cents per
acre which is tho nominal price for ii. The great
obJoc, Of the Government now TIA! tie rebellion is
ended, should be 10 developo these resources, and
by no doing add 70 the greatness OF tho country,
aud facilitate the pAymen, u the na,ion,l debt
ny land grants to the soldiers, conveying to them
tho lands most available for development a. The
pr..en, time, an important, step in this direction
would 10 taken, and the soldiers would thereby
receivs practical expression Of gratitude which
hey rould mosl highly sppreciate.