The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-04
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIos-ooMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
PENNSYLVANIA SUFFERERS.

From the NJ Y. Tribune
The State of Pennsylvania certainly cannot
be accused of being too tender a mother.
Some of her suffering bantlings in the shape
of Dutch farmers in Cumberland and Frank
lin counties have been crying out vehemently
of late for substantial comfort and recon-
pense for their losses in the war, bat so far
have received only hard raps instead of con-
ISOLATION. We cannot but consider these CON-
plainants hardly used. They are reported to
have always been a most inoffensve, respect
able, stationary body-a sort of ballast, In
fact, in American politics, voting steadily for
Andrew Jackson up to the time OF Lees inva-
sion, when they wakened to the fact that
there was difficulty in progress in the coun-
try, and Immediately took part in it by
making out bills of their losses from Union
and Rebel troops, which bills they now pre-
sent. Apart from this action, nothing could
have been more admirably pacific and con-
servative than their behavior.
The bills for their losses which they are
urging upon the State to pay and afterwards
collect from Congress, enumerate their de-
parted household gods with such pathetic
fidelity and disclose such devotion of sorrow
to their memory that the hardest heart must
be touched unawares.
There are tragical hints of domestic
affections and wounds for the future poet or
novelist. To 9. S., sufferer in McConnells
burg, the flag naturally was but bit of
bunting; the menaced Capitol he had never
seen; the Government meant the Squire 8
Office and taxes; but his new suit of clothes
which the buckwheat crop had paid for, and
the cut of which his sweetheart had praised
for how can you account for that odd five
cents unless by touch of sentiment? Why
talk of blood or glory to this sufferer? How
will the blood of a thousand battle-felds
wash out the loss of actual black cloth and
tailor's work? The nation may stand again
erect and free in the eyes of men, but how
does national glory cover @. Settlers bare
baokp
'We may have many happy years, and rulers just
But those black pantaloons are gone forever and
forever"
Pennsylvania seems inclined to turn deaf
ear to these Jeremiahs whose cry has come up
from her borders for year or more. They
encompass Harrisburg this winter, and GO
round about it, like the prophets of old; they
have cast dust upon their heads; their eyes do
fail with tears and their bowels are troubled
while they lift up lamentaton for their soap
and apple.butter The State, it SEEMS has
incumbered itself with pensions for their sol.
diers widows, and the education of their
orphans and feels these claims to be para
mount. But there is another way of regarding
tie subject, it appears to us. The lamentine
Dutch farmer might very justly state thai
those young men (and no State offered
more than Pennsylvania), who threw theii
lives and fortunes into the deadly breach
for love of country, or hatred of slavery, have
met with their reward They saved theii
country, and their sacred names and record
are in her keeping. They fought for an ides
and gained it, and they receive ideal wages
G. Seltzer, we are sure, does not want such
He and his compatriots had other business tc
attend to than the war; 1t was assuredly
against their will that their hams and new
hats left the peaceful fresides for the tented
field, or that the half barrels of mackerel have
sought and found the bubble reputation in
the cannon's mouth. These are sutferings
which can be estimated in dollars and cents
should not the just land of Penn pay the
debts, even though the pensions go unpaid
and the orphans schools be closed?