The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-10

Decoration day, many speakers dwelt upon
the necessity of .honoring the dead by taking
care OF those who lost their support in the
country's service or were crippled so lar as 10
be unable to pursue the avoeatons from
which they were called by the voice Of duty.
These words should not be regarded as idle
rhetoric. That many of those who were dis
allied in battle and the families left behind by
others are frequently in want of the simplest
Comforts of lite, is fact we'll known, or may
b., il we do not shut our eyes to the fact.
Nor are thu Sc cases restricted to a small class
whose unthritty and perhaps Incorporate
b ibits are more misfortune than vice.
Who cannot recall within a limited range
OF acquaintance, families that before the
husband and father went to the field to re-
turn no mole, lived in easy circumstances,
hut are now pinched to live upon the proVl-
zion made by government, liberal as it is?
Who cannot recall the industrious man who
left his remunerative manual labor to return
20 manned by wounds or BROKEN by exposure
That he can no longer pursue it?
Leaving out the fact of physical suffering,
he now gets from the Government from IS to
$40 per month where he formerly earned
at least double the latter sum. To the shame
at those who are acquainted with the facts,
there are to-day in this State quite large
humber of this latter class who cannot exer-
else the privileges of citizenship at the annual
elections because they have been forced to
the humiliation of obtaining aid from the
towns. There are soldiers orphans in this
state that could not attend the public schools
Tor want OF clothing-and this in some in
stances where the family affairs were eco
nomically managed.
One has only to consider the case to see
that the statement is justified by the facts. :
In any of our villages where labor is scarce
Tor childsen, how far can the wolf be kept
from the door OH eight dollars month for a
widow and two dollars for each child under
sixteen years of age? Compare this aggre.
gate with the smallest sum that will secure
the common necessities of life, and see how
= large balance is left, and on which side Of
tlHaccount. The State has made provision
to supplement this sum when needed and il
that direction has done very efficient ser
vice. The amount of money thus expended
since the first enactment of the law has moi
averaged over $4,000 annually in the pen
sion department exclusive of the sum ex.
pended by the Board of Guardians. .a
The law was given very rigid construc
ton and the rules under it were made with
anege single to economy rather than prompted
by patriotism, so that the applicants had to ap
pear through the town officers and make oatl
that this State pension was actually needed
TO keep them from becoming town paupers
Ii They have friends upon whom TREY have
no legal claims, it is an objection to this Stat,
aid. Thus made up, the papers go to III,
State government. We do not know villa
the present practice is, but there has bee,
times when the amount granted has beef
considered as State gift and fixed with ;
parsimony that the people would gladly have
transferred to other matters.
We are not unminiful of the fact that there
is class of people who may look to the Gov
eminent for aid and who make the loudes
complaint, that would be poor with a forum,
at their call. We do not speak for these, bu
for hundreds OF families who are in,lus.rou
and economical, who will help themselve
and would not be in want if they had no
given their strength and support to the ma
ton. This class should never be allowed +,
become town charge. 1t may keenly mort
fy them, but it is an indelible disgrace to th,
community that so far forget themselves as Il
allow it. At. all times and by all propel
means, the patriotic citizen will aid them moi
at work OF charity but at small part of the
interest upon sum. he can never pay. Thi:
class do not come 10 us as supplicants. W.
have no right to feel that we are generous t.
Them NO MN, LIZ La; -