National Republican., 1873-01-28
TnE sOLDIHns LAND-GRAD BILL.

Perhaps we owe an apology to our readers
or referring to this subject so often, but the
magnitude and magnihcence of the steal pro-
posed by the bill In regard thereto now pend
ing In the Senate must be our excuse. In
another column we print q communication
from the advocates Of the measure, In which
II Is attempted to reply to a recent diverse
criticism OF the blll In this journal md In the
Cincinnati Gazette. The communicat on In
question Is not signed by any one responsible
or otherwise, being in that respect like all
tho other communications that have been sent
US on the subject. We have made ro-
peated efforts TO get the names Of the
phllanthropists who are at tho bottom Of II,
and who are so industriously lobbying Il
through Congress, but thus far have been
entirely unsuccessful. This Is only one Of the
many suspicious circumstances surrounding
the affair. From time to time we receive
communications from unknown cOrrespOn-
dontS, neatly written on elegant paper and
Of excellent penmanship, in favor OF this bill;
we receive pamphlets written on tho same
subject, full Of patriotism, of professions Of
the slncerest friendship for the soldier and
the sailor, but never q name. Why Is III II
these gentlemen are, as they say, working
only for the benefit and the advantage Of the
soldier; II their motives are entirely disinter-
ested, why do they not come out Of their OBJ
scurity into the light OF day and let the public
and the country know who they are Why
this concealmentS OF what are they
ashamed; Of whom are they afraid II their
motives are all that they say they are2
The principal points III the communication
printed elsewhere arc:
/. II the bill should pass all the land will
not come into the market at once.
2. A company Is now being formed In this
city who will assist soldiers to settle on the
lands and loan them money.
3. A large number Of petition, have been
presented In Its favor, aud,
I. II the Republican editors do not support
1t, but on the contrary arc opposed to 1t, (as
they undoubtedly are, and II that fact may
DO taken as the sentiment Of tho leaders OF
the Republican party, 1t only shows that the
Republican leaders are ungrateful, and have
Incurred tho displeasure Of our coTre-
spondents-the land-grabbers.
We have no desire Just now to answer more
than one Of the points in the communication,
viz; number two, which Is, briefly, that a
company Is now being formed in this city who
will advance money to those who may be-
come entitled to land under the bill, II II
shall become law. Now, we should like
to know the names OF the gentlemen com
posing the company. Let these patriotic
and dlsinterested gentlemen stand ior'h that
we may know who they are. Let us know at
what rate of interest they propose TO invest
their money; what securities they will de-
lnand, and what time they will givei his
fact alone justihes all that we have said In
opposition to the bill. This company, II the
bill should beco;re law, will not only, In all
probability, swlndle the soldier out Of the
land. but will swiudle him out Of years of
labor and toll, and reap the reward Of his
exertioDs and OF tbs oIertions Of his family.
It Is, we suppose, only the forerunner Of
numerous other companies In other cities and
sections Of the Union. Please give us their
names, that wo may know whether they
Justly come within these structures or not,
With this light to guide It, We do not soc how
the Senate can pass the bill.