The National tribune., 1879-09-01
A Generous and Just Work for Officers.

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pecuniary interests of soldiers who have been un-
der their command Associated together in many
instances for years, enduring oft in common all the
the toll and suffering belonging to war, and strug-
Cling through veal or woe on behalf of cause
alike dear to both lively interest on behalf of each
other was naturally begotten, if not a real and en-
during friendship Not few of these officers we
imagine are indebted to the soldiers who served un
der them for their lives Stricken down by bullet
which appeared to have made mortal wound they
borne by the soldiers to place of safety and
surgeons speedily secured to administer to them
and removed to a near hospital, their faithful men
still attended them, and by assiduous nursing gave
them again renewal of life. We have no doubt
there thousand of instances this kind and not
unfrequently, we believe, General or a Colonel or
a Captain thinks " / wonder where Harry Thomas
and Frank Wilson and Ned Wilkins are now and
what they are doing They were the means of saw
ing my life. | would gladly reward them, if in nv
power Well sir, it Is within your power Harry
Thomas, Frank Wilson and Ned Wilkins are alive
and, thank God, well, but they are struggling in ad-
versity. A few hundred dollars each perhaps 800
would lift them out of the hands of the sheriff and
give them renewed hopes of prosperity. 1t is with
in your power to confer this boon upon them with
out removing dollar from your purse. You are
now perhaps Governor of State, Representa-
tives or a Senator in Congress- You are pol0er
Now Harry Thomas, Frank Wilson and Ned Will
kins, though they constitute the very life and
strength of the nation, not the who mould
public opinion shape legislation They are our
citizens who follow the pow, WELD, the axe, swing
the hammer, the CLOTH drive the plane or con-
troll the locomotive. La their humble cottages on
the farm in the village, they industriously and
unobtrusively pass their lives
the ming crowds ignoble strife
Their Their sober sob I wishes never learned % e stray
They keep the noiseless their way"
These men, as aforesaid, are uniformed of the
various methods used to influence the sentiments OF
the people, so that legislation shall be shaped in
their favor They, then naturally look to those
whom they regard intellectually superors-their
Generals, Colones, Majors and Captains of past
years whom they personally know see that justice
is awarded to them. To whom should private sol
der conscious that he has faithfully performed his
duty his country look but to his officers who were
cognizant of his deeds of valor and devotion? And
such being his feelings he now asks these officers tc
stand by him and their potent influence in his
behalf. We opine their call aodU not be u3aheeded
Brave men are almost ever generous-selfshness is
not the attribute of hero Well, the question now
above all Others in which the American soldier is
interested, is the passage of the Equalization Boun
ty Bill Fit goes through speedily, great bless
ing will come to the poor soldier, in many ways we
might recte. Here is really noble, praseworthy
work for prominent to engage in not only those
in civil life who have been officers during the rebel
on but those still holding positions in the regular
) army They can write and speak about the Justice
of this bill and urge its passage through Congress
until that body will be forced to put it through
They can raise their potent influence to urge for
ward this measure not only from motive looking
to the ends of justice but from a desire to reward
faithful comrades in arms who stood by them in bat
: tie and for years endured the hardships of war
Gentlemen, officers the Regular Army, of the Ar
k nv of the Potomac of the Army of the Cumberland