The National tribune., 1879-02-01
Partial Resumption.

the war cease to be promises, they are perform
ances We have evinced no disposition to repudiate
the enormous amount of bonds and greenbacks issued
during the war, and yet we have but partially re-
sumed Our legislation has been chiefly in the in
terest of the monied classes. Let recur briefly
to the past. Soon after the rebellion of 1861 COM
menced, we had exhausted the funds in the Govern
ment Golfers and were, in fact bankrupt nation.
Not dollar could be obtained at the Treasury for
any claim and when Secretary Chase, having con-
sent of Congress- launched forth his greenbacks upon
the country, general distrust and suspicion rested
upon them. Wal-street capitalists, and bankers all
the land, tanced the nation engaged in a strug
gle which might speedily eventuate in its complete
dissolution 1t was period that we look back to
almost with dismay for the Ship of State appeared
to be driving directly upon the inevitable rocks In
this sad condition of affairs, who promptly stepped
forward to our relief? The soldiers. When Presi-
dent Lincoln issued his first call for rs, 600 men,
hundreds of thousands volunteered They were
ready fight for $l3 per month in greenbacks; they
had faith in the Republic, and they determined to
uphold it.
Imbued with the spirit of those who left the marks
of their blood-stained feet at Valley Forge we be-
lieve they would have fought for their country ec
out reacard Their action and example infused new
life and courage into the nation 1t was discovered
by timid politicians and ukewarm millionaires that
the "pain people," as Lincoln called them, de-
termined to save the country. Suppose, for an in
stant that these Sl3 per month privates had stood
back and exclaimed: We will not fight in this
cause; we refuse to leave our wives and children
and homes; let the politicians and noted take
up the musket; it is no war of ours" We repeat
it, suppose the soldiers had thus declined TO
the Presidents call what now would have been
the status of the nation !? We can readily imagine.
genearl disintegration of the Republic, with
States which had belonged it, constantly at war,
as were those of Greece. Well, this action of the
soldier rallied the spirits of the people all the
land every one felt buoyed up by their strong
and stout hearts But, Notwithstanding the power
and numbers of the Union troops they met with
many reyerses. They fought against valiant men,
headed by Lee, a Jackson and Johnson. Regi-
ments were decmated and destroyed and fresh troops
took their places " When would the war end and
how would it terminate ~ were questions constantly
in every mouth. Government funds deprecated,
during our darkest days, to such degree that one
dollar greenback was worth but forty cents. Bonds
for enormous amounts were issued, bearing rate
of interest of six per cent which were paid for in
these greenbacks worth forty cents on the dollar
The soldiers deprived of all the comforts and pleas
ures of home, unmurmuringly performed their duty
though paid but mere pittance in deprecated
currency with which to add to their comfort in the
/ field or to send to their poor families and home,
while the bankers the spectators, and the contrac
tors reaping rich harvests, out of Government
funds and in supplying the wants of the army.
Surely here is strong equitable unquestionable
claim, due every Union soldier. The amount of it,,
however could not well be arrived at, but we think
that the bill equazing bounties which has already
passed the House of Representatives, will be deemed
by the soldiers proper method of settling their
claims. The faith of the nation is solemnly pledged
for the payment of this debt Every recruiting Off
Ger, in the regular and volunteer service promised