The National tribune., 1880-03-01

tanned All observing persons are well aware that
the plain working people of the country-the farm
ers, mechanics, artisans those who became the pri
Yates in the army and won the victores-are hap
PLY unlearned in those "ways that are dark and
tricks that vain practised by rings and cques
at Washington to flch money from the pocket of
the Government The private soldiers who present
claims for pension or bounty are generally men who
do not deeply dabbe in the dirty pools of politics
occasionally there is clear one--but pursue the
even tenor of their ways attending to their farms
and workshops and looking after the comforts of
their families; and scarce of these presents
claim without its being strictly honest one.
Even should he be prompted to inaugurate fraud
his fears tell him that the Government will speedily
discover it--that swift punishment is meted out to
all such as him, though those who steal thousands
almost surely escape
And again, the soldier knows full well of the
many delays incident to prosecution of his claim,
his dollars few, and he hesitates to eXpend
triRe towards gaining his honest and just dues from
a bureau whose motto is Kill the soldier by delay
and thus save the money for the Government"
Now, one of the crying evils existing at the Capital
the utter lack of power to direct legislation by and
in the interest of the masses Of the people. The
steam which drives legislation is let on or shut off
by a select band of engineers in order to facilitate
or stop the forwarding of any measure urged by
tain interests, who maintain attorneys and lobby
lists to push retard said interests. There is the
sugar interest the tobacco interest the paper inter-
est the iron interest, the hemp interest the National
bank interest, and probably hundred others in
operation But who constitute the ring to look after
the soldiers interest Who is here to urge the Pres
ident, Congress, the Commissioner of Pensions to
settle the 250000 debts due by this Govern
ment to the soldiers who saved it These be-
long to the poor, very poor, men - they never
attend the sessions of Congress- they have no money
to pay lobbyists, they form combination to
work with Members, they give no wine suppers to
make friends at Weckers the Arlington. No.
they far out on the praries of Kansas the noun
tains of Pennsylvania the forests of Kentucky, with
their families, oft struggling to secure bare ex-
istence. We have said the soldier has no repre-
sentative here to urge that justice shall be done in
his behalf Yes, if his claim has been presented
there is one---his attorney, who represents said
claim This agent is his collector, his friend, his
counsellor, and his vndicator
The Government, through Mr. Bentley seeks to
invadate the claim the soldier through his attor-
ney strives TO estaDllSn ana hus STRIVING ne brings
to light the record of the soldier all his deeds
of vaor the field, all his sufferings and priva-
tions. But we wander from the path intended, and
will close with the assertion that the testimony of
our Surgeon friend from Missouri is most honor
able vindication of the characters of American sol
diers, almost constantly being assailed by who
from the very nature of the position he holds should
be their warmest friend and most devoted cham
pion.