The National tribune., 1881-08-27

Scarcely more than twenty years have passed
by since the Flag, so dear to every loyal heart,
fired upon at SUMTER and those who trained
the guns against it and sought to humble it in
the dust were men who owed it their allegiance.
The roar of hostile cannon awakened the Ma
tion from its dream of peace and the cry for help
went up to heaven, and was flashed over the wires
almost simultaneously with the news that armed
rebellion had actually begun
Then, from every city and hamlet throughout
the North and West, came the quick response.
The merchant left his countng-house; the stu
dent his books; the mechanic his workshop; the
farmer his plow, and hastened to the capital. The
youth and strength of the and-the bravest and
best-gave up home, friends, everything man holds
dear to succor their country in the hour of need
As the magnitude of the struggle became more
and more apparent another and another call was
made, until at the last, the spirit of freedom
could count almost. if not quite a million of men
in arms for her defense.
These men, many of them, had left lucrative
situations-rem employments-nOt for
the sake of gain for the monthly stipend offered
them was less than they could have earned at
home,) but for sake of the principles involved.
Yes, politicians may scout and doubt, and skep-
tics may laugh and attempt to cast ridicule upon
the idea, but yet this fact remains there was
patriotism in those days-patriotism as pure as
the world has ever seen-patriotism that prompt
oI tO hp dear
ones depending upon them for support to mingle
in wars most bloody strife. Yes, in spite of all
mercenary motives (which doubtless actuated
many patriotism filled the army-patriotism
won the victory.
The loyal people of the land understood this at
the time, and, realizing the sacrifices these men
were making instructed their Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress to make some provision
for them in addition to that already existing.
Congress acting under those instructions, passed
bounty laws for such as should volunteer or who
had already done so, and pension laws for those
who might become manned, and for widows or
orphans of those cut off by the sad misfortunes of
war
The soldiers themselves asked for no such meas
ures they were the voluntary offerings of the
non-combatants, so to speak-of those who pre-
ferred to stay behind and pay the cost rather
than 90 to the front and do the fightng-and
more than all else, those laws were substantial
recognition, on the part of a grateful Nation, of
services the full value of which was and is past
estimate
The highest bounty offered to any was only
sufficient to yield, with the stated pay of pri-
vate soldier, the magnificent sum of twenty-one
dollars per month"; less than the price during the
war of a common field hand following the peace
full pursuits of agriculture;} and even that small
bounty so hedged in by restricting provis-
ions that many, though deserving failed to get it.
For twenty y-one dollars per month"; then, in
Guiding the offered bounty, men expected
TO risk their lives not for themselves alone, but
for the millions who remained behind in safety.
For about $500 in all, men were expected to
give up their avocations blot out from their lives
three peaceful years, and stand up to be shot at,
to be made crppes Of or to be killed, that their
neighbors who remained at home might enjoy the
fruits of the war without ncurring the dangers.
When the war ended the Nation was saved;
and its living defenders disbanded and per-
mitted to return to their homes to pick up again,
if possible, the thread of their old lives let fafl
when they became soldiers. The disabled through
disease contracted in the service, and the manned
previously discharged and whose only means Of
support depended upon their own labor were
ready for the poorhouse or a paupers grave, and
those who had died during the years of strife
were almost ready to be forgotten.
Public opinion, however, did not Immediately
grow altogether calous. The Additional Bounty /
Act, and the laws providing for an increase of
pension, evidence this fact but vet it rapidly /
hardened.
Opportunities for doing justice to those who .
put down the rebellion presented themselves
and were allowed to pass by, almost without
thought and the time soon came when the
wealth of the Nation-those who were so free to
counsel the granting and furnish the means for
paying bounties during the period of danger, re-
fused to entertain any proposition calculated to
draw upon their purse-strings for the soldiers
benefit Not only did they protest against fur