New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE NATIONS DUTY TO ITS SERVANT

~~~-s
THE NATIONS DUTY TO ITS SERVANTS.
GENERAL GRANTS RIGHT TO PLACE ON TIE
RETIRED LIST WITH THE PAY OF GENERAL.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR; Your remarks on the proposal to place
General Grant the retired list and the opinions as
cribed to Mr.. Blaine in interview reported in THE
TRIBUNE, are sound and right To o soldier the case
seems stronger perhaps than to q civilian. General
Grant up life position with large retiring pay,
pension provision 1t may be styled, because he
commanded by the sovereign people to perform tenn,
porary duty Of still higher difficulty than that he
then performing. To officer, veteran In service the
request OF the rghu superior Is order to be obeyed
without thought of danger to property fortune limb or
ife and General Grant obeyed the sovereign order
with little thought Of the ultimate consequences 60 him.
self. DurtNg the rebellion many officers Of the regula
army placed In higher commands than those at
trbuted to the commissions they held at the time Cap
tains of volunteers became colonies volunteer reRl
meDts generals OF brgades and divisions with tempo
rary commissions. If they became disabled to unfit
them for duty while holding those higher commands
they retired with the pay assigned by Congress to the
rank and command held when they were disabied But
II they passed through the without personal dsa
ability, they resumed their stations IN the regular army
and when retired by disability long service they have
the retired pay OF their rank in the regular army at the
time Of retirement. To Congress has given by
special law in consideration Of distinguished services
rendered. higher rank and pay retirement Is not
simple justice that when General Grant has completed
duty to which the people ordered him President
he should granted renewal Of the right to the per-
manent position rank and mOuments lie had earned
by good service on many Held and by exposure TO shot
and SHELF
The position of General of the Army was led by
tm Went nn bSner Two Generals in active command
are not in tunes or peace, needed at the head OF our
tate TO believe that General Grant ,ald not lose by
obedience TO he comand and by exc alton OF the tenn
pOrary duty to which ne ordered. and that his
name should he replaced the rolls OF the Army with
full rank of Generai And should It not carry also full
pay and emOlnmentsi No one doubts that IN case OF
cve during the remaining period OF his life or
active ability. hs services would again be called for IN
field or council for the OF the nation 1t may be
said that whatever his position, these services Will De
ayailabe but what piiiful, nggaily economy would
be that which SECURE OF professional services declines
topay retaining tee the means OF support to this
service than any American since Washington n.
Washington d. o., Jan. II. 1881.
THE WHTPPING-POST FOR WIFE-BEATERS
IT'S EMPLOYMENT URGED on THE GROUND OF HU-
MANITY.
TO the Editor or The Trtoune.
SIR: / thank Mr.. Bergh for his efforts to
the passage by the Legislature of bill for fog
ging wife heaters, and sincerely bope 1t may become
law The men who practise this brutality belong TO an
order OF human beings that should not be dealt with as
macfa,tors As their crime exceptional so
should their punishment be exceptional. Let them be
marked men,
know more Elective means Of putting stop TO
their than that proposed by Mr. Bergh The
present method Of punishment Imprisonment, s worse
useless II not only does the evil but it
often utl upon the offenders victim greater punish
ment than h. receives, for imprisonment prevents him
from earning FOR the injured woman the maintenance
that he Is lund to provide SO that while ho ia we'll
cared for prison. his stricken WIFI and not nfequenty
his children IRE lett destitute. IL thus comes TO pass
that IN some the wicbeaer sc0t-ree be-
cas the either does not ask his arrest or
pleads his discharge, while her words and her
battered face establish his guilt for she fears another
demon vet more cruel than husband the demon OF
Lung.r The me hod. il ADOPTED. will stop
mis- nu-ic", and will, moreover, inhlct
moi mere nOn,in'l. but an ac-
iupl pun hmrn AT once plUul and di. graceful This
bl l. II, pu 1t IL not lob; is enact
nru gd IL the interest Of any Inrty. clique or
liitg hut IN TIE name OF our common humanity. II Gp
that sent rnf OF chiYarOus res;ect Tor woman
inherent IN Americans. -
The testing the efficacy OF the proposed law will
nsgnitcant ShOnd IL appear, after trial. made
tue evil against which it h directed,
her measures resurtcd TO. should 1t yrove
ssnl suit Will rid the Empire State or re-
p ac rrndy long borne. aud greatly crafty those
f ucr cifZ IL who believe, most OF them do, that
:" lie VINO lays his hard uron woman,
Save ~ thr way Of Kindness. IL a wretch
WUOin I MPrc grnS- nltteTy 10 name "a coward"
Netr- York JaL. 26. 1881 LLOYD