The National tribune., 1882-11-16
The Next Congress.

! ueLt, UT, lHSSHSlDle TO all enLTedtieS, ueny
them consideration? That is the question,
and in our judgment the sort of answer that
will be returned to it will depend to a great
extent upon the steps which our veterans
see fit to take in the meantime to bring
their cause to the attention of the members
elect. Unless convened in extra session, the
| next House will not assemble until Deem
Der of next year and ample time will there
fore be afforded for ascertaining the senti-
ments of each Congressman in regard to
bringing to bear upon all who are open to
| conviction every possible argument in favor
serious mistake if they imagine that change
in the political complexion of the House OF
Representatives necessarily involves the
overthrow of the principles for which they
have been contending. 1t is true that among
the candidates who failed of reelection on
Tuesday of last week were some who had
earned the right to be considered the true
friends of the soldier, and that their voices
and votes will be sadly missed in the next
House, but as we have frequently pointed out
the issue between our ex-soldiers and Con-
gIess is not one of partisan politics. and it
is of small consequence to them which party
is in the majority, provided that our Con-
gressmen are individually disposed to give
their cause fair hearing. We know that
among the new members elected by Demo-
cratic votes are some warm advocates of
soldiers rights, and should an attempt be
made to draw party lines on any question
affecting their interests, we feel sure that it
will meet with immediate and emphatic
condemnation. The truth is that no pOliti-
cal party can any longer afford to ignore
the soldier. AS compared with two years
ago, when there was lack of all Organiza
ton among our comrades to secure the re
cognition of their claims, the situation is
decidedly cheering. Cur veterans are be-
ginning to awake to a consciousness sf their
power The movement which was recently
inaugurated in New York to compel the en-
forcement of the law touching the employ
ment of ex-soldiers and their widows aud
orphans in the civil service of the country.
is striking proof of this fact, and the sue
cess which has attended it will undoubtedly
| be productive of a more res0lute spirit
among our comrades generally hereafter
Unity of action has from the first been all
that was needed to secure to our ex-soldierS
the respectful consideration of their claims
and what it has accomplished in the case in
question is but triile in comparison with
what it is sure to achieve in other directions
A whole year, as we have said, will
probably elapse before the Congressman
elacted last week will be called upon
to legislate for the Nation, and in
that time our veterans will have album
dant opportunity to make themselves heard.
What they should do is to address them
selves personally to the work of acquainting
our representatives. elect with the merits Of
the measures whose passage is desired at
their hands, as also the real state of public
opinion in regard TO them. They may rely
on The NATIONAL TRIBUNE not only to
second their efforts, but to lead the advance,
and no time ought to be lost in falling into
line Wepropose to force the fighting, and we
call upon our comrades to rally to cur sup
port. There is scarcely city, town, village
or post-oflice, from Maine to California,
which THE TRIBUNE does not reach, but to
accomplish the full measure gifts mission, its
voice should be heard in the home of every
ex-solder in the land. We have said that
organization is essential to the successful
maintenance of soldiers rights, and we say
now that there is no organization so effective
as that which subsists between q great news
paper and its readers. 1t not only fur
nishes medium for the interchange OF
views and opinions, but constitutes most
potent instrument for the expression of the
popular will. The time is long past when
it was necessary to discuss the influence OF
the press That is q power which every one
now admits to be irresistible, when exercised
in behalf of righteous cause, such as
that which THE TRIBUNE has espoused.
But to exert the full measure of its force,
the press must receive the support of public
opinion. The power of newspaper is di-
rectly proportionate to the number of its
readers, and that is why it is essential that
our ex soldiers should concentrate their