The National tribune., 1882-03-11
The National Tribune.

this week the appearance of metropolitan
journal. In making these improvements,
which have involved an expenditure OF
$4,000, the proprietor has been influenced
by several important considerations.
In the first place, he believes that TIE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE has become n necessity
to the ex-SoldierS of the Republic. The
daily press, where it is not openly hostile,
manifests singular indifference to their
interests, and but for the vigor and skill
with which this journal has reiuted the
ISLANDERS which have been sown by lead
ing metropolitan newspapers throughout
the length and breadth of the land,
the efforts that have been made to Sc
cure the repeal of the Pensions Arrears
Act and defeat all prospective pension
legislation, might long ago have proved
successful. Eternal vigilance is the price of
Congressional justice to the pensioner as well
as liberty, and it was never so essential rs
now, when the enemies Of the soldier are
active and aggressive and every proposition
for compensating him for his services in the
war is made the occasion of fierce and
bitter struggle.
Among the measures now pending in Con-
greSs or that are about to be submitted TO it,
are many of the highest Importance to the
soldier. Our National Assembly viii be
asked, for instance, to make such an increase
in the clerical force of the Pension Bureau
! and the Surgeon-Gencral and Adiutant-
| Generals Offices as Will insure speedy action
upon the enormous number of claims that
have accumulated on the regular files,
and it is of vital consequence that this
appeal should be granted. ITE NATIONAL
/ TRIBUNE will faithfully voice the scnti-
mentS of our veterans in this matter, and il
! it enjoys their cordial support it Is confident
! OF ultimate success. 1t is also much to be
| desired that Congress should enact a statute
making it perjury to give false testimony
against the soldier, so lis to protect the latter
! against the personal malice OF witnesses,
and great interest is felt in the bill which
| Representative Bingham, of Pennsylvania,
has introduced, to grant pension Of $40
per month to each soldier of the late war
who lost leg, arm, foot, hand, or sustained
an equivalent disability in the service.
Without a public journal to set forth the
justice of these measures and continually
press them upon the attention of Congress
and the country at large, the chances for
their passage would be slender indeed. It is
because TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has
become such a necessity to the soldier that
It's proprietor has undertaken such costly
improvements, and he relies upon the active
cooperation of all who wore the Blue to
extend It's circulation, widen It's influence,
and increase its usefulness
In the second place, he has been impelled
to this new departure by the growing inter
est in war literature and Grand Asny news,
which is shared by many who took no part
in the late war. The close relations which
exist between THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
and lis subscribers and the extent OF its cor
respondcnce, covering as it does every section
of the country, give it such an advantage
over any other journal that it is able to
gauge public opinion in these respects with
unerTing precision. In order to meet the
wishes Of its readers, arrangements have
been perfected for the publication OF series
Of brilliant military papers written eapeci- .
ally for it by some of the most distinguished
officers Of the Regular and Volunteer army F.
and the first of these from the pen Of Gen .
Rosccrans, will be found in the present num- F.
Der. They will form a unique and most
attractive feature, and Will alone he well
worth the subscription price of the paper
In the affairs of the Grand Army THE /
NATIONAL TRIBUNE has always taken the
most active interest, and nowhere can there |
be found such a complete summary of the .
news relating to that noble organization rs
is contained in its columns. twill endeayor
TO make this department still more attrac- /
tive in the future, and in the present issue
viii be found an admirable article from the |
pen of the Commander-in-Chicf of the |
Grand Army, general George s Merrill.
In conclusiot, it may not he out of place to .
publish, as an indication of the esteem in .
which TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE is held by |
those whose esteem is worth having, the .
following significant letters:
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Send me The NATIONAL TRIBuNuto Law
renee, Mass. The bold advocacy by The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of the rights OF the
soldier clIcits my hearty approval.
Keep on rs you have begun, and do not
consider your work accomplished until every
lSoldicr who is entitled TO a pension receives
il, and every soldiers widow and every sol
dicr's child are provided for by the Govern
ment.
GEO. S. MERRILL.
Amy paper which champions the cause of
the pensOncr or the applicant for pension,
who, having in the days of 81 to % never
stODDcd 10 count the cost in blood SUFFERING