The National tribune., 1882-08-19

tied to draw pension uIuli SIo Iedcleu thc
are of sixteen. But why did it set that
limit? Simply in recognition of the princi-
pie that the Government was bound to sup
port her until she was able to support her
self, and that was the age at which, under
ordinary circumstances, it would be possible
for her to do so. The obligation clearly
extended to the time when the pensi0ner
would be no longer dependent upon the
Government for livelihood, and it is
equally clear that it could not be regarded
as discharged until that condition had been
reached. To arbitrarily withdraw its sup
port when the pensoner was sixteen years
old, without reference TO her ability to earn
q living at that age, while in keeping with
the letter of the law, was plainly, therefore,
a gross violation of its spirit, and no fair
minded man can regard it as otherwise.
Technically the Government may claim to
have fulfilled its contract, but practically it
has not done what it was the design of the
law that it should do, namely, support the
pensioner until she should be able to support
herself In repensioning her now, therefore,
the Government would be only carrying out
its own compact with her, which, in point Of
equity, it had no right to suspend in the
first instance. Is it bad precedent for the
Government to honorably discharge its obi
cations? If so, that is triumph of states
manship with which we are not very well
acquainted.
But it may be said that what makes this
bad precedent is simply the fact that if
followed, it will involve the Government in
further expense on account of pensions. All!
1t is q question of money then, and not of
Justice. The Government ought to pay its
debts, but it can't afford to! If that be the
case, wouldn't it be well to appoint re-
ceiver? The claims of the soldier and his
widow and orphans are surely as righteous
as those of the bondholder, and if the Gov
ernment is too poor to pay both, let us have
a settlement by all means and an account
ing to its creditors As matter of fact
everybody knows that the Government has
surplus of S150,000,00O in its Treasury and
its revenues are steadily increasing. The
plea of poverty will not hold water.
But what is there left, then, of this argu-
ment concerning the danger Of setting bad
precedent? Apparently nothing, and we
must confess to a feeling of intense surprise
that it was ever brought forward 1t is
inconceiyable that Senator Logan, who has
always hitherto shown the greatest concern
for the interests of our ex-soldiers, should
have advanced it as the result of mature
consideration, for the same line of reasoning
would place him in opposition to the Arrears
of Pensions Act, which, as a matter of fact,
however, he advocated with all the ability
ord "'~o---- at his command. His fellow
SOLD lie State of Illinois should lose
no nvincing him of his error.
a. tor Hawley, it is not so surpris-
fr. i'm antagonizing the measure,
sE .ious that like Senator Beck he
,.s,..>.s 49, -rrears of Pensions Act as CON
ceived in iniquity," and even moved to lay
on the table the ingalls, resolution reaffirm-
ing its justice; but there is no excuse for him
when he goes out of his way to misrepresent
our ex-soldiers, as he does when he insinu-
ates that they are opposed to the granting
of pensions in such cases as that under con-
sideration. We say he is without excuse,
for the record shows that the Grand Army
itself petitioned Congress to grant the pen
sion and there is not single protest on file
against it. 1t is high time, indeed, that such
insidious misrepresentation of the real SEN
timents of our ex-soldiers should be put an
end to and the authors publicly rebuked.
Senator Hawley knows perfectly well that
his comrades are in favor of the measures
which he saw fit to oppose and in asserting the
contrary he has grossly insulted them. WedO
not dispute his right to speak or vote against
pension measures which do not commend
themselves to his judgment, but we submit
that he has no claim to be considered the
mouth piece of our comrades generally.
The columns of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
are open to them; let them speak for them
selves!
WHEN the soldier left his happy freside
and shouldered his musket i'll defense of his
country, the Government that asked him to
serve consented to pension him in case of
disability honorably incurred in that service,
or, in the event of his death, to provide for
his widow and orphans. How has that cove
nant been kept? The answer will come from
many suffering household.