National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-14
The New York "Tribunc" Against the
Union Soldiers.

The New York Tribune was the paper
which shouted "On to Richmond" be-
fore our army was ready in 1861, and
which then denounced the Federal army
for having lost the fight it had precipi-
tated. II was the paper which later on
was most dogmatic and unreasonable
during the war.
IL harassed Mr.. Lincoln into writing
the letter in which he declared that he
was for saving the Union whether that
could best be done by destroying or con-
serving the institution of slavery. It's
editor was the unwisc Marplot who tried
to treat with the confederacy and offered
TO buy out the property in slaves. 1t
finally assumed the role of dicta-
tor, warning the Republican party not
to nominate for Office any member, how
ever worthy, against whom any calumny
had been uttered, and then proceeded, in
the same number, to pronounce calumnies
against aspirants. 1t went over to the
unreconstructed rebels in 1872 and advo-
Gated the election of Mr.. Greeley on Il
free-trade, Ku-KluX platform, and after
his defeat slandered him and his friends
and refused him chance to disclaim the
calumnies. denounced the Republican
party for endeavoring to suppress dis
orders in the South and altogether
behaved in the most devilish man
ner imaginable. In 1876 il declared
Tilden elected until Hayes sur
rendered to the Bourbons, and
in 1877 it subscribed to the overthrow of
the State government in South Carolina
and Louisiana. Its antecedents are in no
manner disturbed by its present violent
hostility to the payment of the pensions
promised to the soldiers of the Union.
The following from its issue of Saturday
is as vile as anything which appeared
in any Copperhead organ during the re-
bellion:
In every regiment, from the beginning of the
war to the end, there were some so-caled soldiers
who wAged war principally in the guard house or
the hospital; who never got out of one or the
other Of fthose safe retreats If they could help II,
except TO draw pay; who were n disgrace TO their
regiments and burden TO their country. These
creatures were not carried Of by hostile bullets.
They stood ten times the chance Of surviving
that any honest and loyal soldier stood, and most
of them did survive. The real soldiers, who went
down in battle or before disease, were able to
make their proof under the old laws prior to
the passage Of the arrears of-pcnsions act That
iniqutous measure was especially devised 10 fit
the needs ef those who could not prove anything
that stauuoh and faithful soldiers could. In many
thousand cases II did serve 10 enrich shirks and
dead-bcats and TO rob the Treasury Honest and
faithful soldiers there were, undoubtedly, who
were unable to prove just claims until this bill
passed and who have since been favored. The
real question is whether 1t was right to honor and
reward the cheats and the shirks as well and as
highly as the best and worthiest soldiers
What the Tribune has against the SOL
diers of the Union we know not, but we
do know that forged bond Of the United
States is as good an argument against
the national debt as is false pension
claim against the just claim of any claim
ant under the arrears-of-pensions act.
The Tribune is the representative of a
very small class in its raid against the
soldiers of the Union.