The National tribune., 1882-03-18
The Soldiers Enemy.

policy of the New York Tribune when its
founder. Horace Greeley, directed its for
tunes, few persons could be found who ques-
toned its honesty or patriotism. There was
q ringing independence in its editorial utter
ances, and its honesty being recognized among
the loyal masses throughout the country,
the paper gained a wide circulation and Its
influence for good was felt throughout the
length and breadth of the land. Since the
death Of Mr. Greeley, however, the fortunes
OF the Tribune have been steadily waning,
and after the paper passed under the control
Of Jay Gould, the unscrupulous railroad
manipulation, and became the organ of the
mopeyed kings of Wall Street, it appears,
like them to have lost even the semblance OF
respectability. 1t is not, therefore, to be Won
dered at that we find it devoting columns of
space to the discussion of pension questions,
containing not only misrepresentation as to
the actual condition of affairs, but the most
unbushing falsehoods. The malicious and
venomous attacks of the Tribune upon Pres
ident Garfield were no more uniustifiable
nor disgraceful than its persistent assaults
upon the men whose patriotism and courage
saved the Union. Controlled, however, as
the Tribune is, by a knavish monopolist who
cannot find in espousing the righteous cause
of the soldier any prospective pecuniary
profit, it is not surprising to find that men
dacious journal using its every effort TO
grind the faces of the poor by urging upon
Congress the repeal of the Arrears OF Pension
Act: nor is it any more astonishing to find,
in its futile attempts to secure repeal OF
that act, that it resorts to the most specious
arguments ard puts forth the most notorl-
ously false statements in the hope OF lntiuenc-
ing congressional legislation on the subject.
Mr. Gould cannot get up corner" on
pension claims for the very simple reason
that Congress, i'll its wisdom, has enacted
laws that protect, in the amplest manner, the
soldier-both before and after his claim has
been audted--from extortionate fees, which
not even the cunning of the great monopolist
can circumvent Hence it is very easy TO
understand the policy being pursued by his
organ. Mr. Gould has no sympathy for the
men to whom to-day ne owes, indirectly at
least. his colossal fortune. The sufferings
of the soldier caused by the long delay in
securing his claims against the Government,
the Justice of which has been recognized by
Congress, do not touch the hearts of such
men as Jay Gould. There is no money in it
for these avaricious knaves!
But we are glad to see that the effect Of
this outrageous abuse of thesoldier-this per-
sistent effort to prevent him from obtaining
IN adjustment of his long standing debt
against the Government he served so faithful
ly. is beginning to be felt by the journal that
once welded such great political influence.
Known, as it now is, as the organ of Gould
in b0lstering up his schemes to still further
enrich himself. no matter at what cost to the
poor man; the thin disguise with which
the paper covers its false arguments readily
penetrated, and the equally unblushing men,
iacity with which it treats other questions
in it's efforts to serve its masters. have earned
f,r .I,o T,.Juro y raru+af;Oo os ,InepyiahIe as
its most bitter opponent could possibly de-
sire. A very large portion of its constit-
ucncv in former years was composed of the
soldier element, but within a comparatively
recent period that support has almost en-
tirc!v Withdrawn from it, and in the West,
especially, its circulation has steadily de-
creased until now il numbers scarcely more
its readers. To counteract the effect of such
malicious falsehoods as the Tribune is con-
stantly uttering is our primary object. The
soldiers interest is the interest of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and mis- cause is our
ttllSc. AZ IL tiIllt piCSCIlli WITCH
country is being flooded with the most bare
faced lies on the subject of pensions, the
necessity of their emphatic denial is clearly
apparent. and we are glad to see that our eff
orts in that connection are fully appreciated.
The Anti-Chinese Bill.
THE unanimity OF sentiment in favor of the