davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
A Part of the War Debt.

Enough nonsense has been written and
spoken about the pending Equalization of
Bounties bill to Eli volume of the Congress
iondl Record. It has been denounced as
mere device of the claim agents to plunder
the Treasury, a job to give gratuity to every
ex-soldier, another river and harbor steal,
&C., &C., whereas, in point of fact, it is SIM
ply measure to make good the promises of
the Government of the United States
to its volunteer soldiers, given at time
when it had the most urgent need of their
services, and accepted by them in perfect
confidence that they would be kept. 1t does
not create any new obligation; its sole
object is to discharge one of long-standing
Under it the soldier will not receive any in
crease of bounty, but simply the balance of
that already due him. That is to say, he
will be emitted to eight and one-thrd dol
lars per month, for each month of actual
service, less the amount of United States
| bounty heretofore paid him. 1t does not
entitle him to bounty for the period for
which he has already been paid.
As matter of fact there are some thou
sands of soldiers who received no bounty at
although no fault of their own-although
equally deserving with those who were paid
in full, and there are others who received
but moiety ofthat justly due them. 1t is to
equalize these differences, to repair the in
justice resulting from the workings of the
bounty laws, that the proposed bill has been
so long urged in Congress. Once, as our
readers know, it received the concurrent ap-
proval of both Houses and was submitted to
| the President-General Grant-for his sig
nature, but the latter, alleging the poverty
of the Treasury as the reason, saw fit to ex-
ercise the right tofveto. That reason exists no
longer, since the annual surplus of receipts
over expenditures amounts to nearly $780,
100000, and the time has come, in our iudg-
ment when the measure should again re-
| ceive the attention of Congress. 1t is too
late, of course, to expect anything of the
present body, but the incoming Congress
should give it early and earnest considera-
tion. The principles which it involves have
been repeatedly discussed and their equity
has so often been affirmed that our Senators
and Representatives cannot plead ignorance
of the merits of the measure as an excuse for
delaying action, and they will sadly fail in
their duty to the country if they neglect to
make provision for the discharge of its obli-
cations to its brave defenders. Said the
late Senator Morton, in the course Of his
memorable speech in support of this bill:
"Mr President-Justice TO the soldier cannot
| always be deferred. 1t must and will triumph
sometime. If it does not come this Congress it
VIII come at some other Congress. 1t is part
| of the debt much as the SO bonds Or
tie 1910 bends. 1t is founded on the same prin-
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

days Of King George to find examples of
patriotism, and it is but natural, therefore,
that public gratitude should dwell more
affectionately on the memory Of those who
saved the Republic than those who created
it. And could Washington's voice speak to
us to-day, we are sure it would not be in re-
proachful accents, but in earnest entreaty
that we should continue to cherish the
memory of the preservers of the Republic
as our forefathers did the fame of its found
ers-to invoke for the feeble and crippled
survivors of the struggle, not simply the
justice, but the bounty of the Nation, and
to visit the ingrates who would deny them
both with a whitening curse.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
The Western Floods.

The press dispatches have doubtless re-
corded with substantial accuracy the extent
of the devastation occasioned by the recent
floods in western rivers, but we suppose
no pen is capable of describing the individ-
ual distress which they have brought about.
The mere statement that so many thousands
of dollars worth of property have been de-
stroyed in certain town, conveys but fee
BILE idea of the actual sufferings of the vic
tins. 1t was only the other day that the
sympathy and generosity of Americans were
invoked in aid of the homeless inhabitants
of inundated Germany, and now, before the
contributions for that purpose have stopped
pouring in, there arises an occasion for char
ity here at home that is almost the exact
counterpart of the first. Aside from the
loss of life-which has been considerable
the floods along the Ohio have been at
tended with great personal privation
and there are thousands of persons
who will for some time to come be de-
pendent upon public charity for food and
shelter. 1t becomes every one therefore,
who has means and to spare, to contribute
to the relief of these sufferers, and we trust
that our own readers, scattered from Maine
to California, will not be backward in send
ing, through the proper local channels, sub
stantial aid to the distressed.
The Government, too, may with propriety
extend in the shape of a Congressional ap-
preparation some assistance to the vic
Tins of the floods. A calamity like this is
beyond the power of States or municipalities
to deal with, and, providing proper safe
guards are thrown about the expenditure of
the money set apart for the purpose, the
people will not begrudge such use of the
Treasury funds. And, indeed, it is not un-
likely that Congress will be called upon
to extend its generosity even further than is
now contemplated. Although it is, perhaps,
too soon to state with certainty the ultimate
effect which the floods in the Ohio and
tributary streams will have upon the volume
of the Mississippi, there is grave reason for
apprehending a repetition of the disastrous
overflow of last season, when an area of
country one hundred miles in width was
submerged and thousands of persons rem
dered homeless and destitute. Should this
apprehension be realized, the charity of the
Nation would be heavily taxed to relieve
the suffering that would ensue. Under any
circumstances it is evident that the question
of erecting perfect levee system along the
Mississippi is destined to assume far
greater Importance in the public estimation
than ever before.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

slender indeed. The truth is that the
question at issue is no longer the equity Of
any particular pension bill, but the sound
ness of the principle underlying all pension
measures. The value of the services which
were rendered by the soldiers of the Mexican
war is not in dispute. The territorial acquisi-
tions-comprising the four great States OF
Texas, California, Colorado, and Nevada, and
the Territories of Arizona, New Mexico,
Utah, and Wyoming, and aggregating in all
937S75 square miles-resulting from that
struggle, will always furnish an unanswer-
able argument in support of their claims
and, as Senator Voorhees, once said, "if
statue of the precious metals was erected to-
day to each surviving veteran of the Mexi.
can war, instead of the enactment of the
law giving them s. a month for their Gves
and their widows after them, the expense
would be but barren pittance in compari.
son with what this Government has received
as the proceeds of their priyations and their
valor." 1t is too late in the day for any
Senator or Representative to oppose the PEN
sioning of these men on the ground that
they are not worthy of the Nations care.
The danger which menaces their interests
has very different origin. 1t proceeds, as
we have said, from the concerted attack which
the enemies of the soldier are making on
the pension principle itself They would
have. the country believe that the whole
pension system is honeycombed with fraud
and that any further extension of it will
plunge the Government into bankruptcy.
To combat this idea is evidently the most
pressing duty of the hour, and if our Mexi-
can veterans would thwart the efforts Of
their enemies to rob them of public esteem
they should heartily unite with THE TRIB-
UNE in the great work of bringing the
Nation to true sense of its obligation to
those who at any time have imperilled
their lives in its defense.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
A Woman's Grievance.

In another column of THE TRIBUNE,
under the head of "a Woman's Grievance"
will be found letter from one of our sub
scribers, in which exception is taken to the
course of the Grand Army in excluding
women from membership in the Order and
participation in its assemblies and enter
tainments and in casual way deploring
the general lack of appreciation of woman's
work. The writer evidently speaks from
personal experience and her complaint is
deserving of more than passing consideration.
1t certainly does not eomport with The
TRIBUNE's idea of what is due the loyal
women of the country, that any one of them
should suffer from ingratitude or neglect,
and so far as its influence may avail it will
be exerted to repair that wrong. But we
are far from believing that the indifference
of which they complain is intentional. 1t
is simply the result of thoughtlessness, as is
shown by the fact that wherever the ques-
tion of associating the gentler sex in the
work of the Grand Army has been openly agi-
tated, the value of woman's services has been
recognized in the most substantial and en-
phatic manner. The rapid multiplication
of ladies' relief societies, in connection with
local Posts, is in itself conclusive evidence
of the disposition of our Grand Army COM
rades to avail themselves of woman's help
and sympathy; and if there are cases where
as yet this disposition has not manifested
itself, it must be remembered that the move
ment is still in its infancy. The time will
come, we dare say, when no Post in the
country will be without an auxiliary society
of loyal and patriotic ladies.
Meanwhile, there can certainly be no OBJ
lection to opening the doors of the Post
room at least once month to the wives and
daughters of our veterans-to all patriotic
and generous women, indeed-and permit
ting them to share in the social
piCoouiCo VI IhO SiuC1. 4AOh piSoOilCC
will no more be out of place there
than in the hospital, when it solaced the
sufferings of the sick and soothed the agonies
of the dying, but will impart bright
and cheerful aspect to gatherings which
otherwise might prove dull and ifeless.
The truth is that woman's influence is just
as potent for good now as it was in the dark
est days of the rebellion, and our veterans
cannot afford to slight it. The hands that
kept the embers Of love and affection blaz-
ing on the deserted hearthstone, and the
hearts that remained steadfast in their de-
votion to the absent, ought not to be put
away in these days of peace and plenty
from the society of those to whose happiness
they were consecrated.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
Neglected But Not Forgotten.

In another column will be found sketch
of the trial and execution of Commandant
Wirz, of Andersonville. Although nearly
twenty years have passed away since the
miserable wretch expiated his crimes upon
the gallows, time has not softened the resent
ment of his Victims and the recollection of
his cruelties still embitters their existence
Nor could it well be otherwise The sur
vivors of Andersonyille, looking back to the
epoch of the war, unlike their comrades in
arms derive no pleasure from the contem-
plation of brilliant military achievements
Their pulses do not respond to the thrill of
pride which other veterans feel when they
recall their exploits on some bloody field.
To them the past speaks only of privations
endured to no purpose and sufferings i'm
posed without reason. For those who braved
the perils of the field there was compen-
sation in the promotion that valor wins
After the battle there was glory to be shared !;
after the stormy night on picket, rest after
the toilsome march, the cheering campfire.
For the inmates of Andersonville there was
neither reward nor consolation. Death,
without hope of honor, leered at them
from the sentry boxes; starvation, without
hope of succor, haunted the stockade; dis
ease, without hope of remedy, lurked in the
very food they ate and the water they drank
To these unhappy men the days must have
seemed like years. and months like ages.
They liyed-those who did ive-a whole
lifetime in few brief weeks, and they
suffered-there were none who did n0t-the
utmost of mortal anguish in single sum-
mer.
1t is impossible, even at this late day, to
read the story of their sufferings as it
was told by a cloud of witnesses at the
trial of their inquisitOr, without experience
ing sensation of profound nausea. The
details are too sickening, too revolving, to be
reproduced in print. Yet the half has not yet
been told of what our ex-prisoners endured
while they were in the clutches of Wirz,
and almost nothing is known of the
tortures to which Union soldiers were
subjected in less notorious prisons, such
as Cahawba, Blackshire, Millen, Tyler
Florence, Salisbury, Columbia, Macon and
Charleston. 1t is true that the treatment
which Union soldiers received in rebel
prisons was made II e subject of Congress
ional investigation Shortly after the war and
that huge volrs sne of testimony was col
lected, but how fesy have ever seen it-much
less read it!
The time is csming, however, when the
claims of those wlpsuffered everything short
of death for their founiry III the pestilentiai
prisons of the South viii command the at
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
Washington's Birthday.

The anniversary of the birth of Washing
ton will doubtless be celebrated throughout
the country to-day with the usual festivities.
The holiday has ceased to have any special
characteristics, but it is, nevertheless, OBJ
served with certain degree of decorum, and
is made the occasion for numerous social and
patriotic gatherings. The contemplation of
the virtues of him who was first in peace,
first in war, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen" no longer stirs popular enthu-
siasm, yet it does not follow that the Nation
is any the less sensible of their magnitude.
This is a very busy and very practical age,
and Americans, of all people, are the least
given to hero worship. They accept the
greatness of Washington as fact of history,
and do not concern themselves any further
about it. Given new occasion, and their
patriotic impulses would probably be as
deeply stirred as those of their most illustri-
Gus ancestors, but they have outgrown their
louuHSoo AoI tho SplSdu-esSlc OIdtoly WHICH
flourished in the Republics younger days,
and are content to know that this is "a great
and glorious country" without wasting any
powder or fireworks over the fact.
Then, too, the events of the Revolution,
momentous as they were, seem tame and
triling when compared with those of the
Rebellion. The sufferings of the Continen-
tai army at Valley Forge pale into signif-
canoe when one thinks of the sacrifices
which the soldiers of the present age were
compelled to make in the war for the pres
ervation of the Union, and one scans the his
tory of that seven years struggle in vain for
any parallel TO Andersonville. For every
hero of revolutionary days our civil war pro-
duced a hundred every whit as deserving of
remembrance, and the fame of their exploits
is fresher and more vivid.
/. is no longer necessary to go back to the
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
Our Mexican Veterans.

One of the incidental results of the pro-
longed discussion of the tariff and internal
revenue bill during the present session of
Congress is the failure of that body to take
action on the bill granting pensions to the
survivors of the Mexican and Indian wars.
On the 10Th of January last, Mr.. Rice, of
Missouri, reported from the House Commit
tee on Pensions resolution making the bill
special order for the first Tuesday in
February, and from day to day thereafter
until disposed of, provided only that it
should not interfere with the consider
alton of appropriation or revenue bills, or
prior special orders. The resolution was
debated at length, but the discussion dis
House was favorable to the measure, and on
yea and nay vote being ordered, 157 Rep
and but 81 in the negative.
When the first Tuesday in February ar
Tlftus uONtNCI, tliO oIAAA Cn-
gagged in the consideration of the tariff bill,
and the special order necessarily went over
1t is possible, of course, that the measure
may yet be called up for action, but at the
present stage of the session there is no prob
ability of such an event, and our veterans
may as well resign themselves to another
disappointment, and transfer their hopes
from the Forty-seventh to the Forty-eighth
Congress. Whether they will fare any bet
ter at its hands will depend to great extent
upon the course which they may see fit topur-
sue for the enforcement of their claims. 1t
must be apparent to them by this time that
their interests are identical with those of our
ex-soldiers generally. tits the spirit of oppo-
sition that has recently been developed to
pensions of all kinds, rather than any
special hostility to their own claims, which
has hindered the passage of the bill to pro-
vide for their support, and unless they make
common cause with the survivors of the
war of the rebellion in opposition to those
who are raising this hue and cry against
any enlargement of the pension roll, their
chances of ultimate success will be very
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

THE TRIBUNE is in daily receipt of letters
from its subscribers asking for instructions
concerning the steps necessary to be taken
preliminary to the establishment of new
Posts of the Grand Army, and for the in
formation of those who may be engaged in the
work we take pleasure In publishing the fol-
lowing general directions: First, secure the
signatures of at least ten ex-soldiers or
sailors to an application for Post charter.
Every ex-soldier or sailor who served in the
Union army during the late war and re-
eeived an honorable discharge is eligible to
membership, and THE TRIBUNE Will furnish
a blank form of application on request
Second, as soon as the application has been
properly signed-the minimum number Of
signers required, as we have said, is ten, but
of course as many more should be obtained
as possible-return it to this office, whence
it will be forwarded at once to Adjutant-
General Brown, and by him duly indorsed
and transmitted to the Department authori-
ties for action. The charter fee prescribed
in the rules and regulations of the Grand
Army is ten dollars, but the Post dues are
fixed by the Post itself and do not as rule
exceed two dollars per year for each member.
THE TRIBUNE will be happy to render any
assistance in its power in this work.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

THE attention of our readers is once more
directed to the list of premiums which ap-
pears in another column. These premiums
after q six months trial, have been found to
fully meet the wants Of our club raisers, and
We are in receipt of large number of testi-
monials to their value. Some of our COM
-ades have selected books and pictures as
premiums, and with them started Post
libraries and adorned the walls of their Post
rooms The series of books entitled Cam
paigns of the Civil War" has met with
special favor, and justly so, since the
price per volume is exceedingly low, while
the works themselves rank with the best
military histories of the day. For general
reading, however, the Capture of Loco
motive" is unquestionably the most inter
esting. Indeed, it is the most exciting and
thrilling narrative of military adventure
that has yet been written, and it deserves a
place in the library Of every ex-soldier. We
are aware that oUr readers, as a rule, are
prompted to canvass for THE TRIBUNE by
the simple desire to enlarge the field of its
usefulness, but they will find that the pre-
miums which we offer for new clubs will
in themselves amply repay them for the
trouble.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

ciple of justice. 1t is an obligation resting upon
this Nation and If it takes $50 900 s50oooeoo
can make no difference. 1t is debt this Nation
honestly owes and ought to be paid. In other
words, let the bounty be equalized; put all
honorably discharged soldiers upon the same basis
pay them at the same rate. They are entitled to 1t.
The justice of no man can dispute and that is all
that this bill contemplates am for it. vote for
it with all my heart"
May the spirit which animated Senator
Morton in his eloquent advocacy of the
principle involved in the Equalization of
Bounties prompt our statesmen of the pres
ent day to redeem the Nations honor.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

IN another column will he found, as usual,
numerous extracts from the letters of our
subscribers concerning variety of subjects
The publication of these letters has Incl
dentally served a novel purpose in furnish
ing our veterans with the addresses of old
comrades of whose whereabouts they had
lost all trace, and thus bringing about many
pleasant reunions. Indeed, the circulation
of THE TRIBUNE is now so large that the
insertion of an advertisement in its columns
calling for the address of member of some
particular regiment or company is pretty
sure to elicit prompt response, and appli-
aeapts fer pensions who need the evidence Of
lOw-soldiers to perfect their claims have
kound THE TRIBUNE the quickest and most
certain medium of communicating with
them. In this way THE TRIBUNE has been
of unexpected assistance to many a worthy
claimant who, but for its aid, must have
failed to establish his right to pension.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22
PU Bills H ED w E E K L Y.
One Dollar per Year.

RSTERMS OF Observation-Disclosures CASH IN
EpvANcE.-MoNEY FORWARDED OTHERWISE THAN BY REGIS
TERED LETTER, POSTAL ORDER, OR DRAFT ON Ne"
YoRx WILL BE AT THE RISK or The SENDER, AS ALSO AL
SUBSCRIPTIONS PAID AGENTS.
ENAlS.-SusscRlBERs CAN ALWAYS ASCERTAIN
THE DATE WHEN THEIR SUBSCRIPTION WILL EXPIRE BY LOOKING
at IHe NUMBER ON or THEIR PAPER, WHICH IS
THE SANE As THAT OF The WHOLE OF THE LAST
ISSUE WHICH THEY ARE EMITTED TO RECEIVE.
Rb-ADDRESSES. - ADDRESSES WILL BE CHANGED As
OFTEN AS DESIRED GUT SUBSCRIBERS SHOULD IN AL CASES
GIVE THEIR OLD As WELL As NEW ADDRESS.
RE-cORRESPONDENcE.- cE.-coRREsPoNosNcEIs SOLICITED
rRow EVERY SECTION IN REGARD AL GRAno ARSr PENSION
MILITARY AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL AND Household MAT
TIERS, AND LETTERS TO EDITOR WILL ALWAYS RECEIVE
PROMPT ATTENTION WRITE ON ONE SIDE OF THE PAPER
ONLY.
Ca 4-ADVERTISlNG RATES.-WANTs tPER AGATE uNE)
10 CTS THREE LINES Is CTS OTHER TRANSIENT ADVERTISING
20 GEMS PER LINE THRTEEE INSERTIONS 10 PER ceET DIS
COUNT; TweETY-sR INSERTIONS 20 PER CENT. DISCOUNT !
FFTY-1wo INSERTIONS 30 PEA DISCOUNT. ADDRESS ALL
LETTERs-
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
6f5 FIFTEENTH ST., WASHINGTON, D. C.
The National tribune., 1883-02-22

ELSEWHERE in our columns, this week,
viii be found copy of letter addressed to
the New York Tribune by one of its sub
scribers-giying notice Of his intention to
discontinue his subscription on account of
Its attacks on npensioners-together with the
1lIba'e's reply. The latter, as was to be ex-
pected, is decidedly eyasive, and, as the re-
cipient himself says, in letter inclosing it
for our perusal, altogether unsatisfactory.
The fact is, that the New York Tribune is
trying to carry water on both shoulders. 1t
pretends TO be in favor of pensioning de-
serving claimants, yet persistently labors to
convince the public that the pension system
itself is honeycombed with fraud. 1t pro-
fesses great respect for disabled veterans,
yet clamOrs for public exhibition of their
names, wounds, and pension certificates
as If they were gang OF forgers or
swindlers 1t will not do-the inconsist-
ency is too obvious. Neither the New
York Tribune nor any other newspaper that
charges general and indiscriminate fraud
upon cur pensioners, without any legal or
credible proof of the same can by any
stretch of the imagination be considered a
friend of the soldier, and explanations, un-
accompanied 10y retractions, are simply cal
cnlated tOheighten the contempt which every
honorable man must feel for the author of a
wanton and malicious slander. Neverthe-
: !: :: !: :: : :: =: ::
its POI that our ex-