The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-12

contract upon which the Equalization OF
Bounties bill is based and it is but natural
that they should regard this continued de-
fault on the part of the Government as an
act of intolerable injustice and ingratitude.
The truth is, that in withholding from
such of its defenders as, by reason of disa-
bility contracted in the service or other
causes beyond their control, were unable to
complete their terms of enlistment their
pro-rata share in the promised bounty, the
Government took mean and contemplate
advantage of their heIplessness, unworthy
alike of its own reputation and that of the
men who risked their lives to preserve it
untarnished. 1t as closely concerns the
honor of the Nation to make reparation to
orr ex-soldiers for that act of injustice as it
does to maintain the integrity of its promises
to the bondholder, and the only way in
which that can be done is through the pas
sage of the Equalization of Bounties bill
l. AAStL LASIlou1C TIC OtNSlnuISHU W
no new obligation; it creates no new debt.
1t simply provides for the execution of the
bounty laws in accordance with their true
intent, namely, that every soldier who en-
listed under them should receive an amount
of bounty proportionate to his actual length
of service. That is the meaning of
equalization nothing more, nothing less.
The eight and one-third dollars per month
for every month of actual service, less any
United States bounty that may have been
previously paid, which each veteran would
receive under the bill, is in no sense a gra-
tuity, but simply the balance due from the
Government under contract of its own
making
VIII the Equalization of Bounties bill ever
become law? What thought the late SEN
ator Morton, who was, perhaps, the most
eloquent and earnest advocate it ever had {?
Said he in his last great speech before the
Senate:
"Alr President Justice to the soldier cannot
always be deferred. 1t must and viii triumph
sometime. If it does not come this Congress 1t
viii come at some other Congress. II is part
Of the war debt, as much so as the $40 bonds or
the 1910 bends. It is founded on the same prin-
oiple Of justice. 1t is an obligation resting upon
this Nation and if it takes $50 900 or $50 COO
can make no difference. 1t is q debt this Nation
honestly owes and ought to be paid. In other
Al
honorably discharged soldiers upon the basis
pay them at the rate. They entitled to it.
The justice of it dispute and that is all
that this bin contemplates. am for it. vote for
1t with all my heart"
If Senator Morton were alive to-day. we
do not doubt that he would be of the
same opinion still, and the confidence
which he then displayed in the ultimate
triumph of Justice should inspire our COM
rades to fight out the good fight and keep
the faith THE TRIBUNE, they may be sure,
viii never relax its efforts to secure this
recognition of their rights, and if they will
but follow where it leads, the session of the
next Congress may furnish conclusive
answer to the question: When will the
Equalization Of Bounties act become law
Common Sense About Correspondence.
The editors lot, like the policeman's in
the opera of the Pirates, is not happy one,
and it is chiefly due to the fact that he can
not Go impossibilities. lie would be glad
for instance to print all the poetry and bat
tie sketches, and prison experiences that his
subscribers choose to send him, but THE
TRIBUNE large as it is, is not big enough to
contain them. lie would like to publish
every kind and appreciatiye letter that he
receives, but to do that he would have to
exclude every thing else that now xnakes the
columns of THE TRIBUNE interesting. He
would take pleasure in giving the views OF
his readers on any subject that they might
see fit to write about, but that would in
volye the issuing of supplement every
week He would even be willing to pub
lish the letters of those who obviously write
for the pleasure simply of seeing their
names in print, but in that case the rest OF
his subscribers might complain that TIE
TRIBUNE was no longer entertaining,
For these reasons the editor, mach against
his win, is obliged to exercise the most
serupulous judgment as to the disposition
of his correspondence, and if it sometimes
happens that letters which the writers
deem worthy of publication do not find a
place in the columns of THE TRIBUNE,