The National tribune., 1883-03-01
General Grant and His ola soldiers.

General Grant and His 0Id soldiers.
We publish in another column, this week,
brief extracts from number of letters con-
cerning The attitude which General Grant
has recently assumed in regard TO pensions.
TIE TRIBUNE yields to none in its admira-
tion for The Generals soldierly qualities,
and this Nation ought never to forget the
~evjces which he rendered as commander of
its armies. History viii, beyond all qucs-
tjon, assign him conspicuous place in the
list Of the worlds military heroes, and,
be his shortcomings what they may, it
would be alike unjust and ummanly to de
tract from The fame which he won in the
field. No matter what the estimation in
which our cx-soIdiers may be held by Cen
eraj Grant, 10 matter what he may think
or say touching the equity of their claims
for pensions, THE TRIBUNE viii not stoop
tocast slur upon his military genius Eut
the public utterances Of General Grant are
as much open TO criticism as those of any
other private citizen, and as THE TRIBUNE
has never hesitated to take issue with any
person who attacked the integrity of the
pension roll. or disputed the justice Of the
soldiers claim 10 pension, so II does not
hesitate now to express lis opinion openly
and unequiyocaIly concerning the position
which General Grant has chosen to take in
this matter. IN asserting that many Of our
pensioners are rs good rs they would have
been if the war had never been fought" we
believe General Grant oyccsteppcd the
bounds of truth. The records of the Pen
sion Office do not sustain his charge, and, 50
far as we know, he has never brought for
ward any outside evidence to support If. 1t
is charitable to suppose that he made the
statement in a moment Of thoughtlessness
and did not himself realize It's full import
but the fact nevertheless remains that the
assertion as il stands is an unjust and I'M
warranted reflection on the reputation of
every pensioner. 1t is not surprising, there
fore, that our ex-soIdiers should be so prompt
in calling him to account. 1t is unfortu-
natelv not the first time that General Grant
has blundered where their interests We're
concerned. During his second term as Presi-
dent Of the United States he committed the
mistake of vetOing the equalization Of bonn
ties bill, alleging as a reason the poverty of
the Treasury, although that consideration
did not restrain him from signing the bill
increasing his own salary. We say he com
mitted a mistake" and when we recall the
eloquent language in which Senator Morton
advocated the passage Of the bill in the
United States Senate, we cannot but think
that we have put it very mildly indeed.
Senator Morton said. it viii be remembered: :
Mr. President-Justice to the soldier cannot
always bc deferred. II must and will triumph
sometime. If il does not come this Congress il
will come at some other Congress. II is Il part
OF the debt, as much the $40 bonds
the 1910 bonds 1t is founded on the same priu-
ciple of Justice. 1t is an obligation resting upon
this Nation and if it takes $2OGcO 600 or S50GOUCOO
can make difference. 1t is a debt this Nation
honestly owes and ought to be paid. In other
words, let the bounty be equalizcd; put all
honorably discharged soldiers upon the same basis;
pay them at the rate. They are entitled to it.
The Justice Of dispute, aud that all
that this bill contempates. am for ii. l vote for
with all my heart"
Under these circumstances it is but nat
ural, we repeat, that our ex-soldiers should
feel deeply aggrieyed by the sentiments
which General Grant has seen fit to express
concerning the integrity of the pension roll
and in giving publicity to their opinions
The TRIBUNE has been actuatcd solely by
the desire to see justice doTs all around. 1t
has opened its columns to both parties to
the controversy, and now that fair and full
expression of opinion has been had on all
sides it Will dismiss the subject for the pres
ent, with the letters which appear in this
weeks issue. We can but hope that as time
goes by General Grant viii find occasion to
modify his views and prove to his ex-soI-
diers that he is as sensible of their worth in
time Of peace as he was in time of war.