The National tribune., 1884-07-03
wHEcH Is TIE MORE sAcREDq

no better than a rope OF sand.
WHICH Is TIE MORE sACRED7
The people gave layishly of their blood
and treasure to preserve this Nation, and to
secure the manifold blessings that were
cheaply purchased even at the immense price
paid. But how differently has public senti-
ment regarded the reimbursement Of those
who gave property and those who gave
health or life to the promotion OF the Union
cause!
Not for a moment have we been allowed
to Lose sight of the fact that the man who
gave his dollars to the Nation in its hour Of
need is entitled TO the countrys lasting graf
itude, and to the punctiIious repayment of
the uttermost fartlling Of his claims. 1t did
not matter that he made his leans at rates
of interest that would have made shylock
blush. 1t was of DO consequence that he
demanded back gold dollars worth 100 cents
where he had given paper ones worth but
50. It was Of the least importance that the
debt was incurred for shoddY- blankets or
spayined-mules, upon which he had grown
rich. No matter by what means he had
come into possession of bend, ncte or due
bill of the United States, it was treated as a
sacred debt of honor that must be paid
promptly and fully, no matter what the
burdens laid upon the people to raise the
money.
Anybody who proposed anything else was
put under the ban Of public opinion. as
repudiator and dishonest man. Those who
had the temerity TO start political party
based on scaling" or adjusting the pay
ment Of these claims TO the gold basis upon
which they had to be paid went down IN
der public odium, which still clings to
them.
This was entirely right. "Uncle Sans a
a gentleman" some one said during the
resumption campaign, and must pay his
debts in full, in honest money" This
struck the keynote of popular sentiment.
But Why do we not hear more Of the ap-
plication of This delicate sense Of honor to
the consideration of the debts due those
who gave not dollars, but what is infinitely
more precious-Iinbs. health, and even life
itself-for the same cause? Why do we
not hear from those gentlemen who were
very properly aolicitous that Uncle Sam
should not bubble or chatter With the men
who had loaned him money, some express
sion of solicitude that he shall not quibbie
nor chatter with those who gave him what
was beyond measurement IN money? Not
a man who loaned him money but could
have a Thousand times better afforded to
lose every cent Of it, than the poorest pri-
vate in the ranks could afford to lose his
limbs or his heath. The debt Of honor is
first and above all--not to the man
whose dollars can be made up or replaced,
but to the man who gave that which can
never he restored to hiLn, come what may.
So far the Government has paid out On
account of the war S8,G49. 907, 652. OF this,
barely $6I3a01, 163 has gone to the men
y 40 fought The war through 10 a victorious
conclusion, while Sc, o06, 859, 584 has gone to
the men who bought the bonds, and who
had the contracts for furnishing the supplies
/ and munitions Of war That is, where the
men who for four years dared everything
endured everything, struggled with tie ele-
ments and fought the enemy, suffered hard
ships that raelled their constitutions ard
shortened their days, subjected themselves
to wounds. misery and deatb-wbere these
men who crushed the rebellion have re-
ceiyed 81, the men who grew rich on their
contracts have received $3.50!
Such an astounding comparison as this
can well be allowed to go without comment,
for the wayfaring man, even thongh he be a
fool, cannot help understanding the mon
strous inequality of such favoritism. I'M
Gle Sam viii not be a gentleman until
he discharges every debt OF honor with the
same punctiliousness.
FIRST nav AT spFEa4E