The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-14
Captain. Co. E. ed Wis. Vol. INF
A New Soldiers, Home Needed.

A New Soldiers Home Needed.
In the early summer of 1865, when our
veterans returned to their homes from the
scene of their triumphs, they did not find
things as they had left them. During the
four years that they had been campaigning
in the South surprising changes had taken
place in the North. and many who thought |
TO resume the places at the work bench, be-
hind the counter, in the factory, or at the
plough, which they had so readily iorsaken
when the tocsin of war first sounded in
their ears, found to their sorrow that they
were no longer vacant. New and unfamiliar |
faces confronted them in the shops in the
the factories everywhere in the trades and |
professions at first it seemed almost |
as though the door Of fortune had been per-
mauently shut upon them. 1t is true that
at this time, when the Nation was in the
FIRST flush of gratitude and the voice of
the soldier was more potential in the halls
Of legislation than the mandate OF the poll
tician, Congress gave forma; expression to
the sentiment that the business men Of the
country should give the applications Of our
veterans for employment preference over
those. ofmere civilians; but the opportunities
TO engage in lucrative occupations fell far
short of the demand and thousands of our
heroes were necessarily forced to seek in
new fields the means Of livelihood which
in the old no longer seemed attainable Then
it was that the footsteps of the soldier TUNED
eagerly westward, and then began that
wonderful exodus which has resulted in the
creation Of an empire beyond the Missis-
sippi, 1t was with stout hearts, high hopes
and mistaken resolution that our veterans
set out upon this pilgrimage. What terors
could this new battle of life have for those
who had breasted, without a treuo-, the storm
Of rebel bullets and snaiched victory from
the very jaws of death? They were stiH
young and life was still before them: they
possessed the confidence of manhood and
had not yet lost the ambition of youth, and,
Injured to toll and selfsacrifce, they set out
TO tame the western wilderness in the same
dauntless spirit with which four years be-
fore they had marched away to put down
the rebellion. If among them, there were
some that the hardships Of the field had
shorn of health and strength, they at least
had not yet come to feel the infirmitics Of
age, and they thought in the new country
to which they were going, to recover the one
and replenish The other.
This living stream, Of such an origin, has
for nearly twenty years been pouring itself
into the open lap of the West, until it has
filed it nearly TO the brim with the most
industrious, enterprising and intelligent
population in the world. In the great States
beyond the Mississippi there are now more
, than 100000 veterans representing, ii is safe
to say. every regiment il the Union army
. Many Of them have realized their fondes
: hopes. Wander where you win over tha
c fertile region between the Father Of Water
4 and the snowy peaks Of Colorado, ii is III,
1 hand Of the veteran that is stretched foytl
, 10 grasp your own in friendly greeting: Iii
c roof that shelters you; his board that offer
j hospitality. But there are many-alas, to-
: many-Wbose bright expectations have bee
turned to nausht. and uho are no longe
able to continue The struggle FOR existenc,
Old age his ovor.aken themi the inflrmitic
:. Of which they we're scarcely conscious whe
they left the service Of their country III
. beginning 10 press heavily upon them; the
d haye no longer The strength or the courag
Z 10 contend With adversely, aad starvation G
ie the alDlshcuse is the only alternative lei
y them. L was 60 save them frosn that Al
] tentative that he last National Creamy
70 ment Of the Grand Array determined TO az
5 ply 10 Congress FOR RELIEF. and II viii be see
D. by reference TO tie article which re pal
iish in another column, that The commit,
charged with the execution OF this duty h,
T. succeeded in having introduced into bot
at Houses bill providing for the immediat
n establishment, at same point west of Il
Is Mississippi. Of Soldiers Home. whis
,e shall afford a refuge f5g .llese broken dow