Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-09-18

ing of the Russian army is G900O0; and the
annual cost Of the Austrian army is S60,-
100000, of the English army $685. UO,0C0 of
the German army $50 100000, Of the French
army SI2l 600 600, and OF the Russian army
SlSS $4,000. These statements do not in
clude the reserves or naval forces. Compare
these armies with our regular Army of only
% 600 men. Compare these expenses with
the S20,000,000 or $25000 coo we pay for
like purposes from year to year, and you
will see which plan is the more economical.
Other countries depend in time OF peace
and in time OF war on their regular army, on
a hired sodierv. We do not; we depend on
a volunteer sodierv. but to be always sure
of a volunteer soldiery we must be not only
lust but generous. In olden times it was
said, In time of peace prepare for war"
and the Interpretation then was, to spend
the years of peace in building Notifications,
in drilling soldiers, in moding cannon, and
in preparation for the deadly conflict But
in later times we have found 4 safer way in
which to prepare for war. and that is to build
school houses, erect churches, and win the
hearts of the people by providing for the
soldier and his loved ones the comforts OF
home. Do this, and YOU will have country
which all the people will love; DO this. and
Won will inspire the hearts of the people with
valOr and patriotism; do this. and the streams
of patriotism and LOYALTY will never dry up;
do this, and you viii have a country for
which men will do and dare and die; and in
doing so you will add more strength to the
Republic than YOU will in building up great
armies in time of peace, and when the tocsin
of war is sounded YOU will have an army
1-l, sl
will dare to come.
This is the policy of our government.
This is the way to enkindle the fires of patri-
otism. Assure the soldier that if he dies in
battle, or shall be manned. or shall suffer
from disease, those who are dependent upon
him will be comfortably cared for, and YOU
will lay the foundations OF this Republic
broad and deep.
desire, Mr.. Speaker, that this House
shall consider the relative cost of the two
plans-that of depending on a hired stand
ing army of professional soldiers, or the
plan of winning and welding the hearts of
the people to the flag of their country by
making it the emblem of kindness, gratitude,
and generosity. The one is the pathway of
a republic, because it lives in the affections
of the people; the other is the trail of
monarchy, along which its defenders are
driven bv the sword and the lash.
Mr.. Chairman, is it possible that this long
session is to close without furnishing any re-
lief to that class of our soldiery whose
necessities have so touched the hearts of the
people of this country? Why this great
wrong? Why this denial of justice? Why
do the Democratic members of this House,
with a few honorable exceptions, sit silent in
their seats and refuse to vote, in order to de-
feat this bill Why have all the bills intro
duced in this House in the interest of the
soldier been suppressed Why is it that we
have been unable in all these months to get
a single one of these bills considered in the
House or in committee? Why are bills
which are in the interest of Union soldiers
denied hearing Why is it that any bill
which could be amended so as to embrace
some of these measures is whipped through
the House under a suspension of the rules,
when no amendment is allowed? Is it be-
cause the great Democratic party does not
dare to put itself on record as opposing,
these measures 14f the committees could
not report these bills favorably, why did
they not have the courage to report them
unfavorablys Every bill of any importance
to anybody is entitled to consideration, and
should be reported favorably or adversely.
consideration.
little while ago it was published in
Democratic newspapers that a Democratic
House was doing more for the Union soldiers
than a Republican Senate. Do you know,
Mr.. Speaker, how that idea went abroad
l will explain. This House passed early in
the session a large number OF special acts
pensioning soldiers, which were sent to the
Senate and remained there a long time with
out being acted on bv the Senate Do YOU
know the reason ? If YOU do not, l will tell
you. The Committee on Pensions in the
Senate was composed of nine Senators, five
of whom were Republicans and four were
Democrats. For long time Senator Sabin,
of Minnesota. was absent, and this left the
Pension Committee four and four. The
Record will show the absence of Senator
Sabin, and the further facts that during his
absence pension bills were reported ad-
versely by the Democratic sub committees,
and that no progress was made III passing
pension bills. This hitch in pension legisla-
ton was removed by the resignation OF Sen
ator Sabin, who was still absent. and the
appointment of Senator Wilson, of Iowa,
in his place on the Pension Committee, since
which time every pension bill that could be
reached, including those reported upon ad-
versely by Democratic members, has been
passed by the Senate. The Senate has not
only passed these bills, but it spent several
weeks in maturing the bill now before this
House, which provides not only for Union
soldiers, their widows and orphans, but for
Mexican soldiers and their dependents as
we'll
Mr.. Chairman, the last thing that nv col
league, Gen. Warner, did before starting to
l.
against the passage of this bill. Ostensibly
he was opposing one OF the Senate amend
ments, but his argument went to the merits
of the bill. He declared. as he has done re-
peatedly during this session, that all pensions
should be limited to disability incurred in
the service; that to grant pensions on any
other principle would be dangerous and
vicious legislation; that this country had
never departed from this principle but twice,
and that he regarded these as two very bad
precedents. In his absence | shall not at
tempt to reply to his argument or quote what
he then said, or what he said on this subject
at any other time, but on behalf of the SOL
diers of the Union Army, and on behalf of
their helpless widows and children, who have
SO earnestly appealed to us for relief, want to
enter my protest against the action of his
committee. He is the chairman of the Select
Committee on Payment of Pensions, Bounty,
and Back Pay, to which was referred the
most important legislation of this session
touching the soldiers and their dependents;
and l regret to say that this committee has
proved the graveyard of all this important
legislation. 1t never reported but one bill,
and this was so Objectionable to soldiers that
the Senate gave it no consideration.
Early in the session | introduced a bill
granting arrears of pensions, which went to
this committee. Governor Harris bill grant
ing pensions TO all soldiers who had rendered
a certain amount of service and who had
arrived at a certain age, and scores of others
Of like character, were sent to this commit !
tee for consideration; but they have all slept |
he sleep that knows no waking. 1t seems
10 have been determined from the opening |
Of this session to this hour that no bill in the |
interest Of the Union soldiers should become |
1 law, and that this end should be accom-
olished, not by open and frank opposition, |
out by stealth and cowardice. The Demo- |
;ratic party holds in its iron grasp all of the
of this House, and determines
lere from day to day and from week to week
what shall be and what shall not be consid-
ered. We have asked that this bill be put on
is passage, and we have been refused. We
nave asked that these Senate amendments
oe voted on, and ii rejected, that the bill be
tO a CoDfarerca committee for