Huntsville gazette., 1884-09-06

sentimental support The democratic party is
opposed to it on constitutional grounds, and a
democrat who advocates this bill is democrat
no more. He does from this fact join the Re-
| publican party ifthey are distinguished by their
platforms.
| have thus without argument referred to
some ofthe saliontpofsts e measures, heretofore
before the cJult1-. ! now fna-y y BEG leave to
suggest measure that should be before the peo-
II pie, and be kept there until its prudence and
| justice gives it a permanent place among the
recognized ends Of congressional legislation
There should be established, and supported BY Con-
gress, at appropriate points IN the South 'Soldiers
Homes" IN uhch should be placed and cared for to
the end of life, all american Soldiers acthom dis
tnction of SERVICE acho acre so mat,ed Ia the late
zvar as to render them incapable Of earning Hrel-
hood In the northern section such homes are
now established and if the success of this plan
could be made to depend on the vote ofthe old
soldiers of the union army North and South, not
session would pass until it became the law of
t ne land.
/ distinctly avow that this idea does not in the
smallest degree partake of the principle on which
pensions are granted. 1t is another and a diff
ferent one and feel, in condition not to beg,
but to demand it at the hands of congress.
These homes are chartered charities where men
get food and SHELTER not pension money. | will
this legislation. The history of the matter is.
that in 1861 the contending forces went into war
and leaving out of sight, vicious politics,
side went to put up new flag, the other to re-
store the old one, and at this late day one who
imputes to the mass of the soldiery feither side
other than honest motives does not rise to the
dignity of a sulen bigot witch burner; sure
ly insincerity or simulated patriotism never
such fields as were taken and lost by these sol
1inr No Jo fhox, do
posterity and when the broader charities of men
prevail the prefix Federal and Confederate"
will become meaningless and forgotten and the
names Office and Thomas, or Stonewall jackson
and Grant will be mutually remembered as types
of American valor.
In war the prevailing forces collect the manned
Of their opponents and care for them Where Fed
eral arms secured the field the confederate sol
dier, left helpless taken to the hospital
His thirst was slaked and his wounds bathed
and bound up. He not allowed to hunger
nor suffer pain when the surgeons skill could save
him from it, So it was, when the Confederate
army was victorious the wounded Federal Sol
dier was cared for by the Confederate Surgeon
and nurse with the same skill and devotion as if
they had been oftheir own army. This ,cas col
untary exercise of moral daU there was no law
requiring it, but it was continued as
long as there were wounds to heal; .'Reb"
i
roof of canvass Is it unreasonable to
require that the humanities Of the hospital be
exercised in time ofpeace? Then when the war
ceased the soldier Of both armies, were alike
discharged and each went away home. The
Confederate Soldier, though he lost was neither
punished, threatened nor even admonished
Though there was repressve legislation long
since passed away, and affecting few persons,
yet the masses of both armies equals on
the day that declared ended. The Dis
charged soldiers of both sides thereafter voted
at the same ballot box, aspired to the same office,
liable to like military service if called for
by the government; had the same right of entry
on the public lands, sat in the same Jury box,
and held III all respects common allegiance.
1t is true that legislation and party bitterness
have in large degree diverted the conditions Of
real peace, and political artifce as often before
again destroyed the normal conditions Of the
people. Led out ofthe union by secession in 1860;
choked out Of the union by reconstruction in
1868, and frozen out Of the union since then
by the tendency to isolation and sectional solid
ity found in democratic leadership and methods,
the conservative masses Of the South vet remain
unable to enjoy the advantages which their num-
Der and consequence demand. The acts Of Con-
gress of 1868 failed OF their purpose because they
consisted of a series ofexactions and public con-
sent was never given, but believe that the roll
call OF the crlppes In one such SOLDIERS Home"
will contribute more to the spirit of real recon-
struction and final peace in the South than all of
the chapters in the volumes of reconstruction
laws expect these views to receive the support
and encouragement of many democrats, but
never of the organization, for Gordon of such
''Soldiers Homes stretched through the South
would break down the sectional wall in which it is
protected; they therefore have reasons to oppose
it. This step whether called charity, mercy or jus
ticewill raise higher than the standard Of
the republic among the people; it will widen and
deepen the sense Of patriotism in all the land,
South and North. There many Of these
helpless American soldiers in this American land
Of ours, looking away to the northern homes
where charity has rescued Others they have had
long march, Let us give them rest
If elected to Congress shall, without binding
myself to any organization, vote with that party
whose policy promises best to attain the ends
advocate