The National tribune., 1884-02-28
Let Us Have a Vote On 1t!

Among the pension and bounty measures
introduced daring the present session of
Congress, there is at least one as to the
merits of which our Senators and Repre-
sentatives cannot plead ignorance, and upon
which it is not possible for any commission
to throw additional light vs. refer to the
equalization of bounties bin. which, although
it once. received the assent of both houses,
has failed as yet to become law. The prin-
ciple involved in this bill is SO simple that
even child can comprehend it. Take the
case of two soldiers who enlist frora the
same town, in the same company, and for the
same period Of service. By the terms of the
bounty law, each is to receive 5000 United
States bounty at the expiration of two years
of active service. One of them serves the pre-
scribed period and receives the full amount
of bounty due him; the otlier, at the end
of twenty months, is pronounced unfit
for duty, by reason of disability, and is dis
charged the service without a cent of bounty.
Now, what justice is there in that? Is not
the soldier who serves twenty three months
and then, through no fault of his own, but
simply because the Government has no fur
ther use for him, is honorably discharged, as
much entitled to bounty for twenty-three
months as the other soldier to bounty for
twenty four? If he is, then this unpaid
bounty constitutes a debt which the Gov
eminent ought to discharge, no matter how
many years have elapsed since it was in
CURED. Asa matter Of fact, the records OF the
War Office show that thousands of brave and
deserving men were thus deprived of the
bounty promised by the Government, and it
is this shameful injustice that it is the pur-
pose of the equalization OF bounties bill to
repair. proposition SO simple and straight
forward as this, ought not, it seems to US, to
require any argument to commend it to the
support of men of ordinary intelligence and
| Judgment, and there is no valid reason why
it should not be promptly reported from the
Pension Committees of both houses and put
upon its passage. Some of our Senators and
Representatives may imagine that because
their predecessors have neglected heir duty
in this matter they, too, can afford to shirk
/ it, but they will find to their cost that oul
ex-soldiers are no longer to be put of with
frivolous excuses, and will carry the issue
to the polls They have not forgotten the
prophetic words of Oliver P. Morton, Indi
ana's intrepid war governor, who, from hi
seat in the Senate, thus invoked justice fol-
the veteran:
Mr. President, Justice the soldier cannot al
ways be deferred. Ii must and will triumph some
time. lift does not come this Congress it viii come
at some other Congress Is Is part of the war debt
/ as much so a. the $50 bonds or the lo-50 bonds
is founded on the same principle of justice. It IS al
obligation resting upon t1is Nation and if il take
s2oe9o000 or $1,000 0eqSgan make no difference
It is debt this Nation honestly owes and ought e
be paid In other words. let the bounty be equal
lied; put all honorably discharged soldiers uI,oi
the same basis: pay them at the same rate. The.
are entitled 10 it. The Justice of it no man can dis
pgte and that is all that this bin contemplates
am for IT, vote for ii with all my heart.