The National tribune., 1884-03-27
The puty OF One GRAND Army.

The Duty of the Grand Army.
Now that the recommendations of the
Grand Army pension committee have been
officially communicated to the Order by the
Commander-in-C Chief, accompanied by his
cordial Endorsement of their character
and purpose, it would be well for the
various Posts to take action upon them
and certify their approval to Congress
in the shape of memorials or petitions
PRAYING the enactment of the measures
therein enumerated. One Post, at least, has
been prompt to adopt this course, Tippe-
canoe Post, Of Monticello, Ind-,-whose reso-
lations were presented to the Senate last
week, by Senator Harrison we trust
the rest viii hasten to follow its example.
Our reasons for suggesting that such action
ought to be taken may be stated in few
words.
The great obstacle in the way of securing
pension legislation from Congress hitherto
has been the impossibility of bringing to
bear upon it the united influence of the
soldier element. Congress has always been
willing to listen TO the petitions of our vet
Grams, but the multitude OF their counsels
have simply tended to produce confusion,
and the result has usually been that the
attempt to obtain the passage of particular
measures has defeated other legislation of
even greater importance. Indeed, the ina
billy Of our ex-soldiers to agree among
themselves as to what legislation is most
desirable, has often been urged as an argu-
ment why Congress should pay no attention
TO the memorials and petitions addressed to
il, bat rely solely on its own judgment.
A reference TO the Congressional Record
for the present session VIII show, we venture
TO say, that hundreds of soldiers petitions
have been presented in both houses in favor
Of bills the passage of which even their au-
thors never expected to accomplish.
Such, for instance, is the bin to pension
all ex-soldiers without reference to age or
disability proposition which, however
necessary it may become in the near future,
would not be seriously entertained for a
moment by Congress at the present time,
and to advocate which would only tend TO
lessen the respect shown for the soldiers
opinion in other matters of pension legisla-
ton. 1t was TO prevent this waste of infu-
ence that the pension committee of the
Grand Army was originally created, and
now that lis recommendations are before
Congress and the country, the sensible and
proper thing TO do is to put stop to the
fireworks and unite sohdly in their support.
What if these recommendations are not
as broad as some of our comrades could
wish, and do not include all the legislation
that they deem it incumbent Oh Congress to
enact for their benefit? Would Tot their
adoption insure to our veterans q greater
measure of justice Acknowledging the
course of legislation in the past-they have
any reason to expect? The truth is that
some of our comrades are too much given to
letting their enthusiasm run away with
them. They seem TO think that all that i.
is necessary TO do in order to compel Con
gress TO recognize their claims, is to pass
sl1y-rocket resolutions and then let them
soar! What is the result? They come
down like sticks. The fact is, on the Other
hand, as the whole history Of pension legis
latiop shows, that il is necessary to contest
the ground, inch by inch, with Congress il
order to secure, not what is plainly just, bat
what is merely reasonable. We believe The
time is coming-indeed is close at hand
when the Governments promises to the sol
der win be amply fulfilled, bat it can only
come through the agreement Of our veterans
10 unite in demanding what at the tim,
seems Immediately necessary and attainable
For this reason we have not hesitated t.
throw the whole influence of TIE TRIB
USE in support of the Pension Committee'
recommendations They are founded il
justice and they meet the exigencies of thu
movement They afford Congress no excus.
for rejecting them on the ground that the,
are premature or unreasonable, and they
are, moreover, directly in the line of th,
. wisest policy namely, the immediate pIac
ing on the rolls of every soldier who i
) actually disabled and in need of pension
T If these recommendations are heartily an,
. promptly supported by the Grand Army
|, there is reason TO believe that the action O
the present Congress viii be shaped ans
controlled by them; if, on the other hand
they are an;agonized or passed over witt
/ Indifference, we are just as confident tha
Congress viii find in this failure of our com
J rades to unite upon plan of action, a JUST
r fication for still further grieyous and vexa
tons delay. It is for the rank and file o
} the Grand Army to say what the issu
) shall be. Every Post should indorse TIL
committees recommendations and ever,