The National tribune., 1885-12-31
MERELY A SOLDIER.
The following Associated Press item has
appeared in the leading papers of the coun-
LIVING ON MILK PINCH.


sonvilie, where he contracted a disease of the stom-
ach, is puzzle to the physicians Of the neighbor-
hood and of New York and Trenton, who have
visited him. In May, 1879 he ate his last hearty
meal and since then he has subsisted entirely on
milk punch. nothing else will remain on his
stomach 1t is administered to him three times
daily by Irresponsible but Il has until lately proved
sufficient sustenance TO enable him to be up and
about Now. however, he is little more than a liv-
ing skeleton, his weight having been reduced from
1S0 TO IS pounds, and his physicians say that he
will never go out of the house again.
Although Robbins was wounded and contracted
his ucurable disease i'll the military service, he re-
ceives pension of but 81 per month.
First, we want to call attention to the fact
that this is a news item, pure and simple.
The man who reported it had no other
thought than, having found something worth
sending over the wires, he did his duty and
sent it. He did not care picayune about
creating public sentiment, or anything OF
that kind-he only regarded it as something
that people would be interested in reading.
But what a story can be read in those few
lines by whatsoever will pause little to
think of what is involved in the brief MARIA
ton. Dallas Robbins, when his country
called him, was a young man full of hope,
vigor and brilliant possibilities. He had the
whole world before him, and the energy of
his mind and body was such that he could
confidently calculate upon gaining for him
self and family substantial livelihood with
comfortable competence, acquired by his
industry to support the declining years of
himself and his helpmeet. This is not put
ting the case unreasonably. 1t is and has
been the customary thing for the average
young American who was in good health
as Robbins was, or he would not bave been
accepted as a soldier-to be able to look for
ward very confidently to making good liv-
ing for his family, and amassing enough to
support himself and those dependent upon
him in old age. Undoubtedly Dallas Rob-
bins would have done the same thing. In
stead, however, of putting forth his youthful
strength and energy in building up his own
individual fortunes, he devoted them to the
country. He participated in the hardships
and perils of the field, and the bodily stam-
ina that would have carried him VIGOROUSLY
through the trials and struggles incident to
the trade, vocation, or pursuit he would have
followed in civil life, was Slapped by terri
BILE wound, and then completely shattered
by the awful experience of Andersonville.
Since his discharge from the army his life
has been painful mockery Of what it would
have been had he been able to engage in the
pursuits Of civil life with as sound body
as he brought to the service Of the Govern
ment. The strenuous resistance he has made
to the steady approach of death shows what
an enormous stock of vitality and vigor he
must have been possessed of originally. He
has been dying ever sisce he received his
injuries, and for six years has been starving
to death.
See, too, how grateful country cares for
the man who gave her so much. She ac-
tually gives him 81 month-S1 a week or
Is cents day. Who says that Republics
are not grateful? Think, We grumblers, at
the size of the pension bills, how you would
like to earn S4 month by going through
what Dallas Robbins did.
Contrast his treatment with that of the
man who lent the Government few thou
sand dollars Let US say that at the time
that Dallas Robbins enlisted another patri-
otto man in New Hope lent the country say
81 900. That sum, even if it had been lost,
would have been mere bagatelle compared
to the sacrifice that Comrade Robbins made
to enter the army. At that time the $1,000
was probably only worth $500, or less,
in gold. But ever since then the
lender has been receiving from $35
to $50 year in interest, with his principal
free of taxation, and to-day, after having
received in interest and freedom from taxa
ton a value much exceeding 81 ,240, his
bond, if he still holds it, is worth 81 300 in
gold. 1t would seem that he has been
pretty generously dealt with. Everybody
has insisted that the Nations honor de-
manded that he be paid to the uttermost
farthing of the face value of his bond, with
out reference to what its real value and cost
had been. On his original investment of a
gold value of $500 or less he has received
every year for 20 years or more higher
money equivalent than the pension money
grudgingly doled out to the man who gave
the country years Of gallant service in the
| field and sacrificed on her altar his youthful
strength, the pleasure of life, he pride of
independence, and all his opportunities of
competence in his old age.
Yet papers of the Boston Adoertiser stamp
speak of interest paid the bondholder as
something due to the "sacred rights of
property" while pensions are "a generous
gratuity," in the allowance of which it is
high time to call halt"
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