The National tribune., 1885-07-16
THE GREATEST OF THESE Is CHARITY.

The extract which we give below is from
recent issue of a Pittsburg pa daily
paper, and we give it in full, as it's simplicity
and directness is more eloquent than any
| other form in which the matter could be
presented. 1t is the record of the observation
of reporter who had his attention called
to circumstances which ought to bring
the blush of shame to the cheek of every
man who possesses common decency and
common patriotism:
A procession of about 90 old men hobbled through
the main hall of the West Penn Hospital last night
into the main ward, where in the broad aisle be-
tween the two rows of beds, chairs had been placed
for them. A moment after they were seated VIM.
McCreery, President of the Board of Directors,
Gen. Sweitzer and Joseph Albree Members of the
Board. and Col. Gailupe entered and all took seats
in front except Mr.. McCreery, who stood up before
them and addressing the soldiers, said
1.-The hardest thing that have ever had to do In
my life gentlemen is notify you that, through the
persistent opposition of member of the State SEN
ate. man of all others who might have been ex
pected to aid us and you; who lives in the imp,e
diate vicinity of this building. the appropriation
from the State Treasury to mantin this institution
was defeated, and we are barely granted enough to
take of the sick and disabled. 1t becomes,
therefore, my painful duty to notify You that, being
without means to maintain you. who fought and
suffered for the preservation of our country, you
will have TO seek homes elsewhere. The
members of the Board have done all in our
power TO avert this calamity, but deaf ear was
turned to statements and while the statesmen from
all other districts would have been willing to grant
what we needed, this one Pttsburger, defeated
ii. do not mean to say that you are 20 be turned
out tonight, but must say to you that you will
have to make some other arrangements between
this and the LIST of July"
Mr.. McCreery sat down, and Gen. Sweitzer
asked to say word. Il do not know that can
make the unhappy situation any palmer" he said.
s. 1t should be understood that the order only APP
plies to those who are not sick. 1t costs some
$500 per month to keep the soldiers that here,
and while we are compelled to take care of the dis
abled, we have not the means to do more-indeed,
We are now some S4OO 600 in debt. Through bitter
opposition of one of our own citizens de-
prived Of the means of furnishing you shelter. I
think it is slight return to those who fought to
their country. and did save it, to provide
home for them when they arrive at time Of life
when they-when-they-"
Here the Generals voice broke up, his eyes filled
and he was compelled to walk back and forward
two or three times before he could add, more stead
fly: when they cannot provide for themselves.
But our representative in the Senate. said. has
deprived us of the means, and we had to break this
sad news to you tonight"
All this time the listeners, old and infirm, lis
tened with bowed heads and troubled faces to the
short speeches that, choking the speakers fell upon
their ears like sentence to exile. Many leaned
tremblngly forward upon their canes.
Col. Gallupe rose and told how he had gone to
Harrisburg to aid in securing the appropriation;
had presented long petitions signed by thousands,
asking for the appropriation, and the Senator who
had opposed it swept them away and. swapping his
fingers, said they didn't amount to that; that he
knew all about it; that he had made up his mind
it didn't matter to him what became of the soldiers
and he sorry that he hadn't voted for 80 instead
of $1,000
Mr.. Albree and Superintendent Chess would not
speak, and Mr.. McCreery closed the painful meeting
by saying that he was sure the West Penn Hospital
would not remain forever closed against the SOL
dier, but hoped that at the next session wiser
counsel would prevail.
And then the slow and halt procession returned
to its quarters. 1T the hardest job ever I'M
dcrtook," said Mr.. McCreery, wiping the perspira-
ton from his face. They say these men have a
National Soldiers Home to go to. 1t is not so.
They cannot get into the Dayton Home unless suf-
fering from injuries received in the war; and if they
could there is no room. cots crowd every
available spot there now. even to the CELLAR
What has become of the fund left to the institu-
ton by the Sanitary Commission to be devoted to
taking care of soldiers?r asked reporter
" am glad you asked that he said, " as want
to set the people right that. When this nstitu-
ton started as it now is the sanitary fund amount
ed to nearly 100000. II controlled by the
Sanitary Commission, who proposed to make il over
to the managers OF the hospital, the conditions be-
ing that all soldiers Of Western Pennsylvania hon
orably discharged and needing hospital treatment,
should be taken in under the hospital rules and
cared for free Of charge. Those soldiers are not
discharged they are still here; but might add
that rule was never exercised in its most liberal
sense, all old soldiers needing care being taken in
until now the hospital finds itself greatly in debt.
THOSE WHO WILL GO.
Following are the names of the soldiers who will
come under the order to go:
John W. Magyar, Co. II, 10th NY.
Joseph Miloch. Co. H. 1lth Pa " RC
Cornelius O'Brien. Co. b, I02d Pa
Capt. 4. ID. Denny, Co. e, Sth Pa. v. R. G.
Alexander Donaldson, Co. G, 99th Pa.
Henry Roosevelt, Co. A, 5th II. A.
Vim. Kerrigan, Co. H. I6Sth Pa.
John Corrigan, Co. 1, Sd II. A.
John Noll, Co. H. 6let Pa.
Thomas James, Co. K 10th Pa.
Michael Keely, Co. D. 5th III. A.
A. NJ. Cameron, Co. G, 123d Pa.
John Flanagan, Co. +. 18th Pa.
VIM. A. Ensminger. Co. II, 7th Pa. V.R.C.
Johnston Gilchrist, Co. X, l02d Pa.
James McGratty. Nevins Battery.
Joseph Wickine, Co. ID, cd Pa.
Patrick Kenney, Co. II, 1l6th Pa.
Conrad Roemer, Co. b. 18th Pa.
Patrick McDermott, Co. G, 9th III. A.
Alfred Smith. Co. f, coed Pa.
Calvin Wait, Co. K, 103d Pa.
John Duncan. Co. +, 18th Pa. v. z. q.
VIM. Fuller, Co. G, SD Pa.
Geo. w. Address, Co. T. 1lsth Pa.
VIM. Hartman, Co. Il, 74th Pa.
Washington Keep, Co. A. l05th Pa.
Barney Connaly. Co. 6, 18th Pa.
Elthamar Blasdell, Co. G., 1O2d Pa.
VIM. l. Briggs, Co. A, l02d Pa
John Williams, Co. f. 9TH Pa. Cav.
Michael Ash Co. II, 18th Pa.
Jos Welsh, Co. E. 9jth Pa
VIM. Siocum, Co. L. CID Pa.
David Hackwelder.
Rudolph Wilson, Co. Z, 2sth Ind Cav.
Jacob Gable, Co. A, l0lst Pa.
Thomas Nicholson Co ID 6tf, II & Cav