The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-14
Granting Pensions.

Legislature to grant pensions to disabled
ex- Confederate soldiers or those who have
lost an eye. II has been nearly twenty
wears since the war closed, and it is rather
late day to consider the subject Of grant
ing pensions to ex-Confederates. The re-
markable recuperation of the South is due
to the fact that the people there had to
rely upon their own exertions. Some, If
not all, of the states of the Confederacy,
supplied artificial limbs to those who were
unfortunate enough to loso their natural
ones, but beyond that they had no aid Of
a public character. Consequently they
went to work and hewed their own way.
Had the state governments been able to
have granted pensions, many who are now
Industrious and thrifty citizens would be
worthless idIers. The granting of pensions,
with arrearages amounting in some instances
to thousands Of dollars, has had a democrat
king effect on tho people on the side. OF
the Federal government in the late war.
Many persons are drawing pensions whose
wounds do not incapacitate them from earn
ing livelihood, and are living in idleness
and debauchery. The bounteous pensions
given by the government have led avari-
cious persons to take false oaths in order to
obtain them, and frauds of various kinds
have been resorted to to get governmental
assistance in order that idleness may be en-
ioyed. While many are using their pen
sions properly, and have been greatly aided
thereby on the whole those receiving them
would have been better off without them.
The government should have supplied ar
tificial limbs to all who needed them, and
stopped there. Its generosity has worked
injury to many, and prevented them from
becoming good and industrious citizens.
The payment Of pensions at first was not
very onerous charge upon the taxpayers,
but now they are the largest expense Of the
government. Demagogues Of both political
parties have We'd with each other in extend
ing and increasing pensions, until they
amount to about sixty or seventy millions
Of dollars annually, and have become
great burden. Besides, many ex-soldiers
have come 70 believe that the government
belongs to them, and that pensions sufficient
for their entire support are their due They
ignore patriotism, and take monetary view
alone Of their services.
All civilized governments grant pensions
to their MANNED and disabled warriors. 1t
has been done for centuries, and this gov
ernment has always had a pension roll
Before the Revolutionary heroes were gone,
came the veterans of the war of 1924;
and now We have the soldiers of the late
war; while bill is pending to grant aid to
the Mexican war veterans. Experience
shows, however, that it is not well for a
government to be too lavish. After the
late Franco-German war, France was too
poor to be very generous to her veterans
while all Germany rioted in plenty. France
soon reeuperated while Germany gradually
degenerated, and is now struggling under
high taxes and general business depression.
1t is the same in this country. When the
late war closed the North was prosperous;
great enterprises were under way; money
was plenty and general extravaganza held
sway. Everything was on a high pressure
system-high rents, high taxes, high rates
of interest and high dividends from invest
ed capital Pensions were granted on the
high pressure plan, and for six or eight
years everything went along swimmingly.
Everybody was on the make, by honest toll
or otherwise. Suddenly, in 1873, there
came collapse, and to this day the North
has not fully recuperated. The enforced
idleness Of thousands and tens of thousands
of laborers and artisans, and the chosen
idleness Of thousands more who exc out a
subsistence on the pensions they draw, have
brought about a general business and in
dustrial Oppression. The government is
largely to blame for setting the example Of
luxury, aud for granting pensions 50 large
as to demoralize many who otherwise would
have become energetic and useful citizens.
On the other hand the South has stead
lily grown in wealth and prosperity. Her
soldier citizens were forced to be self-re-
liant, and went to work to build up that
which war had destroyed They have gone
far beyond, and are outstripping the North
In very many industries. Mines of gold,
copper, iron and coal have been opened
and developed Cotton and iron mills are
to befound on every hand, while the soil
has been made to produce two blades of
grass where one grew before. Taxes are
low, lands are cheap, and inviting fields of
labor and capital are presented everywhere.
If the state governments of the South,
however, commence the granting of pen
sions, a serious obstacle viii be thrown in
the way of general advancement Once
begun, demagogues will fight for influence
by endeavors to increase pensions. Good
citizens will be converted into useless idlers,
and high taxes to pay pensions will retard
the prosperity of others. The states that
grant pensions will do injustice to their
citizens, unless great judgment and care
be exercised in distributing the bounty.
Gov. McLane has appointed Mr.. John
S. Cuttings, of Baltimore county, State
Treasurer, in the place of Hon. Barnes
Compton, who has been elected to Congress
from the fifth district. Mr.. Cuttings is
the head of the firm of John S. Cuttings
& Co., bankers, of Baltimore, and his selec-
ton is a good one. He will assume his
duties on March 3rd, and will hold the
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