The National tribune., 1885-12-24

derest consideration to the man who loaned
the Government, say $1,000. 1t says that
that man did a patriotic deed when he risked
his money by lending it to Nation that was
threatened with overthrow. Consequently it
is the "sacred duty" of the Government to
repay him to the uttermOst farthing that he
can make his claim cover His 81 900 may
have been paper money really worth only $3.50
at the time he lent it, but he must be paid in
coin of full value. He may have driven
hard bargain with the Government, and ex-
tOrted usuriOus interest, which has already
given him back the amount of his loan over
and over again; but, all the same, the Gov
eminent must go on paying interest to the
end Of the contracted time, and then hand
him over his principal in full-weight gold
dollars.
Messrs. Lamar's and Blacks figures ask,
in effect, why all the consideration and ten
derness should be lavished on the man who
loaned and risked his $1,000? Why is the
Governments sacred duty" pledged to him
any more than to the young man who offer
ed the Government his strength, health, life,
and years of wearing, breaking service?
The Adcertiser's mans $1,000 were only
preserved to him through the endurance and
courage of the other man, who now asks for
justice. It was only because the young
soldier gave recklessly of what he had
that the Adrertiser's man has been able
to draw his interest for these 20 years,
and receive gold dollars for his deprecated
paper. The capitalist of South Carolina who
gave his 81, ZOO to the Southern Confederacy,
has used the bonds he got for it for wall paper
or cigar-lighters. The reason the Aduertiser's
man has been so much more fortunate is be-
cause the men who are on the pension rolls
to-day out-fought the men whose success
would have made the Confederate bonds
valuable and those of the Government worth
less. If, for example, Pickett's charge had
succeeded at Gettysburg the Aduertiser's men
would have used their bonds for wallpaper
and cigar lighters. Surely the men who OPP
posed their naked hearts to that murderous
rain of shot and shell that beat on Cemetery
Ridge, and hurled back one of the grandest
charges in history, have quite as much of
sacred duty" owing them as is due to the
men who took the Governments promises to
pay for drove of mules or a train-load of
crackers and pork.
THE GREAT SIOUX RESERVATION.
West of the Missouri River in Dakota lies
an immense tract of land about the area of
the State of Maine, extending from the Can
non Ball River on the north to the Nebraska
line ON the south, which appears on the mapas
"The Great Sioux Reservation" This region
is for the most part a rolling prairie watered
by the Big Cheyenne, Bad, White, and other
considerable streams. In fact, this section is
more profusely watered than that portion of
the Territory east OF tne MlSSOuTl.
All this valuable country is practically
unoccupied, because the Sioux Indians for
whose benefit it has been set apart are hud-
died about the agencies, and depend for sub
sistence wholly upon the regular issue of
Government rations.
Emigration has now crowded up to the
eastern bank of the Missouri River, and
white men who come with the plow and the
seeder are looking across the stream, and
wondering why they cannot strike furrow
on the boundless and useless prairies on the
other side.
Congress cannot much longer stand upon
a sentiment, and the practical intelligence of
the country must soon assert itself and
secure the opening of this vast and unused
tract to the occupancy of men who will
utilize it for the benefit of civilization.
PENSION FOR MRS. GRANT.
Congress has done a lust and graceful act