The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-27
VETERANS RIGHTS.

The right Of the man who served the
country honorably during the war to pref
erence in the Governments employ does not
rest upon any mere sentimentality. 1t is not
something to he conceded as favor to an
earnest applicant, or thrown as sop to a
powerful class of voters. 1t is not charity
or beneyolence, and the fact that the man is
broken down in health and needs the en-
plOyment has nothing to do with it. 1t Is
real substantial right, inherent in all men
who have honorable discharges, and derived
from the contract under which they left
civil life and enlisted to save the country.
1t is true that at that time the men who
enlisted cared nothing about the promise
that they should forever after be preferred
for any Office or employment, under the
municipality, State or Government, for
which they were properly qualified. They
were at that time thinking of something OF
vastly more interest to them than the ques-
ton of filling some more or less insignificant
place in after years. They were thinking
about how to put down the rebellion, how to
make themselves soldiers, how to pre-
serve their own lives and that of their
comrades, while inficting the greatest loss
upon the enemies of the country. But for
all that the promise was distinctly made,
time and again, by those whom the Nation
had empowered to make promises. The
President of the United States, time and
again, assured his soldiers officially and I'M
officially that this preference should be ex-
ercised toward those who did their duty and
survived the conflict, and this was con-
stantly repeated by Secretaries, Senators,
Representatives, Generals, and officials OF
lesser degree, both officially and privately.
II was repeated tens of thousands of times
on the floors of Congress, in the chambers OF
Legislatures, in the offices of executives, on
the stump and at the enlistment rendez-
vous 1t was theme upon which all those
who did not 60 into the army were never
tired @. expatiating upon to those who did.
There was no promise to the soldier which
was made with greater unaninlity by all
classes of men The faith of the whole peo-
pie was as distinctly pledged to it as to the
redemption of the paper money and bonds.
The passing of laws to give practical effect
to this promise was and is something that
the plainest dictates of decency demand.
The men who went into the army filled
their part of the contract, not only to the
letter, but to the widest extension of the
spirit. They did all that men could do;
they did more than any other soldiers in the
history OF civilized warfare were ever re-
quired to do, and the results they accom-
plished were marvellous. Never, in all the
experience Of the world was so extensive a
rebellion supprest, and never was it so thor
oughly supprest. Ten million Of people In
instruction were so utterly conquered that
they surrendered Internationally, and did
not gain an instaut's consideration of a sim
gle principle for which they claimed to have
taken up arms. To achieve this unprece-
dented result, more than 100000 men laid
down their lives, and fully that many had
their constitutions wrecked and have either
died since or are languishing through years
of debility and pain.
The ex-soldiers of the country and their
friends now ask that this promise shall be
made good. They ask this, not in the name
of charity, but Justice. They ask that there
shall be as little bubble about it as they
made when they went forth to do battle fol
the country. They did not sit down then
and chatter over the terms and details of the
contract They went off to the front and
| did their duty, and let the future take care
Of itself Now a contingency has arisen
which in the careless iiberality of youth
they did not give thought to. 1t has be-
come necessary that large portion of their
number be assured such employment as will
enable them to support themselves and fam
lilies in the way that they should be sup
ported. Unpleasant experience with The
freaks and changing moods of parties ant
politicians impel them to demand that TIT
obtaining of their rights no longer depend
upon the temperament and generosity o
such persons and parties as happen to be il
| power, but that their well-earned privilege
be distinctly affirmed by laws, which no ont
will dare disregard. Their position is emi
nently just.
NEW YORK VETERANS
The shifty politicians of New York ar
learning in dismay how rich in weapons i
/ L