Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-06-09
A WORD TO OLD SOLDIERS.

FoR THE Transcript.
Join the Grand Army of the Republic.
Why? For MANY reasons. but chiefly
this: For its influence on Pension Legis-
latiOn. The ancients said, '"The Gods
help those who help themselves" Ma
poleon somewhat profanely SAID, PROV
dence fights on the side of the heaviest
battallons." The same truth IS in the
homely expression, numbers count"
This was true 25 years ago, and it is
just as true to-day. Bills to increase
widows pensions have been before con-
gress many times, but always failed.
Why do you think this increase was
granted at this session? Simply because
this Grand Army of the Republic, with
it's three hundred thousand votes, was
looking after the interests of those who
their dead comrades had left behind them.
Senator Salisbury standing in his place
in the senate, opposing the Logan Bill
to pension all dependent survivors of
the late war, says: IF these men had
this demand for more liberal Pension
Laws?" Probably not, and if there was,
it would have no more effect than whistl
ing down the wind.
Do you think that your interests are
safe, because we have warm and power.
full friends in congress. and out? Don't
trust to this. We have powerful enemies
as we'll. Only few days since the
Pioneer Press, speaking in opposition to
this same bill, said: 1T is time to call q
halt IN this reckless pension legislation
| to lay aside sentiment, and deal with
these matters on business principles. D
Lay aside sentiment, business principles,
| forsooth! 1t makes the blood of 81
surge in ones veins. Suppose the men
of that time had placed business before
sentiment, the p. T., instead of being, as
now. the leading journal of an empire,
the New Northwest, might have been the
leading paper of little Confederacy or
the head water of the Mississippi. The
Pioneer Press was powerful advocate
of all measures looking to resumption Of
specie payment and payment of bonds
| in gold, and be it said to the honor O.
the men who maintained the Unity of thu
Republic with their bayonets, they as ;
rule, also supported all measures tC
redeem the obligations of the govern
ment to it's creditors, and this too in fac
of the fact that the process was ruinin!
them financially by the thousand. Equa
soldiers should have made up to then
the difference between gold and green
backs paid them during service. Thi
we do not ask, but we do ask that tn
government, preserved by these men
shall see that they do not pass their OLE
age in the poor-house and fill paupers
graves at the end. And when we asl
this, we are met with the statement tina
it will cost too much; the country can
stand the expense; we must deal will
these matters on business principles
What then? Somebody has got to sup
port many of these men; we don't lie
people starve in this country a grea
deal, and the question is simply this
shall the whole country join IN this sup
port, or shall it be put on local commun
tiles, many of which did not exist whe1
the services were rendered.
Once more, comrades, let me urge yo1
to join the Grand Army of the Republic
The cost is nominal Don't let distanc
deter you. If you meet but rarely wit
your Post, you count one just the same
and numbers count. Let us stan'
shoulder to shoulder. as we did twenty
five years ago. and we can get anythin
reasonable. Are you wealthy, then TO
the sake of your less fortunate comrades
give US the weight of your influence; ar
you pool we will assist you in man
ways. We don't ask you as to race
creed or color. Have you served you
country in the field or on the water
Have you an honorable discharge iron
that service. If so, that discharge
your patent of nobil1ty,I that servic
"gentled your condition" VETERAN.