The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12

nearly 4 to la much more decisive ma
iority than they encountered year ago at
Portland. This should certainly convince
them of the hopelessness of continuing the
struggle.
Everybody but them sees that in the pres
ent temper of the President, Congress, the
press and the people no proposition for gen.
eral service pension will even be entertained.
Whether it ever will be is not TO the point
any more than are assertions Us to the abstract
rightfnlness Of such legislation. So long as
the great portion Of the survivors of the war
are still in their prime, and they can be found
everywhere carrying on the work Of life in
successful competition with all corners, it is
useless TO expect that the country will in
cline readily TO any suggestion TO pay every
body who served in the army regular
monthly pension, whether he be rich or poor,
strong or decrepit, well provided for or
needy. This has been particularly true for
the last two years, when party had just
come into power largely on the strength of
its promise of retrenchment Of expenses and
reduction of taxation, and has been very
anxious TO do something to make a show of
carrying its promises into fulfillment. There
has been just about as much chance of this
Congress which has just adjourned passing
general service pension bill and of the
President signing it as there has been Of the
whole of them resigning their places and
going home, and no more.
We do not say that this state OF mind viii
continue indefinitely. There will undoubt-
eddy come time when general service pens
sion bill can be advocated with some hope oil
success, but that time is not now at hand.
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE and the Ma.
tional Pension Committee Of the GAR have
held all along what the National Encamp,
ment has in effect reailirmed, TO wit, that the
true policy is to confne our asking to what
is likely to be granted, and what if granted
will do the most good TO the greatest mum
Der. We could not ask with any hope for
pension for healthy, able-bodied man in
the prime Of life, and who has gathered untC
himself the means for a comfortable main
tenance, but we can ask, and insist upon il:
being answered fayorably, that any man whI
has served his country faithfully, and who il
now disabled and in want, shall receiy,
enough TO meet the most pressing necessi
ties Of himself and those dependent upol
him. Such an appeal has everything TO rec
ommend it, and nottingham be successful,
urged against it. 1t has had the sympath,
OF the great mass of the people in the loya
States, and the reason Ghy il was not sue
cessful with Congress at the session jus
J closed has been the feverish eagerness of tn
Members belonging 10 the dominant part,
who are now before their constituents 70
reelection TO make an appearance of hayin
/ reduced the Governments expenses, and
the general belief that il would be useless {
pass bill which the President was certai
Z TO veto.
! We sincerely trust that our comrades VIII
/ have been supporting the eightdollar-a
month plan with so much ability and cal
nestness will now recognize the futility {
!, any further effort in that direction-at lea:
e for some years-and join their energy an
q ! abilities with the main body Of the GAL