The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-25
Universal Pensions.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal:
The question of universal pensions is at the
front just now and it will not be the fault of the
old soldier if it does not stay at the front till
every hoHorably discharged Union soldier is
placed upon the pension rolls. It is idle to say
that this measure is not Endorsed by the old sol
diers. They demand it almost unanimously.
Those who assert that this demand is the crea-
ton of pension agents, and not the spontaneous
action of the old soldiers either know little of
the soldier sentiment or they are
enemies of the measure and take
this method of attaching odum to it. uni
versal pension law could be so framed as to obvi
ate almost entirely the intervention of pension
attorneys. 1t could and ought to be free of the
techncalites and intricacies of the present in
valid pension system. The only facts to be es-
tablished would be those of enlistment, service
and honorable discharge. This would not require
the help Of agents Those who write and talk
against pension legislation almost invariably say
something about the rapacity of pension sharks,
and charge, either directly or by insin-
uation, that the bulk of the pension
allowances is and will be. gobbed up by these
sharks Such statements show either an ignor
ance of facts or determination to defeat the
pension movement by misrepresen tation. 1t is
QiIcCb duu udSTdub Insult w VIC Oiu oOiulCTo w
insinuate that they are not competent to protect
their own rights. Here and there one may be
swindled by a dishonest agent, but the great
mass of the soldiers are resolute and intelligent
are very many invalid pensioners in
this community, and so far as
know, there has not been single case of swim
ding. Although many thousands of dollars
have been disbursed here, am confident that
the great bulk of it has been judiciously applied
NV he Tn Of
selves and families and it is becoming generally
known among the soldiers that they can prose
cute their own claims, Notwithstanding the COM
plexlties of the present pension machinery
know of several who have procured their own
pensions without cost to themselves.
While the soldiers are in favor of many of the
pension measures now before Congress they are
not in favor Of any Of them as a substitute for
universal pensions. They are in favor of in
creasing the pensions of widows and orphans,
and of equalizing bounties, but they want these
and universal pensions too. They do not con-
sent to wait till they gre sixty-fve years old be-
fore receiving pension. The majority of them
will never be so old. A pension at that age
would benefit mostly the short-term soldiers,
whose health not seriously impaired by
| the length and severity of their service The
great majority of the long term men, those who
encountered the blasts of three four winters and
run the gauntlet Of all the great battles of the
war, will need no pensions at that age. This
sixty fve-year movement is scheme to avoid
the payment of PENSIONS or to reduce the pen
sion expenses to a minimum without the appear
ance of ngratitude and bad faith to the men who
rushed to the Nations rescue in the hour of its
extreme peril. If these men do not deserve a
pension, say So hut do not insult their inteln
gence by promising them a stipend at an age
when they will nearly all be dead
1t is said that the government is not financially
able to pay pensions to all soldiers Not able
Do you tell me that this great Nation, with its
fifty to sixty millions Of intelligent, prosperous
people; with its ability to feed half the world
of the useful and precious metals; with its navi-
gable rivers, canals, and railroads penetrating
nearly every neigh borhood in the country; with
its vast accumulation of capital and its million
aires in almost every county in the Union--do
you say it is too poor to pay the paltry sum of
$50 per month TO the mon who risked
their lives and sacrificed their health to save the
Union. and to conserve and promote the common
welfare2 If the government fails to grant these
PENSIONS it will not do so because it is unable to
pay them Let the opponents of pension legis-
lation be candid with the soldiers. If they think
the soldiers have been amply compensated for
their sacrifices let them say so, and not attempt
to conceal their animus by denouncing pension
sharks and pleading national poverty. The old
soldiers are in earnest in this matter. They want
the pension and expect to get it, but whether they
do or not, they believe the government is abund-
antly able to pay it, IL the people think they have
been paid enough already for their services, they
will submit to the disappointment with the same
patriotic forbearance with which they bore the
reverses that occasionally overlook them in the
field twenty years ago. Though many of them
are in restitution, they will notsuffer very much
longer. Twenty-Five years more will put most
of them out of their misery.
MUNcIE Feb. %. d. Fl. n. SHEwNAKER