The National tribune., 1886-03-11
SOME SOUND SENSE.
;fke Government Should Treat the Soldiers Lib
orally.

To THE EDITOR: Though too young TO re-
spond to the needs of our country in those dark
days when mems patriotism was tested by
something besides lip service, i am old enough
now to fully realize part of what the soldier
then did. | say a part" for the time is vet
distant before the full glory of their work will
be understood and appreciated. But a small
portion Of that appreciation can be- and should
be, given them now. By your issue of the
10th / see Eoston paper has asked " Is it not
time 10 call halt in taxation Of the people2"
and by the context intimating that reduction
in the pension list would be the proper place to
strike. From whom comes this demand? From
an organ OF aristocrats. Who gained the most
by the results Of the war, aside from moral and
National matters? The wealthy classes. How
much were the majority of the - boys in blue
paid for their services during the war?
pattry $l3 and Sl6 per month in deprecated
paper money, worth from 81 to 30 per cent in
gold. an old soldier at my elbow tells me. How
mlich did the wealthy classes obtain by the
war? Enhanced prices heavy profits and pay
r. I3ent ia gold of money loaned TO the Govern
ment In the light Of these facts il is piece
of sacTilcge fer such people TO lay unholy hands
upon the pension ark. 1t is well and proper to
Z 4oek thoroughly into the applications for pen
-,sloIsr but when a good cause is shown for a
pension II should be granted ungTudgngly and
in the spirit Of love. More is needed The
present laws should be thoroughly sfted and
laws enacted that win fully compensate. as far
as money can compensate for every disability
81 any way growing out of that conflict. and
the evidence by which this disability is to be
established should be made less not more. rig
oTogs. If taxation should be reduced, land
probably il should, let il come from the neces-
sarles of iile-from those things which enter
into the existence Of the laboring man, among
whom are TO be classed the majority of the sol
@dieTs. But lii no case should the receipts Of the
country be cut down below that point where it
EOnid be necessary to deprive the soldier of
: the pension he has so dearly earned. The
country IS wealthy united and prosperous, and
made SO by the sacrifice of the Union soldiers
A tew more years and the soldier will be but
hlsteTicai figure Those who remain are fast
nesting the portals that open into other scenes
To-day their manned and crippled forms are
among us TO teach us lessons OF patriotism and
valer; tomorrow the 'clods of the valley" will
be pressing their mold. To-day they ask to be
treated hOEorably as the saviors of the mightiest
Nation on earth; tomorrow they will be be-
yond our care-beyOnd our action. nation
that forgets its soldiers and their worth is a
nation doomed to dishonored death. nation
which stops oquibble over the size of a wound,
The precise time of disability; TO raise up evil
deptial barriers TO the fair proof of such disa-
billty, IS entering upon the road which leads to
fOrgetfulness of the soldier
There is no more precious legacy left by the
present generation to the next, aside from the
glorious acts of the Union sodiery, than the care
z and protection Of those who yet remain. Every
patriot should pronOuncedly speak out against
10 any such insinuations as those which disgrace
the columns of the Boston Rec0rd.-ED. p
SEEDS Manchester, Iowa.