The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-30
KEEP TOGETHER.
Stand Firm Cor the RecOmmrn aations OF the q. Al
Pension Committee.

KEEP TOGETHER.
Stand Firm Cor Che Recommendations OF the GAR.
Pension Committee.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The article
published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of
Nov. is under the aboye-named heading struck
the right note. Its tone was just the sound
needed 10 awaken the veteran soldiers all along
the line, from Maine 90 the Pacific coast, TO the
necessity of uniting in the support Of those
men and measures of legislation that will
secure 10 them full justice. The late election
demonstrated the fact before spoken OF in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, that the soldier element
in the country is power in politics not TO be
dcspisod. Politicians may claim that most OF
the defeated candidates were defeated owing 10
their peculiar views upon the tariff question.
If they had but known the inside workings OF
the opposition and the real power that gave that
opposition its strength TO successfully accom-
pllsh its aims, they might be able TO see that
the soldiers have not been unmindful as TO the
past SO TAR as their interest has been considered,
and are somewhat determined as 10 the future
During the progress OF the war, and whlle The re-
suit was in doabt, there were two classes to whom
the Administration then ia power looked for
aid the money leaders, and the bone and
siuew Of the country-the men that composed
the Union armies To each Of these classes the
honor of the Nation was pedged-tO the one
that all money loaned should be repaid with
interest from the date Of the loan; TO the other.
that in case of death their widows, children,
and those dependent upon them while living
should be cared for ana those disabled by loss
Of limbs or diseases contracted while in the
service should be the wards Of the Nation TO
the iull extent of their disability. How have
these promises been kept? The soldiers who
fought the battles endured the priyations and
hardships of the camp and prison pens OF the
South during the four years from lS6l-'65 and
In the end gave victory to the old hag-thosc
whose bravery and success gave the power 10
the Government 10 redeem the promises made
10 the bondhOlder. have been knocking at the
doors Of the Nations Capitol for more than 20
years, begging that simple justice might be done
them. How many have knocked in vain
How many Of those now in want will have an
swered their last roll-call before those IN power
will do them iustice2 Compare the treatment
of our country's preservers with that of the
capitalists or bOndholders. A large proportion
of the war debt has been paid. Those holding
] Government bonds have received on those the
Government has redeemed principal, interest
and premium 10 the utmost farthing IL they
+ have failed TO secure the pound Of flesh, they
surely have not failed in securing such leglsla-
/ tiOn from Congress rs will secure 90 them in
the future as in the past full payment not in
silver or paper, but in gold, and gold only. The
! soldiers who fought the battles have helped 10
pay this debt as far as it has been paid. and
/ while one of them lives and has the means he
will be liable to be assessed for the balance. Why
this discrimination in favor OF the moncyed
men OF the Nation against those who preserved
! the Nation as il is to-day? The one has and
viii continue 10 receive the full value Of their
/ claims, while the others received for their
services while in the field, a currency depre.
ciated in value the purchasing power Of
which was worth but little more than 5C
cents on the dollar, and have also been com.
I PEELED 10 pay since the war closed goodly
proportion Of the bonded debt. Ii the honor o
the Government was pledged 90 the bond
holders, how much greater is the claim Of the
soldiers, who gave life 20 that Government
when almost in its death straggles2 The sol.
diers ask for no unreasonable legislation; they
/ do not, as body, demand a service pension. The
action at the late National Convention on this
question has settled this point They only ask
of Congress to award them their just claims
Those claims have been presented most con
cisely by the Grand Army Committee on Pen
sions. If those recommendations were received
and acted upon lavorably the honor of the
country would be redeemed as far as the sol
diers' claims are concerned, and all be satisfied
Will this be done? Are not these men (the CAPT
| talists or bOndholders) the ones who, after re
ceiving all the benefits resulting from the sue
cess Of the Union army, using all the inauencs
which money gives them TO prevent our legis
latOrs from according 10 the veterans thai
favorable consideration on their claims thai
they have demanded and have received them
selvesy The committee referred. 10. viz, the
Committee on Pensions. selected by the Crane
Army organization have presented TO Congress
measures relating 20 pensions Satisfactory Il
a large majority Of the soldiers of the country
one Of their recommendations has been con
sidercd and become a law-that increasing thu
widows pension. The arrears recommendation
Is the one most important of the remaining
propositions IL soldier is entitled TO pension
for loss Of limb or from disability contracted
while in the service and in line Of duty, he i
entitled 10 the same from the time he lost hi
limb or the disability was incurred. Our legis
lators took the right view and acted wisel,
when they passed the arrears act. Its repea
was the most unwise the most cruel Legislation
that could have been devised, for the reasol
that il created a privileged class among tn
soldiers themselves. 1t gave TO those VIII
first presented their claims under the law
pension from the time the disability was in
Cured, or their discharge from service bu
there are others many of whom were equall
entitled, yet who honestly declined 10 pre-
sent their claims as long as their means O
employment gave them support for themselve
and families. The first act of Congress in iayu
Of the soldier should be the extension OF tn
arrears act, as recommended by the G.A.E
Pension Committee. The honor of the country
as well as justice, demands that this be don,
and done promptly. Will Congress do this
This is the question on the lips of the vetera
soldiers Of the Republic. They are lookin
anXiously for the answer. Every action
Congress, every move Of the Members will i
watched closely. Two years hence. aud ia
Presidential election and new Congress. TIL
soldiers Of the country, those who served durin
the rebellion, hold the balance of power In III
! States relied upon odecide the contest. Ii woul
not be policy for them 10 act independent
as a party, but they can, by united effort, sue
AS present indications point TO. so direct the
votes that those who can he relied upon 10 n
deem on honor the pledges made TO the vetera
soldiers in the darkest days of our Nation
: existence shall occupy the high places in tli
councils Of The AatiOn.-A VETERAN FROM q
TO '65.
Comrade Who Fits His Place.
= EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Col. III. !
= Gallagher, Of Indiana, the newly appointed IN
| dian Aren't for Pine Ridaa A 0encV nakata