The National tribune., 1886-07-15


entertain the highest possible respect may say
the highest possible veneration. class Of men, and
a very large one, 20 whom more Is due perhaps than
any other class OF soldiers who went 20 face the
lannon's mouth on the battlehelds Of the Republic
These are not known in any pension legislation ia
this or in any Congress. ! mean the men who
enlisted carly the men who fell I'm AT the first tap
of the drum. the men who began to march under
the flag from the early days OF 1861, who made the
weary marches, who camped by the river sides
who unfodcd their tents by the miasmatic swamps
the men who were in every possible battle the
men who were seldom sick. the men who were
never in hospital the men who never szulked who
were never captured. These men who fought II out
from the beginning 20 the end. not being disabled
are not known on the pension-rolls Of the country
Mould TO God that could give every man Of them
pension from this hour on 10 the last day OF his
life. Applause.
TO these men more than 20 any others Is due the
honor Of suppressing the rebellion and saving our
civil institutions for posterity. To them "A loyal
people owe debt they can never fully pay.
When ] speak OF my admiration for these men
do not understand me as casting any reprOach on
the men who were disabled early in the fight.
remember AN instance in which comrade OF mine
lett civil life. the peaceful frcside OF his happy
home and a week afterward was shot down Icy my
side oIethe battlefield having served his country
less than week. Would any man dispute the fact
that his wife and his children were entitled TO
pension
Men may in very short service have incurred
disabilities that are pensionahle. Thousands Of
Observation-Disclosures cases OF this kind have occurred
ann la favor OF taking care of these men, putting
them on the pension-roll, and rather than commit
against the Government he fought 10 save. APP
pause on the Republican side To do otherwise
would be rank injustice and base ingraiitude.
Now, want to call the attention Of the gentle
man from Wisconsin Mr. Bragg TO the fact that
while he has spoken disrepectfuiiy and sarcas-
ucaily OF this class OF short-serrice men who went
into the army late I'M the war, the gentleman HIM
self, II j am not mistaken, has more than once in
this House recorded his vote in favor OF pensioning
the soldiers OF the Mexican war. The gentleman
shakes Inns head. IL he means that he did not, let
me congratulate him; but all the gentlemen who
sit about him upon that side of the House and vote
with him, all of them except perhaps the gentle
man from Ohio Mr.. Warncrl, voted 60 put on the
pension rolls of the Republic men who never heard
the sound of hostile gun, men who never left the
camp or rendezvous. men who neversaw Mexican
living or dead. Laughter
Yet the gentlemen who voted for that pension
bill voted for u without reluctance, voted for II
eagerly. Those gentlemen, when some unfortu-
nate man has fallen ia war that amounts TO some
thing. IA real controversy, "a Of four weary
years, war in which half a million Of men on the
Union side alone persisted, war that took hun
dreds OF millions from the hard earnings Of the
people, war that created pension roll that j. 10
last Tor generations. war that il still exacing
millions every year from the men who work in the
field and in the shop-wben man who tried 10
take his part in that war in an humble way. and
who happened 10 he injured or killed accidentally
rather than Ia the strict ihe of military dutywhen
such a man comes here for pension they take
another view. They not only deny him pension
but rldcule him FOR having applied for one. Take
Tor example, the case OF he unfortunate soldier Ia
this particular case who took medicine that turned
out 10 be poison, and died, leaving widowed wife
and orphan children; when we propose to grant a
pension Ia that case the Executive says No; I
VIII sgn your bin paying out tens OF millions of the
peoples money 20 those soldiers OF the Mexican
war who were not wounded. who were not dis
nbed, who never fought bat i will not sign this
bin" And you gentlemen on the other side vocif-
crousiy shout amen!
1hlz unfortunate woman's husband died. il l.
true, in tie service she laid him, broken and bleed
lng, willing sacrifice upon The altar Of his coun-
Try she aud her children have lost their protector;
Ilr~lugQt.
gress 81 the United States 10 give that poor woman
aud her children pension, because the soldier did
not meet hls death strictly M the line 81 military
duty" May God have mercy upon man who las
q heart like that Amen the Republican
side think u such heart belonged 10 ordi-
nary man u would BE- so withered and hardened
that the people could. IN imagination al least hear
81 rattle against ts owners ribs lac walks along
the streets That y al there j. ia this 1 adj
mit that upon strict construction OF the law this
man did not die 10 the line Of military duty: bat
suppose a comrade had accidentally discharged a
nlusket aud killed iiin, that would not have been
any more IN the line Of military duty; yet who
would deny the widow pensiony
Hundreds 81 Instances Of tile kind have gone
through the Pension Office, they have gone
through the Congress Of Tie United States What
. difference II there ia being shot by accident and
poisoned by accident? IL il hard To draw the
exact line Of military duty In all cases. appeal
g gentlemen who have been in the military service
II this he nOi true; and regret exceedingly that
am here raising q question Of military law with
that distinguished soldier. the President who IA
COMMUNICATE Chief Of the Armies Of the United
States. Laughter the Republican side lie has
probably. ~ reason Of bis position, seen longer
service and better service Than have. I Judge so
from the manner in which lac treats his comrades
who suffered with him.
know OF no such demand coming up here from
+ the men who pay their hard earnings into the
Treasury ] know many men who did not serve in
\ the army. have a large constituency, embracing
some who did not like the war very well: but i
know none ~ them who begrudges the pittance
that the Congress 81 the United States has been
giving 10 these Inen In the shape Of these private
pension bills.
The President has already vetoed 9s 81 these bills
+ III lac should happen 10 veto N more he will have
vetoed ~ the Short period Of 90 days acts Of
the American Congress than all bs predecessor
have vetoed; and he will go down 10 pOsierity a.
4 the great American nl8ector and will rob one al
my colleagues Mr.. H0lmanl 81 the aures he las
4 been 90 long aud arduously iaboring 10 earn.
Mr.. Conger Iowa)
Mr. Speaker, the only question at issue In ihis
case seems 20 arse upon the position taken 10y the
President ihat the widow 81 40 soldier should ne.
u ecive pension unless lac was killed ia battle on
died n the service direct result Of injuries re.
eeiyed technically in the line Of his duty
Here 10 the ease o. man who enlisted less than
4 "A year alter The commencement u the war and
served two tull years. One day when he aud his
comrades were sitting in tent another cOmrade
came in with bottle Of medicine. and without 4
I suggestion from tlis soldier asked him to smell
ana taste %. lie did smell aud taste ID then and
a there aud before the next morning be was dead
DE len "a widow Will four children. This widow
comes 10 this Government aud SAVE fhnt her nus.
band gave two full years Of active aud vaiant sery.
icc ln defense OF his country and e flag: tlInt by
simple accident which might have happened per.
ills 70 any curious gentleman, even - gentlemen
on tins floor, her husband lost his life while IN tht
service u hls country, and ia consequence she ha.
E fpt years been asking from the Government tht
poor pitianpe 81 "a on SlZ per month.
Dir Speaker, whence comes the opposition 10 thi.
pension Legislation u comes from the other side
~ iiiis House. u haH always c0Inc from that side
Go back "A comparatively few years 90 the com.
fnccenelit 81 this pension legislation and see WHO
voted against the original arrears acty sixty
{ Democrats and oilr lfppubils4n Milo voted
against tie modified aiiaarz acig Si1iv-o,,s Demo
CRATE, ana Dul one riHE9e Republican. Who ln tht
beginning 81 tllis a. voted against thr aad
ton ~ - month 60 tiie widows pcnpiOnsg sixty
slG DemOctstiea ami iiOi oae solitary Igrpuhlinan
Who ls ID tEl olsJfuulH ltssislati,tn al oar rl,taN
nlgnt sessions? Who b ID THAI calls Tor a quorum
aud defeats tle consideration 81 these metltoril,
hliirf democrats always. aud never. tiiank God !
Z AspuDiican Applause ON the Repuhiiuan SIDE
Who ~ D. Ma -peak or that yeioes ls--r Ineritsti
Ous pension bills a DglnOcrHiic Precedent: fJl
never hah Republican President sent 10 torgr,-s,
9 message Ncioing "a bill 81 this character Mr.
Z Speaker, want tiIis House 10 understand aud
want thc country ~ understand, that the Repubi
Cams hfe responsible for this pension LEGISLATION
aud every one ~ them here is willing 10 slOuldc
iHs iuil share 81 that responsibility.
Mr Baync Pa:
AIr Speaker. II . am correctly informed all IA,
Presidents 81 thc United states before liz one "a,
NOW have vetoed but one pension BIN NJ maj
among them all in thc whole previous history I,
tlis country had the courage 10 deny L. the widcus
~ llie orphan children ortn ie crippled soldiers O.
dependent parents " such soldiers pension until ~
Eoi our present President He stands out Ia ia,
history ~ our country conspicuous example of !
disposition, a taste tcmcrity, a paItisaushit
Mlneh is ulc1iilnpled.
Much interest was felt in the case Of sail,
Ann Bradley.
IT. 6r0svcn0r Ohio: