The National tribune., 1888-03-08

W
benefited by this bill. 1t is not true that the
great majority of the men who belong TO the
organization will be benefited. They were
speaking for those in their number who are
disabled and ineapacitated. Are they to be
criticized and condemned for exercising their
natural right of petition :? Perhaps the time
has come when they should apologize, not only
that they have exercised the right of petition,
but that they represent and maintain legisla-
tive body to which they could appeal for a
redress of their wrongs.
Senator Beck denied that he had suggested
anything intimating that the Grand Army had
not the right of petition. He believed, how
ever that Senator Manderson's speech in regard
to the wishes of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie was more degrading than the charge, on the
other hand that the Senators on the Democratic
side were acting in Difference to the wishes of
the President.
Senator Henderson said that he was at loss
to conceive what there was so immaculate and
so unapproachable about the present Chief
Magistrate that his past actions should not be
criticized. He claimed the right in his capacity
of citizen to criticize the acts of the President.
Senator Teller said that he had not criticized
the Executive. He had complained of the
Senate and not the Executive. He hoped
that the Senator from Kentucky could see a
wide difference between the old soldiers exer-
cising their right of petition and the Senators
representing the Administration side rising
and saying, Here, you know if you adopt
that amendment there will be a veto to this
bill" 1t viii be a sad day indeed when the
great body of men who represent the soldier
clement Of this country, or any other element,
cannot come into the Senate with a petition
without its being said that they infringe upon
the dignity of the Senate. He felt it degra-
dation that the American Senate should have
held over it whip of possible Executive dis
approval.
Senator Beck denied that anyone had the
right or authority to intimate that the Presi-
dent had made up his mind TO veto the bill
whether II was presented 70 him in one shape
or another.
Senator Blackburn said that this was not the
first time that the Grand Army of the Republic
had resorted 10 methods to coerce an Executive,
and their action had been repudiated by the
conservative element OF the people.
Senator Teller said that he did not want to
give the debate a partisan turn, but he was not
responsible for il. He did not propose to renew
any Of the animOsity growing out Of the war,
but be should never fail TO insist that the men
who carried the flag and saved the country are
entitled to more credit when we glory in an
united country and successful country, than
the men who attempted its destruction. The
destinies Of the country can be well intrusted
In the hands of the men who took up arms to
save it, and who, when the country was saved,
laid down their animosities with their arms.
They have a right TO say that he who carried the
flag and who won for it renoWn and glory, but
who is now in the poorhouse, shall be fed and
clothed out Of the magnificent sum in the
Treasury.
Senator Hoar did not think that it was quite
proper for Senator Beck to speak of the Grand
Army Of the Republic as benefciares, if that
word is to be used in thesense in which we speak
Of paupers and other persons dependent on pub
lie bounty. They are entitled, by the contract
by which they entered upon the public service,
to liberal, sufficient and ample pension sys-
TEN, 10 be measured only by the sense of Con-
gross of the public expediency and public power.
Senator Blackburn said that he did not in
tend to apply the word SUPERFICIAL" to the
Grand Army of the Republic at all. He did
not intend to do that organization discredit.
Hedefended the use of the word benefciaries y
saying that he meant by it the legatees, accept
ors. receivers Of the benefits of legislation.
Senator Henderson replied to Senator Black
4 burn in a somewhat humorous vein, and went
on to say that the bill had come to the Senate
in the ordinary course Of presenting such mat
tiers. The Secretary's desk is covered, the
| pigeon-holes in the committee rooms are filed
with bills presented by the organizations Of
! the country. The oleomargarine bill is an III
! stance of this The Knights of Labor have not
/ coutented themselves merely with the presen
! tation Of petitions. bat sent IN framed bills
+ The Women's Christian Temperance UnioI
+ have done the same thing.
The Senate went into executive session.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9.
Senator Wilson moved to amend by inserting
I the words "infrmities Of age or from" SO as
Y 10 read, and who are now or who may here
/ after be suffering from the infrmities Of age Of
Y other mental or physical disability not the re
4 suit OF their own Vicious habits" etc.
Senat0rN est opposed the amendment. esaiC
1 that il was no. possible that the Senate Of tn,
T United States should be asked 70 pension a mar
who was suffering from the infrmites Of age
/ This amendment amounted 20 the simple decla
ration that every man over % years is to b
embraced within this pension bill. There couis
BE- 10 way Of determining what are the infrmi
ties Of see.
Senator Plumb said that Senator Vest spok,
as II this WAS a new question. 1t was not TIL
Senator himself had voted for a bill In the las
( C0urress which was based precisely upon TIA
same idea as that O. the amendment. Congress
had provided in that bin % pension all TIA
survivors Of the Mexican war who had arrive,
4 az the age o. 90, upon the theory 50 admirabl,
expressed by the Senator as the theory Of thi
bin, that persons who had arrived az the age 0
- we're IN that condition OF physical decrepi
tude, presumably because Of their service in ID
army that they were entitled to be peusiOned
The Senator went on 70 make a beautiful com
parison between the disbanded armies OF Tia
Republic and those Of Rome referring to tn
old Roman custom Of requiring the soldiers an
their officers % resign their commissions befor
they could re-enter the Roman Republic. Non
OF them were permitted TO cross the RubicoI
except as citizens.
Senator Vest said Mr.. President had nc
the slightest idea that the few words Of suggei
ton which ] made in regard TO the amendmen
woald provoke the outburst of eloquence I
which We have been listening.
We have heard good deal upon the foo
about almshOuses and Federal soldiers. I d
not know how it is in the rest OF the Unioi
but In the State of Missouri there are no Fec
eral soldiers IN alrnshouses, and l am proud
say that there are no Confederate soldiers
almshouses either.
when Gen. Lee surrendered at Appomatto
there were but {, 09g muskets left Of that splei
did army which had fought the world in arm
and had been battered and beaten back
overwhelming numbers for four long year
Out Of companies that went into that terrib
strife of l25 and $50 men bat 10 or u returnt
! back TO their kindred and homes. The Sou
: today IS filed with MANNED and crippled 50
; diers, who, amid shot and she'll and saberstrok
/ fought for their honest convictions as mC
have seldom fought before. They ask no pc
4 / sions. God be thanked, they would not tal
them. They are not in almshouses, and ]
: man has ever seen one of them begging f
bread
Whence comes this talk of Federal soldie
SCOTT'c FNfTTT cTON. or p,,ra r.