The National tribune., 1888-03-15
THE DISABILITY BILL.

portion Of those who fought were from the
Southern States and very large part Of those
who have been benefited by it, believed then
sud know now, had served in the Confederate
army. Who do you suppose was
THE FIRST MAN WHO RECEIVED A PENSION
under the Mexican pension bill? Who was the
first beneficiary Of this service pension bill
Was il some disabled, mutilated, INDECENT vet
erau, who, as the Senator from Alabama has
assured Us, fought under the American flag in
that great war, and acquired that enormous
area of which the State of Kansas was once a
part2
Who stands prim1ss inter 1aros on that roll of
honor, shining and illustrious, as an illustra-
tion Of Nations gratitude? John s. Williams,
ex-senator from Kentucky, a man who would
resent as personal imputation any averment
of any description whatever that he was not an
absolutely sound, hale, strong and competent
man. We recollect the brown tresses that
waved over the brow Of that veteran, the APP
pearance of youth and vicor, OF almost boyish
juvenility that was won't TO accompany him;
man who was an aspirant for an appointment
on the Interstate Commission, who wanted to
be reelected to this body; a man who is gener-
ally suspected of being in the enjoyment of an
ample fortune; an applicant for the position of
Minister TO Mexico; man who rendered as /
am told, distinguished service as a Kentucky
Confederate in the armies that were maTshaled
against the American UuionI
And yet, Mr.. President, because we ask that
70 the ten or twelve Thousand disabled soldiers
and INDECENT veterans of the Union army who
are now the objects Of charity some relief shall
be granted, we are told that it is
Az INJURIOUS EXTENSION OF TIE NATIONS
LIBERALITY,
when, as a matter Of fact, everyone knows that
the benefactons and donations of the Mexican
service bill were indefinitely wider and more
expansive than anything that has been pro-
posed by the bill that is now pending before US
as proposed even to be amended by the Senator
from Iowa.
Mr.. President as the comrades Of the Grand
Army Of the Repbbic have been stigmatized
in this debate as a band Of sordid mercenaries,
organized for the purpose of plundering the
public Treasury and, like the legiOns of Rome
ready either 10 be bid for to be hidden against
for the control of the empire, will read para
graph or two before I close from the journal of
the 2lst annual session Of the National En-
campment held at st. Louis on the 26th, 29th
and Both Of September last, that organization
which the Senator from Missouri saws through
its officers had insolently aspersed the Chief
Magistrate OF the Republic and threatened him
with personal indignity if he attempted to visit
the city Of ST. Louis at the time when that
ERcampment was being held. In the name Of
that organization, so far as / can speak for it,
repudiate and deny that assertion. No threats
OF clscourtesy. no menaces Of violence, no hos
tile criticism was INDUCED against the Chief
Magistrate by the Grand Army of the Republic.
lie could have gone TO 81. Louis with entire
safety. He knew that he did not deserve we'll
Of that organization and be felt the stings OF
that conscience which
MAKES EDWARDS OF Us ALL"
The Commander of the Grand Army of the
Republic says:
Ihear5ily Congratulate all who have the pleasure
TO attend this great reunion OF old comrades whose
srencslhP was welded Ia The hot flame 81 battle,
IN the camp, on the march, and cemcnied by the
love which All bore aud sill maintain for the Union.
in Fraternity. Charity and Loyalty we stand proud
Of the fact that there is not nor has there ever
been any bitter feelings OF hate Tor those Of our fell
loI-cltlzes y no. once IN arms against US, bGtnow
being loyal have long ago taken their old-ilme
places IN our hearts. never we deyoutly hope to
be removed theTeirom. We have not now. nor
have We al any time since the war closed, had
disposition 10 open again The bloody chasm winch
once unhapplly divided this people. We not only
VIII not ourselves reopen that dreadful abyss but
we WIZ. with the loyal people North aud South
protest against al attempts which others may
make 20 DO 20, by holding up for especial honor
ano distinction anything that pertains to in any
manner Rl0r1hes the cause OF disunion.
With The people Of the South we only seek to
continue the friendly rivalry long ago entered upon
m the enort 20 make cur beloved land great and
prosperous and It's people intelligent, happy and
Firtuous.
We win rival them IN ezalting all that pertains
20 and LOnorS this great Onion and In coudefuHinC
everything that lends TO foster hostile sentiment
thereto. We VIII rival them Ia earnest esdeAyors
20 incucate IN fhe minds Of All the citizens Of this
country and especially Of our children heartfelt
love FOR the United States Of America 10 the end
that present and coming generations shall lii every
part 81 lie land believe III and maintain true ale
glance theeto, based upon paramount sespcc, for
hld fidelity to lis Constitution and laws /" which
viii lead them 10 " oiscounteiaBce whatever tends
70 weaken loyalty, iucItes 10 nsuTTection treason
orFebellon. OF many manner pairs the efficiency
and perEnaneHcy Of our free Institutions and viii
lmpei them 10 encourage The spread Of universal
FftEHf rNrFfnt -
defend tifese sentiments. giI5ch quoted from
the fundamental law u our Order with their lives If
need DE- aad 10 The further end that they shall 50
revere ie eiifDellls q the Union that under cir
euHsiapces can be coupled with them la the same
honorable terms the ymbols Of a sentiment which
l. antagonistie 10 it, perpetuty.
The contemplation Of Tie grand picture Of long
ago preserved tiilOn, a mighty people prospecting
a. no people on earih ever before pTospered with
future LAT beyoHd that " iciI opens 10 any other
nation. land comrades which to ali lie citizens IS
worth iiFlHg for. and country and Government
Mofih oyiag Tor constitutes the greatest reward Of
those who have suffered AID blcd and stTiven that
such a spectacle nllsAf be possible.
An organization that entertains those senti-
nents and that is animated by such purposes is
sTIGaATIZRD HERE
as gang Of s0rdid mercenaries, organized for
plunder. Mr. President, they were Organized
for charity. The total amount reported ex-
pended IN charity from March 81, 1886, TO
March 81. 1857, was 1888. g3s AZ: the number Of
members Of the Order or the families Of such.
and o,955 were either ex-seldiers, not members.
or those dependent upon them. 1t is TO supple
meni this charity that the Grand Army has
asked the Congress Of the United States that
This BIZ may pass. We propose in this body TO
pass i. Initiating the language that has been
used by is adyersaries. hope that il will PASS
the Other House Of Congress. and if IL does let
tie President Of the United States veto il at
his peril. Manifestations Of applaUse
SENATOR BLACKBURN
taid that be was at a loss TO account for Senator
ingalls, iuggiug him into the TRADE In which
he had just INDUCED, for he had never made
bo2st Of identification with any military sery-
ice. lie had never referred 10 the fact Of hay
Ing been Confederate soldier, unlike tie Sena-
tor From Kansas, and that his military record
was too modest and too humble to prove a sub
9eet OF interest 70 the galleries. He represented
constituency that was entitled to draw more
pensions than tie State so ably represented by
lie Senator who had just preceded him Ken
tucky furnished three men 10 the Union army
for every one that Kansas furnished he could
not understand what connection the speeches
made az Atlanta and at Brooklyn or New York
had With the bill pending. He denounced
Senator lngalls's allnsion to the President as
containing language not permissible upon the
hlsiings. II would not even be employed BIZ