The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-11
wHaT WOULD pE THE PRospECTq

hAAAAoSAA AS W AAas hpAA0 ~ wv BA~SE~NN~
any general pension legislation in case Mr..
Cleveland should be re-elected?"
A hopeless negative is the only answer
that can be given this question.
Though Mr.. Cleveland has, like all poll
ticians, indulged in some glittering gener-
alities about the country's duty toward the
soldiers and sailors, he, like too many poll
tieians, has clearly never intended that these
utterances should mean anything ofpracti-
cal value to that class of our people.
Undoubtedly his message vetoing the De-
pendent Pension Bill was fair expression
of his views on general pension legislation,
and assuming this to be so, it is apparent
from it how hopeless is the expectation of
anything of general benefit to the veterans.
Discussing the service pension idea in his
message, he points out with appreciation that
the soldiers of the Revolution did not re-
ceive a service pension until 35 years after
the close of the struggle that those of the
war of 1912 did not get it until Sc years
after the close of that contest, and that those
of the Mexican war had to wait 80 years for
a service pension. he arrives at this con-
clusion:
So far as relates to the soldiers of the late civil
war, the bounty il gives them is given Is years
earlier than has been furnished TO the soldiers of
any other war, and before large majority of its
benefciaries have advanced in age beyond the
strength and vigor of the prime of life.
The only Interpretation that this Ian
guage is capable of is that he is opposed to
any general or service pension legislation
for at least 10 years longer, or until the lapse
of not less than 50 years after the close of
the rebellion. He conveys the impression
that he would prefer the limit to be the same
as in the case of the soldiers of the war OF
1926 years. It must be kept in mind
that this language was not used in speaking
of pensions TO men who were suffering from
no disabilities except those of advancing
years, but in vetoing pensions to men who
were then afflicted with actual disabilities,
which prevented them performing the labor
necessary for their support
He goes on at great length to show that
the soldiers are not entitled to any addi-
| tional pension legislation, because
! / cannot but remember that the soldiers of our
civil war. in their pay and bounty, roeeired suci
compensation for military service has been
TeceUed By soldiers before since mankind first Went "a
t0dr; that before behalf Of any SoLdiery hdUt
many and such generous aos been passed 70 TelieUt
against e incidents Of tuGr that statutes have been
| passed giving them preference in all public en-
pigments; that the really needy and homeless;
Union soldiers Of the rebellion have been TO large
extent provided for at Soldiers Homes, instituted
and supported by the Government. where they are
maintained together. free from the sense of degra
dBtion which attaches to the usual support Of char
ity; and that never before in the history of The
country has it been proposed 10 render Govern
mont aid toward the support Of any of its soldiers
1 based alone upon a military service so recent, ant
where age and circumstances appeared SO little u
demand such aid.
Reduced to its simplest form this amount
to this:
l. The soldiers were mighty well paid TO
all that they did, and they have no claim il
law or equity for anything more.
2 On top of the good pay the soldiers 20
at the time, the generous country has Law
ished all sorts of favors and gifts since.
3. If they have not profted as they shout,
by this, the poorhOuses and Soldiers Home;
which are good enough for them, are open t
all Of them.
Is it likely that a man who talks this wa
is ever going to allow any further pensio
legislation if he can help it?
So determined is he to make his meanin
clear that he returns to it later on:
Hitherto such relief has been granted to survi'
ing soldiers. fe10 fn number. venerable image after
long lapse Of time since their military service
as parting benefacttoH rendered By grateful reopI
This is dismal prospect indeed. No gel
, eral pension until all but few of the We
Grams have died, and then "a grateful pc,
pie" can tender parting benefaction
which viii not cost much.
The veterans who manage to survive unit
that time will be men who will not care
j fig whether their grateful country" Civ
5 them parting benefaction of few cen
r a day OF not. They will have fought IL
battle unaided SO long that they viii pref
. TO fight it out that way.
0 The idea is continually surging up in Il
! Presidents mind that the veteran made
b mighty good thing in a financial way out
y the war, and he ought to be satisfied Wi
B the rich emoluments of his service. Towa
4 the end Of the message he again put tn
E, idea forward in this shape:
think il may be said that at the close of the w
" Of the rebellion every Northern State, and gre
{ majority OF Northern Counties and cities, we
buTdened with taxation account OF the lar
20 bounties paid soldiers; and the bonded d,
J. thereby created still constitutes large item in
account Of the tax-gatherer against the people
> He then proceeds to argue that, the sold
having been so generously treated by t
property holders, the Nations first duty
TO see that these latter are TO be taken CT
81 Of and relieved.
he IGNORES fba greater Toss IN {l,a ,,r,