The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-12
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE RErunL1c.
Disabled Veterans Who Must Depend Upon
Ex-Rebels for Legislative Relief

Disabled Veterans Who Must Depend Upon
Ex-Rebels for Legislative Relief
National Republican
The history of the world has never such
an organization that known the Grand
Army of the Republic. After four years and
half of the bloodiest the world ever saw,
the soldiers of the Union army determined TO
organize themselves for social and charitable
purposes.
1t was. as a matter of course. that in so grand
war, where $500 600 men had been enlisted
in the army, that thousands and hundreds of
thousands of men who escaped with life from
the deadly bullet, the even more deadly camp
disease. would be left wounded and diseased. 1t
was also certain that many OF these soldiers,
disabled by wounds or disease, would suffer the
the pangs of poverty. Having been victorious
having saved the country for which they
fought, having unified the Nation which others
were attempting TO destroy, the Nation showed
its gratitude to these soldiers by providing pen
sions for such as were disabled or diseased.
But in making laws for general purpose it
was utterly impossible that Congress could reach
all cases that needed relief. Technical objec-
tons, the failure to procure testimony, the in
ability of the soldiers to expend the money
necessary for this purpose, would and did pre-
vent many deserving men from receiving PEN
slons. me Grano army OF me hepnonc steps
In TO aid this class and urge upon tho govern
ment the necessity, the proprie,y the honesty OF
giving to these men what was their due as de-
tenders of the Union In that it a charita-
BILE ORGANIZATION devoted to the interests of it's
members
1t is well known that camp life produces in
Slolous diseases JnaJ 40 not appear Tor years
after the time when the seeds of the disease
were planted It is also well known
that as age creeps upon man these
diseases and disabilities become more APP
parent. Twenty-thres years have passed
away-nearly the life of man-since the close
of the war, and thousands-yes, tens of thou
sands-of men who left the service in apparent
good health now suffering from diseases con-
tracted during the
Here again the Grand Army of the Republic
steps in the front and says to Congress: Our
comrades, numbers of them, suffering from
diseases brought on by the exposure to which
they were subjected during the war; we ask for
them just what they are entlfled to. the aid OF
the government which they preserved 10 tighten
the pathway of these old soldiers to the tomb
For the first time in the history of mankind,
when these soldiers come-this banded body of
the defenders of the Uniou-nto the halls of the
Legislature asking relief for their brethren they
find themselves confronted by the men they
conquered making la ws for the government they
tried to destroy, and that the vanquished are
now legslating to the rights of the victors
Men who in the rebel army now hold
seats in Congress and denounce this organiza-
ton of the Grand Army of the Republic asking
for their disabled comrades, being guilty of
robbery. and preiens@, and Hypocrisy" They
denounce these applicants as dishonest They
rdcule their applications for aid.
One Of them says: II will not go one single
step further in this unholy and wicked prosttu-
ton of the gratitude of a great people"
In short these ex-rebels, now legislating for
the country, say that no more pensions shall be
granted. ard that the Grand Army of the Re-
public is frud. The spectacle is enough to
make the gods weep.