The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-01
A GRAND SPEECH
Senator Turpie's Eloquent Advocacy
Of the Disability Pension Bill.

Mr.. President, do not give my support to
this bill upon grounds of compact or agreement.
When the soldier signed the last payroll and
received his final discharge, there was on both
sides an end of the contract Neither party
could under its terms, demand anything more
of the other. But nations, as we'll as individ-
uals, have acted upon and recognized other OBJ
legations beside those Of contract. Nobleness
Obliges. Let US rather rejoice that we are
bound by no covenant; il is only the nobility
OF the National character which moves rs to
make provision for the needy who, by their serv-
ice in perilous time have deserved well OF
the Republic.
We, who were successful in that stupendous
conflict which closed in 1865, gain nothing by
any disparagement OF the genins the courage,
or the resources of those whom we met aud
overcame even this cannot lessen the magnif-
cent results of that achievement The war for
the Union was the greatest tournament of arms
fought in modern times, when we consider the
numbers engaged on either side, the extent of
country covered by its operations, or the mo-
mentOus questions submitted to the arbitra-
ment Of the sword dependent upon the issue.
That issue is the principal fact in our history,
as it is in that of the age. This age has wit
messed the siege and fall of Sebastopol, the
stricken fields of Sedan and Sadowa, but those
were not so fraught with meaning TO mankind
as Gettysburg and Appomattox.
We are yet too near the event to take the
true measure of its magnitude. Accounts Of it
we have, numerous, variant. We have even
an autograph Odyssey by the Ulysses of this
stored epic; but these are merely the materials
for history yet to be written. The writer has
not yet appeared. he is waited for Such a
theme viii not lack a celebrant. He will come
an American of no section, native to the wide
manor Of the Nation born, man of exhaustless
patience and tireless industry, of large under
standing, Of calm, impassive, judicial spirit,
jealous only for truth, skilled to portray men
and events in just proportion, in true perspec-
tive with eloquenee to make the militant past
live and move again for those who are to fol-
low US.
The historian Of the war viii be as remark
able a parsonage as any of the actors therein.
In the pages Of this future Thucydides one
character, as the armed champion of the Union,
will appear proudly eminent upon the march,
in the bivouac, in the assault, in the imminent
deadly breech, in captivity to the insolent foe,
hoping ali things, enduring all things-the
man with the musket, the private in the ranks,
the chief beneficiary of this measure.
Not only duFing the war, but in the peace
that followed il, does the conduct of the citizen
soldier and mis- comrades entitle them to crate
full recognition. When before did great civil
war end like this of ours? The cessation OF
/ hostilities was marked by an event in every
( way as notable, as important, as the surrender
/ of the enemy. the disbanding of the armies OF
/ the Union The legions of the first Cesar won
at Pharsalia only for their leader; they forgot
| liberty; they did not restore the Republic
| The IronsiGes who conquered at Naseby and
/ Worcester were never discharged; they re.
manned not members of the Commonwealth
/ they dreamed of, but subjects Of the Lord Pro.
tector under rule as absolute as that of any
! English monarch Of the time.
The forces of the French directorate, after tho
complete subjugation of the royalists of Ia
| Nendee became in rapid succession the
real support of the Consulate and the Empire
In many like instances as seen in historic an
| mails, the victorious armyin civil war was re
tanned to support aud prolong the ascendanc!
/ Of the political section TO which il owed its or
ganization and equipment.
Emancipation as the result of the war wa
not more benefcent than disarmament j
| may be said these men only obeyed the orde
of those in authority. What is authority with
/ out power2 Were was the actual powerat thi
/ moment Of military dissolution? With tn
/ bayonets; with those who obeyed, not Will
those who gave the order for retirement.
| Thus then, we may conceive the motiv
which swayed this myriad mass with arms il
their hands-a devoted, unquestiGDing loyalt,
to the free institutions Of their country. LII
U4OD.cDkt III the LNiiihllDg OF aIl eye LIItiE puI
pose accomplished, these veteran cohorts of
dauntless chiFalTy, these warriors Of the PEG
pie, disappeared. Regiments. brigades, diyis
ions vanished away, to be known thencefort
only as legends Of glorious passage throug
the Red Sea Of revolution. They founded n
dynasty; they disturbed not the regular orde
Of constitutional government Under thes
auspices the great Republic in the fullness {
time returned 10 and resumed in every porto
I If forru nd NC Z
freedom.
Emancipation gave liberty to another race
disarmament preserved it for our own.
were well TO consider 10 look at this time wit
somewhat Of fixed inspection upon the noun
tain hight OF temptation and opportunity
wbereOn these men stood that day, that da
the enemy yielded. They had the sworC
Why was it sheathed? They held the purs
Why was it closed? The sunless treasure Of
nations wealth Was theirs by right Of salyag
What mOiety Of it have they received or taken
Shall those who stood once at the front bJ
have IN the march Of life since fallen benin,
be abandoned TO want and destitution3 Til
benefcence Of the Government should suppla,
either public or private charity in grantin
this stipend for the support and maintenant
, of the necessitOus among its defenders
Not as compensation and not as aims shoul
this stipend be given. 1t is neither But
should be given token Of distinction, like q
: cross Of the Legion Of Honor, like the chaplet
myrtle or Of roses worn by victors of old-ros
which, reversing the beautiful legend of S
Elizabeth, may turn to bread for those wi
, need it.
representatives Of the States and the Peep
, we have lawful warrant to levy and cole
taxes for the purpose Of providing for the cor
> mon defense, to raise armies, to declare wa
= and to use all necessary means to make SUI
! declaration effective. We have the advice al
: example Of the first patriots and Presidents,
prepare for war in time Of peace. This me;
4 ure is a part Of that preparation.
Moreover, this measure is provision for I
4 payment of portion of the war debt, a pi
! thereof let US hope, heretofore casually ovt
e looked omitted in casting up the accoun
I, Yet ii is a debt, in faith and honor, as inca,
. bic Of Reputation as that secured by constii
e tional enactment. Ii is asworthy of settleme
n 90 "a - 90 go g 81