The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-09-20
PENSIONS.

PENSIONS.
The Committee on Pensions will submit
a report Of It's labors. desire TO bear testi-
mony to the untiring zeal of its members,
and their unsel1ish devotion to the duty inn
posed upon them. All that could be done
they have manfully done. They have failed,
but the blame lies elsewhere, not with
them.
The bill reported by the committee to the
2lst National Eucampment, and by rec
commended, while not so far-reaching in its
provisions Us to meet the demand of large
minority Of the comrades, was yet so emil
nently just, so absolutely free from all OBJ
lection resting upon reason, that there
seemed no possibility of its failing to receive
prompt and favorable action from the Ma
tional Congress. No man or set of men can
be found anywhere who will say that the
relief It was framed to give should not be
given 1T exceeds in no particular the
Nations promises in the past or the
wishes of the Nation in the present.
Notwithstanding the ceaseiess, earnest
efforts Of our most efficient pension com
mittee in its behalf it has failed to pass
Congress, and by this failure, wholly mex
plicable and indefensible thousands of our
devotion to their country in its extremity,
are subsisting upon the charity of their COM
rades, or are paupers in the mighty, wealthy
Republic their unselfsh valor saved. can
not ftly comment upon this subject Ny
emotions VIII not permit it. 1t cannot be
that the people of America will voluntarily
continue longer to withhold from these
heroic men that scanty support needed to
preserve them from the pauper's fate and
enable them to end their lives so repIete
with past glory, so full of present pain, so
bereft Of future hope, in self-respected man
illness.
have no desire to utter word to infu.
ence your action upon the several PROPOSE
ti0ns for pension legislation that will prob
ably be presented for your consideration
only, comrades, let our action be of manly
dignifed character, worthy the men and the
cause we represent, and justly eXemplifying
that comradesbip which is the tie that binds
us together. No measure receiving the in.
/ dorsement Of this Encampment, followed by
the earnest, hearty support of our entire
membership, viii fail to receive favorable
/ consideration from the National Congress
| Through this body, and this alone, oul
! Order must speak, or speak in discOrdant
/ tones.
| 1t is not to be expected that all will agree
upon any measure proposed but when, after
/ discussion and deliberation, the majority
! have decided upon measure, all should
! yield and give it their support. 1t is only
| By so doing that the Grand Army of tht
| Republic can WELD the influence in aid o
needy comrades that the Nation is ready t,
accord it, but which it has not exerted il
the past.
woMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
I have had occasion during the year e
observe the working of the Woman's Relic
Corps, and have no hesitation in bearin
testimony to the great aid given our Post
by the efficient services of that auxiliar
organization. lis officers have been prudent
energetic, and loyal to the GAR. and it
sacred trust.
DEATHS.
During the year ending March 81, 1885
4 ,433 comrades died; an increase of 1,02
over the previous year. A death rate ex
ceeding II per day. An emphatic admoni
tiOn that we have passed the summit an
are starting down the western slope towar
the setting sun of life The ascent wa
made with heroic tread and fearless from
right along the pathway of duty. In th
sere and yellow leaf1 the descent will b
less refulgent but need not be less patriot,
manly and full of honor.
SONS OF VETERANS.
1t viii be but short period until ou
ranks are so meager, and the surviving com
Tades so weighed down with the burden
years that our organization will have cease
to be an active force in the works of 1ova