The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-28
TURPIE ON PENSIONS.
fhs Senator's Eltqusnt Tribute to the VOL
untser Soldiers Of the Republic.
how tho Great Civil War VIII Rank in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and Dis
armament-A Magnif-
cent Effort.

his final discharge, there was on both sides |
an end of the contract. Neither party |
could, under it's terms, demand anything |
more of the other. But nations, IS we'll |
% individuals, have acted upon and recog'
inzed other obligations beside those OF con-
tract. Nobleness obliges. Let us rather
rejoice that we ere bound by covenant; 1t
Ia only the nobility OF the national char
ncter which moves us to make provision
FOR the needy who, by their service in
perilous time, have deserved well OF the
republic.
We, who were successful in that stu
pen6ous conflict which closed In 1865, gain
nothing by any disparagement OF the
genius, the courage, or the resources of
those whom we met and overcame; even
this cannot lessen the magnificent results
Of that achievement. The war for the
Union was the greatest tour nament 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 momentous questions
submitted to the arbitrament OF the sword
dependent upon the issue. That issue is
the principal fact in our history IS ii is in
that of the age. This age has witnessed
the siege and fall of Sebsstopol, 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. Ac-
counts OF it We have, numerous, variant,
We have even en- autograph Odyssey by the
Ulysses of this stored epic; but these are
merely the materials for history yet to De
written. The writer has not yet appeared.
He is waited for. Such a theme will not
lack celebrant. He will come-an Amer
lean OF no section, native to the wide
manor of the nation born, man OF ex-
haustless patience and tireless industry,
of large understanding, of calm, impassive,
judicial spirit, Jealous only for truth,
skilled to portray men and events in Just
proI ortion, in true perspective, with elo-
sutnce TO make the militant past live and
move sgain for those who are to follow Us.
Tne historian of the war will be as re-
marksole 8 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
bivouec, in the assault, in the imminent
deadly breach, in captivity to the insolent
foe. hoping all things, enduring all
thipgs-the man with the musket, the
private in the ranks, the chief beneficiary
Of this measure.
Not ouly during the wsr, but in the peace
that followed it, does the conduct of the
citizen soldier ana his comrades entisle
them TO crate III recognition. When before
did great civil war end Ike this OF ours?
The cessation Of hostilities was marked by
an event in every way as notable, ss i'm
portent, as the surrender OF the enemy,
the disbaDdiug of the armies of the union.
The legions OF the first Cesar won at
Parsalia only for their leader; they forgot
liberty; they did not restore the republic.
The Ironsides who conquered at Naseby
and Worcester were never discharged; they
remained not members of the common
wealth they dreamed of, but subjects of
the lord protector, under a rule as absolute
SO that OF any English monarch of the
time.
The forces of the French directorate,
after the complies EpEjuga.ion of the
royaiists of La Vendee, became in rapid
succession the real support of the consul
ate and the empire. In many like in
stances, as seen in historic annals, the
victorious army in civil war was retained
to support and prolong the ascendancy of
tie political section to which ii owned its
organization and equipment.
Emancipation IS the result of the war
was not more benehcent than disarmament.
1t msy be said these men only obevad the
order of tbose in authority. What is
authority without poTer2 Where was the
actual power st this mom ent of military
disc ution? With the bsyonets; with
those who obeyed, Tot those who gave the
order fer retirement.
Thus, then, we may conceive the motive
which swayed this myriad mass with arms
IN tssir hands devoted, unquesiioning
A loyalty to the free institutions of their
couDtly. In moment, in the twinkling
OF en- eye, their purpose accomplished
these veteran cohorts of q dauntless chiv-
airy, hese warriors Of the people, disap-
peareo Regiments, brigades, divisions
vanish away, to be known thenceforth
only O. legends ofs glorious passage through
the Red Sea OF revolution, They founded
no dynasty; they disturbed not the regular
order OF constitutional government. Under
{ these auspices the great republic in the
4 fullness Of time returned to and resumed
in every portion of its domain the ancient
form and usages OF freedom.
Emancipation gave liberty to another
race; disarmament preserved it for our own.
IL were well to consider, to look at this
time with somewhat OF fixed inspection
upon the mountain height OF temptation
and opportunity, thereon these men stood
that day, that day the enemy yielded.
They had the sword. Why was Il shesthsdP
They held the purse. Why was 1t closed
Inc sunless treasure of q nations wealth
was theirs by right OF salvage. What moiety
OF IL have they received or taken?
Shall those who stood once at the front,
put have IN the march of life since fallen
behind, be abandoned to want and destitu-
tion1 The beneHcence of the government
should supplsnt either public or private
charity IN granting this stipend for the
support and maintenance of the necessi.
tous among its defenders
Not as compensation and not as aims
should this stipend be given. Il is neither.
But IL should be given as q token of dis.
tlnction, like the crcss of the Legion oil
Honor, like the chaplet of myrtle or oil
roses worn by victors of old-roses which,
reversing the beautiful legend of st. Eliza
beth, may turn to bread for those who
need II.
I As representatives. of the states and the
Y people We have lawful warrant to levy and
collec taxes for the purpose of providing
Tor tn common defense, to raise armies
TO de are war, and to use all necessary
mean 10 make such declaration effective
We b. % the advice and example OF thu
frst patriots and presidents, to prepar,
for We IN time of peace. This measure q
apsrt OF that preparation.
Moreover, this measure Is q provision fol
the payment of portion of the war debt
part thereof, let rs hope, heretofore casu
ally overlooked; omitted In casting up thu
accounts. Yet IL is debt, in faith anG
honor, 40 incapable OF Reputation as tina
secured by constitutional enactment.
Is IS worthy Of settlement and liquidation
: ss shy of the vast sum which has beer
u - I'D - - IL - - n