The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-28

To the Editor IndanapoIis Journal:
notice in the Journal of Jan. 25 your
comment on General Hovey's bill to paw SOL
diers of the late war 40 per cent OF their origi-
nal pay, think you must have been a little off
when you got off that item. You say the SOL
diers have higher nor different claim than
others who had dealings with the government
during the years of deprecated currency. l
claim that the volunteer Union soldier of the
war for the suppression of that cursed rebellion
has the highest claim this government of any
man under the sun. This government has not
dollar it is not indebted to its soldiers for. Had
it not been for it's soldiers this government
would to-day be bankrupt, disgraced and wiped
out. If we were poor. like were when that
great and good whose statue in bronze
stands your office came to the rescue
and helped to save the ship from going down, 1
would not think that General Hoveys bill ought
to become law; but we are not poor, on the con-
trary we burdened with surplus IN
the national treasury os hundreds of millions
people from whence IL came in any
other way effectually as the soldiers could do
IT. Now l claim that tho government made a
contract with the soldier the most sacred ever
m ade by man The governments saws am CO.
ing to sink The dragon of rebellion has bis
hand on my throat. he is smothering me to
pay you thirteen dollars for every month you
are engaged in subduing this monster. You
may lose your arm or leg, or shatter your health,
or rot In a rebel prison, die in the struggle,
but l will pay you for all the sacrifice you make
Tor me. Twenty-Five years after the struggle 8
over and the life of the government rescued
from the clutches of those who tried to destroy it
and blot it from the face of the earth the soldier
comes knocking at the door. which is answered by
the editor OF the Indianapolis Journal The sol
der says performed my part of the contract:
you are strong now, / made you so; YOU are
rich now, l made you rich; you are honored by
al the nations of the earth. am
poor. The dragon Of poverty has
his hand my throat and is
smotherng the life out of me and nv little fam
lly don't ask for interest for the use of my
you agreed to give me- If I saved you from
ruin. give me enough out of your overloaded
treasury to make thirteen good dollars for each
month was engaged in tho struggle The
bad precedent; your claim is no higher nor any
different from the shark that sold me a horse
or mule worth $75 for $3.50. or the bond holder
who loaned me $50 and made me pay him S1O7
pack; or the contractor who got rich off of
while you were struggling with nv enemies or
starving in rebel prison. No no: we can't do
justice to YOU If we do. these sharks that were
bleedinc me at one end while the rebels were
strangIlng the life out of me at the other. would
say you made up the difference between the
gold and green back to the boys that saved you
while we were doing all we could to helm destroy
you. and the money you paid me for NV mule
was not worth Sl5O. / admit the mule was not
worm over 30. out you agreed to paw $50, and /
my claim is just as sacred. just as good as the |
soldiers that left wife and children father and |
mother. and went to grapple with the monster |
that was trying with my help to destroy you.
D. shame on such logic Take it back. Won did |
not mean it as have construed it, Know Won
lid not. l have read the Journal for twenty
i've years and know it is the soldiers friend
W. II. RIDENoUR
With an empty sleeve.
TERRE HAUTE jan %.