The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-26
ANoTHER RAID ON THE TREASURY

II the Congress OF the United States really means
10 be generous 10 the Union soldiers Of the late
war Il might be we'll 10 begin by being generous
Those who enlisted at the beginning Of the rebel.
lion were paid In gold, but this did not go on long
and they were paid in n deprecated currency, In
1862, gold dollar got 10 be worth sl3i in 1868 II
went rs high as sl52, and Ia 1864 to s2.s5. During
these ycars the Union soldiers were being paid of
in these deprecated greenbackS In 1862, the pay
OF the soldier, BY Of this deprecated curren-
cy, was onethird of. and IN 1864 Il was less than
onehalf, on gold basis, and we think properly.
The country has Ralncd more by sustaining lis
credit than II could have done by paying of Us
creditors IN irrcdcemable currency. HID such
policy been rcsorted to. we never could
have resumed specie payments, and would
not now have that stable currency which
IL the pride and boast oi every American. But
having paid the bondholdcr IN gold, principal and
interest the Government could never afford TO
make good the losses OF the soldiers who cheer
fully accepted the deprecated currency IN pay.
ment for services rendered. There would lie no
uncertainty about the amount paid The Govern
ment would not be Imposed upon by false am
dayitS The rolls upon which the soldiers were
paid arr on.flc IN thu War Department, with Mig
natures attached. showing how much each one
was paid. aud when. II would DO nothing more
GERS n Congress should provide that from an over
lowing treasury each and every one OF them, or
their representatives should now be paid the dii.
ference between tho deprecated currency they re-
ccSed and gold. This would be not nm act OF gen
crosby, but Of Justice knorraie Journal
People everywhere will read this propo-
siton for another raid upon the Treasury
with surprise and horror. II was genor-
ally supposed the pension business had
been carried 10 q shameless extreme, and
that no other means Of robbing the people
could be devised by tho Republicans. But
so long us there Is dollar oisurplus orr there
Is likely TO be, and 40 long as there Is a
chance TO prevent tho steady payment OF
the National debt or prevent the reduc-
ton Of tariff taxes, just so long will Re
publicans be found who can scheme and
devise plans TO reach away into the re-
ccsscs Of the Federal Treasury for plumber
For shnmclcssncss, this proposition Of III,
KnoiriRe Journal surpassesany that has ever
been suggested 10 tax ridden public
The rank and flo OF the army wa
paid in the same currency rs the contract
ors aud civil officers OF the Government
and II the former is 10 be reimbursed why
not the latter? No good reason can BE-
given why every person In the employ o.
the Government during the war should moi
he reimbursed IN the difference between
grconbacks and gold ~ well as the sol
dcs. Their services were rs ncccssar,
and their duties "a essential 10 the wcliar,
Of the Union. To admit the right ant
justice Of such claim would be TO rcopcr
the dood-gatos Of corruption and vcnaliiy
and there Is NO knowing where II would
stop. The soldiers, sailors, civil ser
wants and contractors reimbursed
they would raise cry for compound In
tercst and the scheme Of robbery woult
grow and grow until Uncle Sam, ~ Pue
this week represents him, would be force
10 sell out the country 10 meet the demand
not only Of the pensioners but Of the raid
en- under this suggestion for pay accorlln
TO tho gold standard with coinpoun'
interest added. But this ouirsgcou
proposition from The KnorriAe Jo'pno
Is not 10 be wondered ut in vic'
Of tho too easy acqulcscencc by III
Democrats IN Congress in the schemes O
plumber and robbery devised by the Re
publicans for tho so-callcd pensioners
Too cowarliy to do their duty and face III
consequences they vote ior these robbin
schemes, fearing that Il they do no, do o
the pension agents may successfully or
pose their reelection. And thus Il h IA
country Is a, the mercy Of a band Of ur
considerable obbcr who are eachIngor
Tor the last cent regardless Of the cries {
an o,cr.burdcned and long suffering pee