South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-09-06
Soldiers Who Fought For Wa
ges. not Principle. and are
Now Paupers.

NOW TauperS.
The following editorial from tho
Baltimore Sun should be read by eve,
ry man who pays cent of taxes, in
order that he may see to what an aw.
full extent tho squandering OF the PEG.
pies money for pensions will proba-
bly, be carried by the present admin.
oistration. 1t is bad enough now, but
ut seems that, if possible, it is to be-.
come worse.
Corporal Tanner has received a re-
enforcement from Milwaukee, not un,
expected, where the annual encamp.
ment Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public was held last week. and upon
which, from his course, he seems to
have relied entirely, discountenancing
alike the opinions of his superiors in
office and the people out Of office.
"A class Of American citizens have
separated themselves from the great
body OF the people and formed an or.
ganzation named The Grand Army
Ct the Republic. They claim that
they and their former comrades we're
the men who saved the Union. They
give no credit 10 the finauciers who
sustained the credit OF tie govern
ment and enabled it 10 collect, organ.
ize, equip, support and transport ar.
mics and navies. They give no credit
TO the patriots in the executive, leg.
islative and judicial spheres OF pa
triotism. Ii ID only the Grand Ar
my Of the Republic which preserved
and perpetuated the Union.
THIS is the idea of Corporal Tan.
ner. 1t is the reason why he thinks
that the taxes Of every one who was
not q soldier should be dedicated to
persiOning him who was. Until tAese
pension raids were made on the ia
tional treasury it was presumed that
our praised and honored soldiers
fought - preserve the Union and
were inspired by patriotism. If they
are subjected to the suspicion of be.
ing mercenary it is their own fault.
for they are presenting themselves in
the attitude of pensioners, not patri.
OTIS. Their commandor.in chief War.
ner) says: "LPt the committee on
pensions know that your recommen.
dations TO Congress are backed by a
united Grand Army OF tho Republic,
and there will be no failure. II we
are true TO ourselves before The next
eDcampment every comrade disabled
by age, sickness or accident, and the
widows and orphans of veterans will
be borne on the pension roll. We
should neither give sleep to our eyes
nor slumber TO our eyelids until JUS
tice is done our comrades"
From such Language as this it is
very apparent that the organization
is to be used as n threat and terror
10 tho legislator IN order 10 influence
him even against his own honest con
viction. No Injustice has been done
the soldier or his atives In
respect to pensions.
The libsrality Of tile American PEG.
pie In this respect is TO other nations
astonishing. The annual cost Of the
greatest standing army in Europe
docs not exceed that Of our pension
list In addition TO this preference
is given to the pensic ners iu the dis
tribu,ion OF Offices, and yet they are
preparing fo- raid on the treasury.
No one desires to be unjust to the
soldier, but there is something due tc
American manhood and TO the people
who, in tho civil walks Of life, did as
much for their country as did th osC
who went into the field.
" is not gratifying to see the mel
whom wo have been taught to honoi
as patriots appear in the role of mer,
pensioners. and We do not see why
Senator Manderson, who onioys &
high a position 10 bis courlry's coun
ellis. shoul have thousands of dollars
thrust upon lin, for the purpose o
establishing precedent and opening
tic treasury vaults i'm order to oBa
blo Corporal Tanner 10 "be good tC
the boys"
There are many self-respectinl
soldiers who decline 10 he placed ii
false position, and who refuse &
enter the scrub race whose goal lie tn
Treasury Department