The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-28
THE REASON FOX pRoMpTNEss.


Uncle Sam must be a gentleman"
said Senator Hawley, very trenehantly,
some years ago, when discussing the pay
ment of the debts due the money
lenders What he meant by this was
that the Nation must act as a gentle
man and man of honor would in meet
ing his obligations 10 those who helped him
financially at q time when he was threaten
ed with ruin. There must be no quibbling
about details, no dickering or evading, and,
above all, no delay When he was able
TO pay he must do it promptly, fully
and TO the last cent. Any other
course was dishonorable. Nobody ap-
plauded this sentiment more heartily than
the veterans They gave checrfully large
proportion of their earnings in the years inn
mediately following the war, in order TO pay
the money-lenders big interest in gold on
their lendings and repay TIE principal in
gold dollars worth 100 cents, where paper
dollars worth from % cents upwards had
been lent. They felt it patriotic duty to aid
Uncle Sam in being o gentleman, and the
money-lenders were in consequence treated
with a liberality unequaled in the history of
National debts Never have men who lent
money to Governments been paid sopromptly
and so literally rs those who lent to ours
from 1861 10 1865. This ia one of the most
creditable chapters in our National history.
Within very few years after the close of
the war every bond was either paid or else
made so valuable that its holder would
rather have it than the money which its
face indicated was owing him. To-day a
Government 4-per cent. bond for 500 is
worth S127, or from twice TO three times as
much as the 500 originally lent the Govern
ment
One reason for this is that no man who
lent money has had to wait for either princi-
pal or interest. He has never been put of
/ from year 10 year, never had TO linger In
| the front OF Uncle Sans counting-room for
his leisure TO examine his little bill, and
meet il with hard cash. On the contrary
Uncle Sam has gone out Of his way to find
and settle with him. He has sent his interest
to him before it was due; has begged him to
bring his bonds in and get the money fol
them.
But no such gentlemanly prOmptness has
characterized Uncle SANS dealings with the
class Of creditors TO whom he owed vastly
greater and more sacred debt of honor than
he did to the men who lent him money
To the men who in rescuing him, sacrificed
seyenfold as much as the bondholders
loaned him, and 10 whom he promised in
comparably more than he did to the money
lenders, he has been as niggardly, as pro
crastinating as the worst cad that ever at
tempted 10 shuttle out Of his obligations
Where he has owed them dollars he has paid
inbA5 hAia tita DhlJ altti Inc iOHReSL pOsH1
bic postponement and all manner of subter
fuges TO escape payment He has stood Off
tens Of thousands Of those creditors unit
they sank intogtheir graves unpaid.
Now, at this late date, will Uncle Sam b,
a gentleman toward those of his veteran
creditors who yet survive? Will he repair
as far ms possible, his neglect in the past By
prompt action in the present9 If he eve
intends TO pay his just debts TO those wht
saved him from ruin he has no time TO lose
The men who fought the war through ar,
rapidly passing away. In the very natur,
Of things they have but few years to live
This was demonstrated in a most startling
manner by the Investigations made b,
the late Commissioner Of Pensions, Gen
John C. Black. In 1888 be found that til,