The National tribune., 1889-02-21
DAILY JUsTIFICATIoN,

It is a satisfaction, though generally
very poor one, to be able to say I told you
So"
= THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE is very sorry
that it has such frequent occasion to remind
the soldier-hating press of their cruelty and
injustice in opposing the Dependent Pension
Bill, and to show how entirely right we were
in advocating that measure.
Outside of their editorial columns these
papers continually contain evidence entirely
justifying US, and showing how bitterly
wrong they and President Cleveland were
in their opposition to that measure and in
their abuse of all who advocated it.
For example, the New York Herald, than
which there was no bitterer enemy of the
soldiers, nor warmer defender of the Presi-
dent in the country, contained last Monday
the following item:
There are about 60 veteran soldiers and sailors of
the late war at present in the Kings County Aims
house, Flatbush OF that number of pauper patri-
thatis they now residents of the County. The
Charities Commissioners of Brooklyn have deter
mined to make attempt to have the veterans
| transferred 10 the State Soldiers Home at Bath.
The remaining wards of the Nation at the poor
house are residents of Brooklyn.
lam afraid the Commissioners will experience
considerable trouble In finding room for those poor
soldiers" said Capt. Harry Phillips, Treasurer of
the Bureau of Relief, Grand Army of the Republic
4 Gel
diers' Home at Bath, Steuben County, received a
| few days ago. shows that the place is crowded.
There ,O95 inmates, g. of whom sleeping on
the floor, there being no other accommodation.
! Now, as to the soldiers in the almshouse, sew
eral of them have been admitted since the cold
weather set n-thatis within the past two or three
| months. Some of them prefer to be in the aims
house to going out of reach of their families who
live in this County. 1t is hard to send old man
away from his kindred What we should have is
an amendment to the soldiers relief laws whereby
an amount equivalent to the cost of his mainte-
nance in the Home could be expended in outdoor re-
lief. That would avert great deal of suffering
| now entailed by the necessitous enforcement OF
many poor old veteran soldier and his wife, 1t
is frequently the case that when the husband goes
to the Home the wife travels Over the Hills to
the Poorhouse.'"
This brief article tells the whole story.
It shows condition of things in one local
ity which is duplicated to greater or less
extent all over the country. In nutshell
I it shows all that we have protested against
pleaded for, argued about and denounced
1t is crushing demonstration of the falsity
and malignity of the arguments of Presi-
dent Cleveland and soldier-hating support
ers against more liberal pension legislation
Here in one poorhouse alone are go veter.
ans of the war, who were in all probability
broken down and driven to seek that asy.
lum, by disabilities incurred in the service
Everybody admits that they should be
taken care Of Everybody admits that they
should be provided for elsewhere than in the
almshouse. 1t is shame that the country
permits them to be sent there. Everybody
also admits the gross cruelty of separating
these notwithstanding men from their wive:
and families.
Then, achy Cas not all this AVOIDED By tn
President signing the Dependent Pension Bill
Another question comes up which TIL
NATIONAL TRIBUNE discussed fully at The
time the Dependent Pension Bill was under
consideration. This is as TO who is under OBJ
legations to take care of these men. It vii
be seen by the above extract that the poor
house authorities are disposed to draw
line of separation. They want the State tt
assume the care of those who have no
; gained residence in the County prior t.
; becoming a public charge. Here we see
prospect of these defenders of the Nation
being banded back and forth between TIL
State and County authorities. Think of tn
shame of the thing!
3 THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has always he'll,
that the burden of support of the broken
down veterans should not be imposed upo
the local authorities, but should be place
: where it rightfully belonged-upon lib
/. broad shoulders of the Nation for whic
they fought and suffered. They did DC
serve or fight for any City, Township, Count
e or State, but the whole country, and tn
s country should provide for them.
We have constantly reminded the fanati
screamers for tax-reduction that the passag
of proper pension bill would reduce tax;
1t tion where such reduction is most urgentl
It needed by the over-burdened local trea
uries A pension law which will take thes
60 veterans out of the Kings County poo
" house, and place them in their own home
E will bring more direct relief to the tax-paye
re of that County than any contemplate
change in the revenue laws.
lie THE LOGAN MONUMENT FUND.
q. The following additions to the Loga
Monument Fund have been received sin
the last report: