The National tribune., 1889-10-24
WHICH SHALL BE HEARD FIRsTq

In little over month from now the
51st Congress-a majority of the members
of which directly owe their election to the
votes cast for them by veterans of the War
of the Rebellon-will begin its first session.
At the very outset two distinctly antag-
onistic elements will resolutely demand
recognition by il, and immediate considera-
tion of legislation in their interests.
The first will be the veterans and their
friends, who viii ask the fulfillment of the
Nations long-dishonored pledges to them
and TO the dependent ones of their fallen
comrades. They will ask the immediate
enactment of legislation which has been
matured and all-but passed by previous
Congresses, and which the country, being
appealed 10, decided at the last National
election should be passed. They will also
ask that, MS necessary to this end, and as
necessary to the preservation of the pros
perity which the country now enjoys, the
present revenue system shall be continued
without essential change. This was also in
issue at the last National election, and
emphatically decided in the affirmative.
The other Will be the nefarious league of
native malcontents and foreign cormorants,
who viii demand that it strike an assassin's
blow at the men who saved the Nation from
destruction, and through them Mt the indus
tries which have made the country prosper
Gus and happy.
Which voice viii it listen to first?
VIII it hearken first 10 the men whose
devotion to the country was greater than
desire for gain, or even love of life itself, and
who risked all and gave all to save it?
Or,
VIII it turn plant ear to the recreant
sons who assailed the Nations life with trait
orous swords, TO their less courageous but
no less guilty accomplices in the North, and
to the ravenous hordes of commercial
banditti who are leagued with themP
Will it listen to the pleadings of the men
who ask for long-delayed justice, for the
preservation ofthe National honor unstained,
and for the maintenance of the system which
insures the continuance of our industrial
and commercial prosperity2
Or,
VIII it prefer the counsels of the men
whose hands have ever been against the
Nations well-being and will continue to be
whenever that clashes with their prejudices,
their hates, or their sordid greed?
Will it hear first the men who, having
eemented the fabric of our greatness with
their best blood and the sweat of strenuous
endeavOr, now advocate the prompt payment
in full of the Nations sacred obligations to
its most deserving creditors, and the constant
Strengthening of the edifce it cost them so
much TO rear2
Or,
VIII they have its ear who urge the re-
pudiation of the Nations debt of honor, ard
the destruction of our industries, in the
interest of New York importers and English
factory-lords?
VIII it hear first the men who repulsed
Pickett's charge, OF the men whom Pickett
led?
VIII it hear first the men who wasted
away in the swamps about Vicksburg, or
the men who organized Knights of the
Golden Circle lodges and plotted TO burn
Chicago2
Win il hear first the men who stood with
the undaunted Thomas at Chickamauga, or
the men who tried to devastate New York
and Philadelphia with yellow fever and
smallpox?
viii it listen first to the men who follow
ed Grant through the bloody hell of the
Wilderness, or the men who ransacked
houses and burned colored orphan asylums
in New York to encourage Lee, defeated and
retreating from Gettysburg?
viii it hearken to the men who marched
with Sherman TO the sea, or TO the rebel
malignants and conscienceIess freebooters
from every land, who would march victor
i0usly over our Frustrated industries and
ruined factories2
Which would il have ring triumphantly in
its ears-the glad Union cheer, or the vicious
rebel yell, mingled with screeches Of Copper
heads and the greedy shout Of the alien pill
layers and camp-followers?
These are the questions, gentlemen of the
5lst Congress, which the country expects
you TO answer by your acts in the early DAYS
Of the coming session.
II each subscriber 10 TIE NATIONAL
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