The National tribune., 1889-11-14

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Not long since
/ met an old veteran who carried q full share
Of rebel lead " In his body while rage
adorned his person. He had an intelligent look,
and / entered into conversation with him.
At first he seemed to be rather uncommuuica-
tive, and had considerable trouble in drawing
him ont Of his reveric, but when once walked
up, his story OF his wrongs made an impression
on me- and give 10 to your readers that they
too may view the subject from the old soldiers
standpoint.
when the war broke out Ia 1861" said he
was living happily on small farm Of my own.
/ was blessed with wife, two little boys. aud
all that was necessary 10 make life desirable
by wife and often talked over the subject Of
the war and what would be the results IL tho
rebels were permitted to destroy our Govern
ment. and after mature thought 10 was de-
cided that IL was my duty 20 heed the call Of
country and 90 TO the front and aid in its de-
Tense. Let mo pass over tho separation, for no
one who never made ouch a sacrifice eau fully
understand the terrible ordeal.
"I went TO the front. ! suffered and endured
all that soldiers life in a long and bloody war
implies. ! did my duty. never once doubling
the result, and never fearing for my failure
when the war was over ] came homo la 1866.
poor and emaciated crippled for life. | found
my property gone. ] was unable TO farm. /
had TO sell my little farm 10 get something 10
was lived up, and, with an increasing family,
who were denied the necessarcs Of life, be-
gan the greatest battle OF my life. j received
a small pension from the Government, aud was
told by my neighbors and the press that 10 was
charity, aud that / was pauper. ! saw the
wives and the children of my neighbors who
had Etald at home and made money aud
stabbed the soldier In the back-I saw these
people living In their fine houses. driving in
hna al in an ri al vnlf Ia
my dear wife and children, dressed In rags, and
wanting for enough 10 eat, were pointed at as
paupers upon tho Government at three cents
per day."
Here the old soldier broke down and tears
streamed down his cheeks, and | must say
my own eyes were not dry At last he raised
his head and continued:
"Sir do not like TO talk of these things.
but you appeared 30 kind / was led to talk |;
please excuse me from going further in this
dismal story. You can see plenty like me all
over this great land of ours. We fought for
the whole country. and to-day we own not q
foot Of land. We fought for the homes and the
hresdes Of all but we have no homo aud no
Preside, except as we are able 10 rent some
howell. We fought for liberty, 10 make men
free; now We are slaves to poverty aud want
We fought for the rising generation too, and
now our own children, in poverty and rags,
| cause the keenest pangs 10 our lacerated hearts
IL is indeed sad story, but true as Gospel.
| We are not able 10 work, too proud TO beg, too
honest to steal. They tell us we are too
old TO be given employment by either bust
ness men or the Government. We must step
aside aud give place TO the young son
OF our stay-at-home neighbor. lie has the
advantage of college education. and can
pass a ciyil-service examination, and must.
therefore, have the place. Well, well, tho war
ended long time ago, we are told; but with us
the hardest battle is still raging, but soon II
will be over. This is indeed a glorious coun.
/ try."-A. TRAVELLER