New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-22
SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FROM A VERMONT
CLERGYMAN.
To

To the Vustor OF TIE TrSbxne.
Sir In view Of President Eliots opinion that
the pension system, instituted for the benefit Of the
soldiers and sailors OF the United States has been pros
ttued and degraded by the whole series OF Repub-
lcan Administrations; and in view Of Senator Man
dersons pathetic and manly position given in your
own columns; IL have kept silent under grossest
abuse and most undeserved ATTACKS that l did not
suppose could to man who had tried to do
his duty to his country in her need, and had been
grievOusly injured in that endeavor, because could
not by precipitation Of action reflect upon gallant
cOmrade who certainly supposed that within the re-
quiremens of the law he doing kindly and
proper act,7 will you kindly and Justly republish
the following letter addressed TO and printed in The
CongregaonaistP Of October 8. 1t is from the Rev.
T.. j. RanslOw of swanton, Vt. The attack upon
the fighters by the nonfghters, quarter Of century
after the war Is over IS as disgraceful warfare as
waged. GAIL HAMILTON.
Washington, Oct. 81, 1889.
Perhaps you will allow a word Of explanation and
tOn and who has certainly fair opportunity 10 know
its inner history 1t Is not 50 much OF a political
machine Is tho ordinary church. The members
OF this organization srenuousy oppose any use OF u
for political purposes The rules In this respect are
very strict and strictly enforced. In all our
posts there are many Democrats, as well as members
true, then there would be trouble all along the line
The attempt TO- make capital out Of this has been an
ignOminous failure wherever attempted, because ~
had basis In fact The mere rmor that General
Alger wished tho position of Commanderin-chief be-
cause # might be an aid to him In future political
prcfermcnt, will work 10 his disadvantage when he
comes to ask that preferment This IS not my Opn-
ion but the opinion of a very large part of body
as have reason TO know. on this point we
tTemely sensitive. No man shall use our organization
as stepping to political office. But 1t IS just
those ends which believe 10 be for the best interests
Of the loyal soldiers of this Republic.
In regard TO the great gathering at Milwaukee,
tbe beer Interest in the United states. and beyond
all doubt Of that fluid consumed :,
while also there many things done which largo
part Of our members did not approve-still; there
are facts which lie the surfare, and which may
be known TO all men, that approach the miraculous
IT IS estimated that the attendance aggregated lsO-
600; IL could have been much less. large
part of these were soldiers. They were the very
men who, European wrtors said would endanger
Republic when dSbanded. Now, with tho best
Of opportunity for observation, I can report that l
did not one man intoxicated. did not see the
police have any work 10 do except to try and clear
tho streets. verify believe that neither before nor
since would girl be so safe nom INSULT in any part
I'm prohibition Vermont never attend country fair
but find some one who gets pugtlistic, and wishes
TO emulate the exploits Of John L. For four days
! closely observed these men as l passed back and
forth through the STRUGGLING mass Of humanity ana
] came away more than over before proud to call
structures have also been passed in your columns
OF pensions. As one who has never asked for a
pension. and at the same time knows something of
to speak The reference to the haships' Of those who
remained at home must sound like rank h0ny TO any
VINO passed through such battle the Wlldfr-
ness. The awful strain Of one such day must take
years from the life of any man. On the other hand,
in the history of the country there such OPP
portunty to make money as that given to those who
remained at home and never was an opportunity
better employed. looking back upon the horrors Of
those days, they under my limited
observation. it Is but natural that should be FESTIVE
AZ ~" ci' 'ciSms Of any who. by experience knew
nothing Of them. Then, too even in the matter of
d"serer there IS danger Of doing rank injustice For
let me state the OF thousands. A boy.
customnd 10 all the comforts of home enlisted in old
regiment, April, 1854. In May he IS pushed through
The slaughter Of the campaign that began al the
Wilderness and continued 10 the great surrender.
Now patriotism and courage Will endure great deal
but not everything. While there TO be chance
for life, men will stand up and be shot at But when
one battle follows another in quick succession, until
there seems 10 be chance at all for escape wheu
In addition, the air Is full of rumOrs of gross incOmpe
fence, and the story told and believed that men
being useleSsly slaughtered by drunken and incom-
peten officers Is It strange that this lad, with certain
de2%h before him. he verify believes. and a home
sickness which has become acute nostalgia should
leave the field of Cold Harbor with the belief that
he Is justified in embracing the first opportunity to
desert? For my part Will remember the battles
which he bravely fought and defend him to the best
fought at ALL II is a place for mercy TO rejoice
that IL must ever depend upon volunteer soldiers.
Otherwise, the time may come when we shall cry
ont. Augustus I'm the agony Of his spirit, Varus
NaTs. Where are our legiOns ?"