The National tribune., 1889-05-09

in pensions, UP to the Goth of last June, was
but $685., 275,779. That is, with much less
of contribution in the first instance, the
bondholders have received from the Treas
ury about S. to every 81 paid the soldiers.
They have still on hand 1924. 8s4, 300 in
bonds, which, at the present market rate,
are worth more than the entire amount paid
out for pensions since 1861. This shows
how much more profitable fnan cially it
was to contribute money to the Government
than health, strength and life. We know
that you viii concur with our view that
the men who fought the Nations battles are
as deserving Of justice as the men who lent
it money. So much for that phase of the
business aspect of the matter
2. We assume that you agree with us that
the Government, when it accepted the serv-
ices Of these men, promised that should they
be physically injured it would compensate
them in some measure for the diminution in
their wage-earning ability. Whatever you
may think of the wisdom of that promise,
the fact that it was promise is sufficient to
now make it appear to you a sacred obliga-
ton, which should be fulfilled with the same
scrupulous exactness as the promises to
the bondholders. You will also say unhesi-
tatingly that the National honor requires
that the obligation be discharged at once with
the same promptness that characterized the
payment of the claims of the bondholders. We
therefore submit to you that putting a dis
abled man off with few paltry dollars a
month-one-half of those on the roll getting
90 cents day or less-is a dishonest eva
sion of that promise. Still more dishonest
and cruel is the evasion of that promise by the
studied delay of years upon years in the ex-
animation and adjudication of claims. Did the
Government bubble, shuttle and evade the
payment of its coupons for from five to 81
years, it would be covered with infamy, yet
this is what it has habitually done in the
fulfllment of its more sacred promises to
the men who gave all they had to save it.
What we ask of you. fellow citizens, is not
charity. not generosity, not benevolence for
the veterans, but simple, plain, everyday JUS
tice. We ask that you regard the Nations
debts to its veterans in the same cold, bust
nesslike light that you do the debts to
the bondholders and to the contractors
who furnished supplies. We do not ask of
you gushing compliments for the man who
carried his musket in the ranks of fighting
regiment, but that you require that he be
placed in at least as favorable position as II
he had sold mules, or furnished hay, Or sup
piled shoddy cloth, and be given ready,
fair hearing and a prompt settlement, with
out being defrauded of his rights, either by
postponement of action until after death, OF
by giving him decimal fraction of what
the laws provide for him.
Your will is supreme in this matter, and
you have only to make it felt to have il
obeyed. You spoke on the subject last Fal
with no uncertain sound viii you not re
peat, as occasion offers, until every officer
connected with the Government will fully
recognize that it is your express wish thai
this scandalous treatment of veterans shall
end promptly, and every one of them b.
given what they have earned so well.
Yours, in hopeful expectation,
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.