The National tribune., 1889-10-10
WHO ARE OUR ENEMIEsq

hO UP thS hViuO "h'SA
is waging this malignant war against the
veteransf
The mass is, Of course, composed of our
old enemies-the unrepentant rebels and
unforgiving Copperheads-in whose breasts
rankle undying hatred for the men who de-
feated them and saved the country in spite
Of them. These have been Joined by
swarm of insatiably-hungry dollar-grabbers
from beyond the sea-Jew and Gentle, high
and low-who have flocked hither since the
war, to glut themselves upon the prosperity
secured by its victorious termination. They
are men who have no country, love no coun-
try, and despise as a fool a man who does
love his country. They love only gain,
which they pursue with step as steady as
Time, and rs remorseless as Death. In what
ever land money is made easiest, they gather
like vultures about n carcass; they pick the
bones white, and then take their flight.
They have flocked hither to batten and fat
ten on the results of our sacrifices and out
pouring of blood and treasure, just as they
would have flocked to China, Turkey, Rus
STA or South America. if the chances for
gain had been as good. They are ravenous to
make the most out of us in the shortest time.
As to what becomes of us and the country
after they have gorged themselves they care
no more than they do for the fate of the leaves
which fall from the tree that sheltered them
in Summer. They infest the great CONNER
cial cities of the seaboard and the interior,
have taken possession of many important
branches of business, gotten control of the
press, and influence public sentiment. Greed
makes them hate the veterans. They want
everything for themselves-nobody else to
have share. 1t enrages them to see going
into the pockets of soldiers millions of dol
lars which they are hungry TO put into
their own. If money can be made using
their prOstituted papers TO pander to the
preiudices and passions of the native soldier
haters-theex-rebels and Copperheads-th
are only too glad to make make money that
way.
What an ignoble horde this is, arrayed
under the repulsive banners of Hatred and
Malignityl
Men who plotted treason to perpetuate
slavery and reduce black men, women and
children to the condition of beasts of the
field; who fought patriots on the field of bat
tie, murdered them from behind coverts,
starved and tortured them in prisons-pens;
who burned colored orphan asylums in New
York, hung unoffending blacks to lampposts,
plundered dwelling-houses under pretense
of fighting for liberty, blew up passenger
vessels with torpedoes, schemed TO sweep off
the people of cities with yellow fever and
smallpox-these men array themselves in
ranks with the harpies who swarm here
from all lands TO fatten upon ours-soulless
voracious Banditti Of Gain, Jews who are
the Vultures of Commerce, Gentiles who
are the Vampires of Industry who are
the head, front and moving spirit OF every
trust corner" combination" or grind
ing monopoly that brings harm TO our people
in a crusade against the veterans who gave
the best years Of their lives-gave up all
that makes life worth Iiving-to rescue the
country from destruction and make Il fore
most among the prosperous Nations Of the
earth.
Not in this country or any other has there
ever been a movement more sordidly selfish
and ungrateful in conception, or carried on
with more malignance and lack of scruple
than this raid of these bad elements against
the veterans, TO whom they, the country,
and humanity owe such a debt. 1t is in
famous in motive, infamous in the character
Of those who carry it on, and infamous in the
manner in which it is being conducted.