Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-12-25

THE SOLDIERS PAY.

On the day OF muster out ofserviee the advice
was given the soldiers TO take good care of their
discharge papers that, like the soldiers of the
Mexican war. they would, in course of time re-
ceive a better reward for their services. The
SIG a month had been paid to them in paper
money Of not much more than half value, and
this. together with the amount of hardshIps en-
durcd fresh In mind and the generosity of the
government to soldiers in former days, all help
ed the boys to have faith In the assertion that
something would be done SO that no one should
ever have occasion To regret that he served In
the war. A man who leaves a home and volun-
teers to fight for his country does not take this
step for the purpose of getting rich, and is GER
tainly not the worst kind of a man after money,
but on this day when going home to meet reia-
tives and friends and the excitement of war be-
ing over, the sober thought cleared up to them
that, financially, they had Ill served themselves.
Some had lost their farms and homes, the sup
port of family, and war taxes could not be kept
up by a soldiers pay. Others had not sufficient
means left to obtain clothing suitable for civil
life. No wonder then that the hopeful word
made them feel happy, and no one had the least
doubt about the sOundIeSs of the advice, and
the discharge papers were carefully folded and,
N'N ha'S W." WV NNBb "a Wa "ty'
Nearly Is years have since rolled by and many
brave boys who responded to every roll call and
every call for duty in his service have been per-
mitted to go to their last rest without realizing
this hope. and Uncle Sam has not in all this
made 4 call for all who served him to receive
what may be due them by reason OF justice to
make the soldiers equal to: any other material
used in the prosecution of the war. There is
I think no Jlsficn i'm that fla cniIiarS SIpY,1l no
the only ones to suffer by the bad money and
the payment of the soldiers the only transaction
wherein the government had any advantage by
the deprecated money. 1t is true an attempt
has been made to initiate the very liberal Mexi-
can land bounty. but the value Of this so-called
Soldiers homestead can he doubted. and even
disputed. do not wish to disturb %anyone's
good faith in the generosity of the government
to the soldiers. There will. no doubt. some day
be something done that will make it plain to
them. or those after us. that the defenders Of
this great land OF freedom will not be forgotten;
but why tarry and wait until nearly all are dead.
The soldiers responded quickly to the country's
call in the hour OF danger without stopping to
reason if it werea good financial speculation.
and it appears to me that 1t cannot be wise for
the government to tarry and have fears that
w 'tia's w fNt 'ibS " icSPpiV w SChciai
roll call should it now be made for the purpose
of making up for the half pay in service, recog-
nlzing that the work done by them entities them
to their allowance without eurtailment, and
giving substantial proof that the confidence OF
being justly dealt with is not IA delusion. This
is how / look at this matter; others may be of
different opinions. Anyhow, please have the
kindness to allow me to express my views, and
I shall ,,n rr,.I,t 6 - +,,,,,. n,t Chat ,,,lNt.
opinion should say that a man who served all
through the war has no claim on the govern
ment and is entitled to nothing. .
VYEyNn