The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-11
OUR WORK JTsT BEGUN.


OUR WORK JUST BEGUN.
Zealously and successfully as THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE has labored for the veter-
ans in all these years, we still regard our
work as only fairly begun. We have been
the means of helping to secure great deal
for them, but we sincerely trust that it is
small in proportion to what shall be gained
for them in the near future. For the past
four years, at least, every effort has been
made in the face of most discouraging ad-
verse influences. The policy of the party in
power, dominated as it was by the Solid
South, was unqualifedIy. hostile. This was
occasionally vailed thinIy by considerations
of political expediency, but the hostility
was always strong and controlling force,
and everything gained for the veterans had
to be wrung from it, The House of Repre-
sentatiyes was in the hands of men whom
the veterans had fought and conquered.
Allied with these representatives of rebel
lion were the trade representatives of
the selfish money centers, who were adverse
to the soldiers from sordid considerations.
Over all was hostile President, whose veto
was a constant menace against anything
that might be grudgingly granted By Con-
gress.
Now all branches of the Government are
in the hands of friends of the veterans, whom
the veterans themselves elected. In bring
ing about this desirable result The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE took an active and i'm
portant part. 1t viii take no less active,
and, we firmly believe, an equally successful
part in securing for the soldiers everything
that is right. 1t will constantly point out
and urge what is necessary to be done, either
in the way of applying the present laws, or
| the passage of new ones, toward granting
them exact iustiea. 1t will be unfagging
in its efforts to have removed every unjust
rule and restriction in the Pension Bureau
from which claimants have suffered so
much. 1t viii, with all the earnestness it
has displayed in the past, advocate every
needed reform, urge all desirable legislation,
and do all that is possible to secure the
wishes of the great mass of the soldiers and
those connected with them.
Throughout it will continue to maintain
the same independence it has always dis
played. It is attached to no party, subserv-
lent to no clique. 1t will be as ready to
criticize the present Administration as it was
the past, if it should deserve it. We be-
Iieve that the party which has been restored
to power, so far as the veterans are con-
cerned, should fail to meet their reasonable
wishes, it will meet with the same condem-
nation as the Administration which has
been retired, and THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
will be no less jealous and outspoken in its
efforts to secure that result.
The paper will be of vastly more service
and value to the soldiers in the future than
it ever has been. In order, however, that il
may be Of the utmost service to them-that
it may do the most possible to secure in the
shortest time, all that they should have, il
is of the greatest Importance that its sub
scription list shall be increased to the at
most. 1t should have on it the name o
every soldier and every soldiers widow il
the country. To give it more subscribers il
20 increase its power for good, and to helI
the veterans most effectively. Let every
man who has the welfare of his comrade.
at heart, help them in The most elfectiv,
way by securing new subscribers to tn,
paper. 80 a9
Every additional SUBSCRIBER is strength
ening of the soldiers best friend and advo
cate.
ONE hundred years ago this month Georg