The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29
rHENK OF THESE AND THOSE.

Gus, poorly-paid career Of soldier in war
time for four weary, bloody years.
They were peaceful, industrious young
men, who had no love for broil and battle.
Nothing but intense love of country could
have induced them to leave their homes for
the camp.
Think how many 2,323,OOO men is. 1t is
more young, able-bodied men than there are
to-day in the great States of New York and
Pennsylvania-more than there are in the
great central States of Ohio, Indiana, Illi-
nois, Michigan and Wisconsin. 1t is more
than the entire population of an ambitious
Nation like Chilli 1t is more than four
times as many as the biggest army arrayed
by Napoleon for the couquering of Europe.
1t is nearly twice as many as the monster
army with which the Germans overran
France. Ii is nearly 80 times as many as
the largest army which England ever put in
the field.
Nor were these men sluggards in war.
In the course Of four years and so days
! ,4G0 days exactly-they fought the pro-
digious number of 2,261 battles and Skin
mishes, or nearly two battles a day.
Many of these were the largest and
bloodiest battles in history
More than 100000 of those young men
were actually killed on the field.
More than 10000 of them rotted to death
in rebel prisons.
Fully 100000 of them succumbed to the
awful hardships and privations, and died in
hospital and camp.
Every one of them who passed through
that terrible experience suffered terribly in
physique, and came back much less able TO
endure the struggle of existence and bread
winning than if he had not undergone such
a sapping of his vitality.
Besides rendering this service TO their
country they generously donated TO her, in
wages they would have earned at home, but
sacrificed in order TO save her, fully $780,
100000.
Now look at the other side:
The men who did not 20 to war, but s;aid
at home and made money, lent 10 the Gov
eminent s., ISL $50, 29l, or about as much as
the soldiers sacrificed in the way of wages
in order 10 enter the army.
The bondholders fought no bloody battles,
they made no long terrible marches, they
did not lie for days, weeks-months even
under the peltiSg sleet, the bone-chiiling
rain, in miasmatic swamps, and on wind
swept mountain-tops.
None OF them was pierced by bullets torn
by shells, or swept into eternity by annihilat-
ingcanister. They staid in their comfortable
homes, fed as well, slept as well, and enjoyed
themselves as fully as prosperous money
making men could.
Yet how differently the Government has
treated these two classes of men. Let MS
scan the Treasury reports:
In 1856 it paid the sleek, comfortable
money-Ienders 1913, 0G7G25 in gold, for in
terest, while the men who had been manned
and disabled in the strife received but 49,
COS $50 in deprecated greeubacks-worth
at that time bat al cents, so that the gold
value Of the pension payments was but
Sl1 O79 $40, or about one-twelfth what the
bondholders received.
In 1867 the money-lenders received in
gold $l4s, ISL ,592, while the veterans got in
pensions but s2O,93G,552 in greenbacks,
worth 70 cents, or $l5.G74, 317 in .all-about
one-tenth what was paid the money lenders
In 1868 the money-lenders received in
gold $14O,424,O iG while the pensioners were
put of with $23.7s2 .3s7 in deprecated
greenbacks, worth thaty ZIG cents. That
year the money-Ienders got over eight times
as much as the men who fought the country's
battles and saved its existence
In 1863 the money-lenders received $780,
4,243, all the time in gold, while the
veterans were put off with $2s, 47G,G22 in
greenbacks, worth that year rs cents 90
that the actual gold value of the pension
payments was about S2l 900, 900, or less than
one-sixth the payments TO the money
| lenders.
In 1870 the money-lenders were paid
$l29,2 J. 49s, while the pensioners received
but s2s. $40, POP, or, taking into consideration
the difference between gold and greenbacks,
I less than one-sixth the amount of interest
paid.
IN 1871 the payments 10 the bondholders
we're $125,57G, 5G6, and to the pensioners
! S34, 1885. AS the greenback was worth
20 cents that year, the soldiers received less
than one-quarter what was paid the men who
only contributed the use of their surplus
cash toward the saving of the country
In 1872 the bondholders were paid Bly,
357,640. while the veterans got $2s, 533, 403,
OF again less than one-quarter the amount
paid the more fortunate class of National
creditors.
In 1873 the moncy-lenders received SlO4.-