The Portland daily press., 1890-08-14

debts, and so on. While these are moi
reasons for paying pensions, they are a
source Of consolation to the people who bear
the burden.
Since the war the nation has doubled in
population and mole than quadrupled In
wealth. Its prosperity Is known to nc
other land. and am sure Its people are glad
ly contributing to the support Of those who
at every sacrifice made II possible for 1t to
be what 1t Is.
Much misapprehension exists, think, con-
cerning the disability bill heretofore referred
to, passed under date Of June.27th, 1890. Let
me quote from section 2: "All persons who
served 90 days or more in the military or
naval service OF the United States during the
late war Of the rebellion, and who have been
nonOra6ly asd discharged therefrom. and who
are now or who may hereafter be suffering
from mental or physical disability, of a
permanent character, not the result Of their
own vicious habits, which incapacitates
them from the performance Of manual labor
in such a degree as to render them unable
to earn a support, shall upon making due
proof Of the fact, according to such rules
and regulations as the Secretary Of the In
terror may provide, be placed upon the list
OF invalid pensioners Of the United States,
ana pc entitled to receive pension not ex-
ceeding twelve dollars per month. and not
less than six dollars per month, Eroportioned
to the degree of inability to earn support"
Under the official rules and regulations at
tached to the bill are the following: "This
law requires in soldiers case.
Il. An honorable discharge,
~. That he served at least ninety days.
-. A permanent physical or mental in
ability to earn support, but not due TO vicious
habits. gt need not have originated in the
BY careful reading of this law and the
omclai explanation above quoted, 1t will be
seen that. no matter what a mans financial
conditlon may be, IL he be physically dis
aDied from performing manual labor he Is
entitled to pension, the conditions being,
I nrst physical disability. not necessarily con-
tracted In the service; and, second, that
proof OF such disability may be made upon
certificate from his physician probably, and
without the testimony of his former COM
rades. Should any member of this encamp-
ment today receive permanent injury. mot
tne result OF his own vicious habits" he
would be entitled to pension. Let us be
lust 70 our lawmakers, even though they
nave not given us all we asked. No country
on earth Is or ever has been nearly as gener-
GUS TO It's soldiery as ours.
An ordinary plain vault on the banks of
the Hudson marks the resting place of our
great chieftain. This is not creditable either
TO US or to this nation. There should be
erected at the Capital lof this Government,
dedicated to the memory Of this great man, a
memorial building such as will be credit to
tthe whole people. Not @ shaft; not statue,
but n1onuInentdL structure such ras has not
been builded in this or any other country.
One to which every citizen within the do
mains of this great land can refer with pride.
recommend that committee of five be
appointed by this encampment, whose duties
snail De In accordance with the foregoing
and empowered to solicit aid from the gen.
eral government and from individuals. |
think we give too little thought to patriotic
sentiment; to the glories Of the past; and to
the shrine Of The ueteran, THE OLD FLAGi
too little thought to the blessings we enjoy!
Every patriotic act, every subscription to a
monument fund, every dollar devoted to the
reliet OIL the suffering, every gathering where
patriotic sentiments are expressed, helps to
6ulld wealth that cannot be represented In
ngures, because every such act breathes the
lie that Will perpetuate our love for the ma
tion and continue its prosperity,