The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-27
LET US HAVE OUR DAY IN COURT.


The administration of justice in every
court in Christendom is governed by two
infexible rules:
/. That the parties TO case shall have
their day in court, when they appear upon
summons, and present all that there is to be
said in their behalf, with the right TO have
il fully considered, and given due weight in
The adjudication.
. That this day in court shall be made
the earliest possible, with adjudication fol-
lowing with all reasonable promptncss, that
the parties may suffer no damage by delay.
Postponement in granting justice is liable
TO act rs disastrously as the most complete
refusal TO do Justice.
II is these plain rules Of universal appli-
cation that we insist shall govern in the case
of the Veterans rcrsus United States, for
non-iultilment of contract.
In this case the Congress of the United
States is acting as the court which decides
whether or not the plaintiffs are entitled to
anything. We contend with all possible
earnestness that they are entitled to have
their full day in court, and that ut the earli-
est moment, taking precedence over every
/ thing else when their claims can be argued
to the fullest extent, everything in their
favor be given its full weight, and the adiu-
! dication be made with the utmost prompt
ness.
Were they merely ordinary creditors Of
the Government, asking for the return Of
money loaned, or payment for work done or
goods sold, they would still be eminently
entitled TO this. Common commercial
usage, the customs Of business and the prac-
tice of courts in civil cases would require
/ that they be given rs speedy hearing as
+ could be secured, with equally prompt adj
/ Indication. Having performed their share
of the contract within the time allotted, they
| could reasonably demand of Congress that
| it display equal promptness in dealing with
them. They would properly contend, and
/ the world would agree with them, that any
delay in this respect would be in effect n
robbery, proportional in iniquity to the
/ length OF the delay. The loss of their money
during the time would be an injury for
which they would demand interest, possibly
compound interest,
But the veterans stand before Congress in
vastly better light than ordinary creditors.
The service they performed FOR the country
was not one of pleasure or profit to them
selves but Of infinite dsagreeabiIity and
detriment They lost immensely while per
forming it, and the Nation gained incalcu-
lably. Every portion Of that service was an
enormous personal sacrifice from which the
whole Nation has rcaped inestimabIe bene-
fits.
In any court in Christendom suitors
having such considerations in their favor
would be given a hearing before all others,
more respectful audience than any others,
and the wheels Of justice would be set in
| speedier motion for their benefit. 1t has
not been so with Congress, which has heard
/ everybody else before the veterans, which has
listened 10 everybody else than them with
more patience, and has decided for every
/ body else rather than them.
There is another potent consideration :
| Delay in dealing with other classes OF
creditors could work no lasting harm. If a
money-lender, or man who sold goods or
performed work was kept out Of his money
| for a few years, the damage TO him could be
made entirely good by the payment Of in
terest Even if he died in the meanwhile
/ his heirs received the money.
But every year, every month, every week,
even, of delay in deciding the case Of the
soldiers, wrought irreparable wrong since
thousands were defrauded of their dearly
earned rights by Death removing them be-
yond the reach Of earthly justice. In their
case delays are not merely dangerous-they
are actually, actively and positively crimi-
nal II would be more honest and honorable
for the Government 10 extort money from
men by the mailed hand of oppression than
to swindle them out Of it by postponinG
payment, under one pretext and another
until the clods OF the valley rolled upon the
defrauded ones collins.
This has gone on until we are now face
to face with crisis. We must have oul
day in court at once, or we shall never hay,
it, 1t is now or never. 1t has already be
come Never" for hundreds of thousands o
our comrades for whom TAPS" sounded
while they stood patiently waiting the turn
ing Of the tardy wheels of justice. Shall i
be Never" for hundreds Of thousands NOR,
Of us who yet wait? 1t will certainly be /
we allow any other important business, ant
particularly that Of reducing the revenue, {,
AN