The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-14

Tue VAMPIRES OF THE NArrcN.-Boston, |
February Sat the meeting Of the Boston |
Reform Club, held this evening Ex-Gover- |
nor Chamberlain made an able and eloquent |
speech, many points Of which were up
plauded to the echo.
Ex-Governor Chamberlain's address was
the feature of the evening. lie had a double
barrelled subject and handled it with rs
much skill as n South Carolina sportsman
handles his doublc-barrelled shotgun. His
remarks on the dependent pension bills and on
the race problem were equally to the point.
lie contended that there is no race problem as
such, that the negro in the South is making
better progress than at any time since his
freedom; that instead of being a race problem
the negro question is q political problem,
engineered for the sole benefit of the
Hoars and Chambers and Ingallses of
the North, and that the Government
has done ull that it can do for the
negro in his social and political life. His
views upon this subject, however, merit
fuller notice than can be made in this report
and are worthy of publication in cxtenso.
Governor Chamberlain comments upon the
dependent pension bills contained terrible
arraignment of the Republican party, and
ought to bring the blush of shame 10 the
checks of every honorable soldier of the Re-
public. Among other things Mr.. Chamber
lain said
There were enlisted into our armies be-
tween 1861 and 1865 no less than 2,172,O0O
men. Deaths and dcscrtions reduced that
number by about 600 900, leaving about 2.20O-
600 soldiers surviving tho war. OF these,
as have stated, $4,000 are now on the
pension rolls. leaving, less deaths occur
ring sin.e 1860. about | 100000 unpensioned.
Ahosv i .iis regarded as probable
impossible, of course, to say how many of
this number are or will become dependent
but our best pension experts estimate the
increase of our pension list ut from 400 900
to 100000 under the operations of such
bill-resulting in an increase of disburse-
ments for pensions by something Ike 800.
100000, making the annual pension expen-
diture not less than 5000 ,OO0, 900,
''Thesc calculations arc necessarily prob
lcmatic, but that the increase in the pension
list and of pension expenditures will be enor-
nous no one can question. Ii seems probable
both these will be doubled.
But no pccuniary considerations exhaust
or duly present the cnormity ofthcsc schemes
Such pensions, such terms of pcnsan, are an
exhaustless corruption fund.- to debauch the
conscience. to undermine the manhood, and
debase the sense of patriotism, of our soldiers
of the civil war. What manly soldier does
not value above all else. the pride of memory
"h" vi "h'S "pic III ti;tt WIT DOCS lie ask
us to put him on the pauper ROLL to offer
~ tfsat ss s A PaS ~ Ena%Isr to offer to support
soldier looks with disgust and contcmpt ON
s"ch OFFERS. If misfortune shall ovcrtakc him
lie Will depend. like other men. on the sun
port of family and kindred, the charity of
friends, If ncct be, but not on ensions paid
from taxes compulsorily collected from the
eh'ire community. Much as honor Presi
dent Cleveland for many other reasons of a
public nature, honor him, perhaps most
OF all for his brave and patriotic fight against
special pension bills and the stupendous cor
ruption AMI wrong of the dependent pen
sion bill which he vetoed and killed. The
same substantial scheme of plumber is now
nioot IN the Senate. rs | have said. doubt |
II half dozen Republican Senators will
aare to record their votes against t-especial- |
~ doubt if Massachusetts Senator's will |
dare to oppose it. The courage which fought
INC great ante-war conflict of ideas, the
courage which fought the great war itself
'nd Dlazoned our history with its brightest
Page'' seems to be well-nigh lost.