Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-09
our BRAVE VETERANS.
The Latest Copperhead Attack on tn
Gallant Bows In Rlua.

The Latest Copperhead Attack on the
Gallant Boys In Blue.
During the war there was no limit to
the patriotism of the able-bodied men.
The Government in its weakness was in
great danger of destruction, and the
services Of all men able to bear arms
was freely called for, and when the call
was not promptly answered draft quickly
followed the call. The number OF drafted
men in the Union army was much
smaller in proportion than in any army
of equal magnitude in the history of
warfare. The great mass of those who
fought the Nations battles, preserved
its existence, throttled secession for
ever, firmly established the Government
and indicated the principles of the
constitution were volunteers. They left
home and friends, placing their lives on
the issue of an indivisible Union, and
went forth to strike down those who
were determined to ruin because they
could not be permitted to rule. 1t was
an army of patriots fighting entirely for
undying principles.
No other army of equal excellence in
every patriotic and soldierly feature
ever marched forth to battle for the
right While that grand army was
fighting the Nations enemies in front,
it was constantly abused and maligned
in every manner by Copperheads in the
rear. People half century old well re-
member the malignance of COpperheads.
Younger people can scarcely comprehend
how or why Union soldiers could have
been pursued with such undying hatred!
Among the most despicable COpperhead
papers during the war was the present
st. Louis Republic, and its hatred of the
Union soldier is just as bitter to-day. All
through the war and the. reconstruction
period the Republic bounded the Union
army and Government at every point,
and it is still pursuing the Union sol
diers with all the devilish malignance
which apprehension can inspire. A
recent issue of that paper calls for a de-
crease in the amount appropriated for
pensions and attempts to establish a
limit beyond which no Democratic vote
will 60. Here is the limit in it's own
words:
appropriation bill granting more than SS0OOO,-
900. That amount is an average expense of
500 each for 10000 men. There are 10000 on
the rolls, which at an average of 800 a year
would leave margin Of 100000 on the $50,
100000. The pension steal must stop some
where.
There is the old Copperhead hiss in
1.-THE pension steal" as the Republic
terms it. OF late there seems to be. a
gradually-increasing effort among the
Democratic papers to check the unavoid-
able increase in the pension appropria-
ton. 1t is we'll for the friends of the
Union soldiers to be on their guard.
The pension appropriation must con-
tinue to grow until every honorably-dis-
charged, disabled and dependent soldier
receives the pittance the laws provide.
There was no limit to patriotism during
the war, and there must be no limit to
the necessities of the soldiers now be-
yond the limits placed by law. Copper
headsmay howl and those who think 1.-The
soldier has played out" may maneuver,
but the honor of the Nation is pledged,
and that pledge will be sacredly re-
deemed. The Union soldier will be
honored, respected and pensioned as
the law provides until the entire num-
Der have been mustered into the phan-
tom army beyond the clouds. "-Des
Moines Qa.) Register.