Evening journal., 1890-02-15

nestle these our sons viii rally round It,
and BY their heroism az geiiahtry
save it 20 generations yet I'm. 'arn, ana
prove themselves worthy sons o. their
noble sires.
Pensions.
Pensions have agitated the minds. not
only Of the members Of the G. A. r..
their widows and orphans, but Of the
people generally more during the last
year than at any period since the close
Of the war
The last National Encamps1ent de-
clared in uamlstakable terms in favor Of
the Per Diem Service Pension bill Upon
this platform we stand hope that the
resolutions passed by this department
viii be SO plain that wayfarlng man,
though fool, cannot err therein. l have
not always been believer IN service
per diem pension. felt IL to be onr first
duty to care for him who neased our
care. But after thoughtfully studying
the whole subject feel that the time has
come, and now is, when the name Of
every honorably discharged soldier and
sailor, and the name of every widow
of every honorably discharged soldier
and sailor, whether he died from
disease contracted In the army, or from
other causes, should be placed upon the
pension roll Of the United States and
given a pension of not less than SIS per
month, with an addition for disability
and long service.
When the war opened there were IN
this country two classes Of people. each
entitled to the gratitude Of every loyal
citizen. One the the money lender. He
loaned TO the government his money and
became the bond holder. The other
shall denominate the musket holder
This term shall include every honorably
discharged soldier and sailor he had no
money he put In his young life, his ser.
vice and his blood instead The govern
ment has kept faith with the bond holder
and with your support and approval, and
with mine, It has paid to him every cent
he loaned it, Not only has it done this
he loaned a greenbaek dollar, deprecated
In value until IL was worth only about
i3 cents on the dollar; it has
paid him gold dollar worth
one hundred cents on the dollar; and
paid him gold interest on his bonds
While the government did this the SER
vice Of the soldiers Of the war Of the re
bellion greatly increased the value Of his
property. IL was not considered any lack
holder TO accept the gold dollar even at
time when the government was In debt
and there was no surplus in the treasury.
Why. then, shall the soldier, who asks
that he shall be treated as the soldiers OF
every other war have been treated by
having granted to him service pension.
Away with the red tape, which re
quires an applicant for pension, without
! dollar in his pocket, to be sent all over
the country in search of examining
boards consisting Of three members, II
many cases Of men who never laid npoT
! Dixies soil and who know little or moth
: ing about soldier diseases. II required
, only one doctor TO let us int
: the service: in my opinion
! one is sufficient to constitute
an examining board, and that one shout,
be friend, acquainted with soldier lifl
! and diseases. Let the surplus now pail
to the examining boards and special ex
aminers be given to the nations defend.
! ers and there win be far less want anC
misery in this country. SO long as Tbs
present system shall remain. let cxamin
/ ing boards be established in ever,
/. | county in the state where they may b
reached with little or no expense to TIL
I applicant. and let one examination b
a the board selected by the government b
sufficient, unless the applicant him
n self shall be dissatisfied with the rating
4 This department has no Woman's RI
N lief Corps Association, but instead haV
III noble, loyal women, generally the wive
and daughters Of the comrades Of diife
! emit posts, who assist them not only
v their entertainments, but ia the mob
n work Of charity. Many poor old suife
4 ing soldiers, wracked with pain and di
ease, are indebted to these noble wome
/ for nourishment and kind attention
Y their suffering.
~ Now my comrades, soon shall gi'
"a back to you the authority yon bestowe
a upon me, again / shall be comrade
= your ranks, my life dedicated to Yol
I service. Ever shall / hold each u YOU
= grateful remembrance, and shall ev
pray that Heavens most choice blessing
7 may always abide with you, my conrad
u and with your families. May God Bile
n you, one and all is. and ever shall be n
4 prayer. PETER B. AYARs,
~ Department Commander