New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-18
SOME FACTS ABOUT PENSIONS.
WHAT IS DUE TO THE VETERANS.

70 tbe Editor Of Tho Tribune
SIR something ought 10 bc said By earnest ana ron
~erva;ivc men against tn" TRADE when certain poi'
,t,, acitators and Others are making alOn the sums
= uouey which the Government pays out As pensions
~ tlosc who served as its supporters. and who were
in c,litv its savlors In the War OF the Rebellion. Al
This moment we have a Young ard active generation
..,nir. Yer trc re'ns of National Government In
a,v rcspects they arc ignorant OF the causes which
M IL, fine var I'll the tre;nc .dOus eiOrs of thc mo"
mon TO hold together the country or OF Inc sun2Re'
,oI privati0ns OF those who served wherever anu
,lcucver called to support the country. IL becomes
URGENT on all having full knowledge and influence I"
H., ,,.r mar, toward correcting the false impressions
'...tiy too common that the country Is squandenhS
iui,us If dollar, on dead beats fraudulent WIDOWS
,.i.dlng pension agents. and dishonest soldiers ana
-an,r-
In the first place. We shond emphasize inc iD'
HAT Int for the noble Army and Navy when sup
portea our flag from I-Gi 1866 there wonlh be no
United states Of America reaching from I'kcr 10 s',
and from ocean TO ocean. Had our soldiers ana
sailors been les brave or less earnest we "o"'o ho"
,r but Il fraction Of Nation. foTccn 10 pay "'u''
,tf,tagcs misery and fatal privatlOn tie ehorno"'
,mouuf Of del caused by own expenses ana '"so
~ tl,, Rebel Government. to which would have VefS
proprr,l been added possible clam 81 foreign
n,,Ions and individuals backed by their Governments
making sum almost too vast 10 estimate even !"
these days Of enormous accumulation, Oh MONEY Inv
Northern man who survived the war wouiu nave
lived only 70 himself and family IN slavery l"
which death alone could have brought release Inc
s.oddv CONTRACTOR the later railroad and trinsp0rta
l,lon kings would have worn No crowpS nor IiVeh III
NJ, niiceni palaces and the original social 400 mo"
600, would never have been born the useful deVl'es
discoveries, patents and Improvements whch are ~
generously covered by royalties as to reach amounts
iabulou, when compared with the pension pssi"c""
would be- unknown.
~ ne Nrho
are The Prosperous the rich. the leading men III bsi
ness We're they in the Army or Navy were t'er
fathers 40. Look among the poor, 90 VIC NV
find many whose most forciblc reminders oil the war
in which thew serted their country faithfully on lahn
and 80, are the suilcrngs from old wounds, loss OF
limbs. malaria. rheumatism and broken health Coul'
such persons successfully compete for wealth posi-
ton or even decent lvingl Would the average
anont paid pensioners give the bare necessities
Of lifci shall make provision for thelr WIDOWS @uu
,-phansi Are these innocent sufferers to he re-
w.iiel with the title OF pauDer'' How can Ecphbli'S
expect 10 I've long. to De respectcd at home ana
alroad II their defender, In time Of need are thus
treated These things are not forgotten. In the day
of trial these men faced death without fear and do nos
want charity. but Justice. Why shoah VIC give
cradciiciy io those who saved our homes. our prop
,rty orr lives. and mldo II possible for ms to ~
omula;c more than they When NO needed their
service, yes. the live, Of MANY. ever knd OF prom
l-c made hy towns. cites states anu TIE 'v'
errfn,it Ihe Volunteers" performed their part. and
nn sums ~ money can remuncratc them. Every
dollar o.. pension money i~ spent IN this country for
si-ouie needs. +, distributed - all lines u trade
and H. disbursement hy the Government Is not gift.
hut "a yer, late and only partial payment Of just
debt, the most binding % al is OBI cations lh'
| Government should no. - consider the Obligation.
History Will !n time curaicly report their deeds
u history doe, 10; provide bread Tor the willing and
.fllDf., defenders OF thr!r country n IT. huui' -:
ptfl tn Government en- never repay it, defend
~. md the distribution If the pension fuid i tT
best q sl,.fl which hI- thus ,tr been made Of its
va.t accumulation ~ money. IA a fcw ychrs-tn or
fvcrf, AT mo,i-relrly all OF the grand Army aud
n'l. daS hs day wounds. Wor'itcatpn, hinlilatlon
sddrd - personal Neutrality-suspicious. huriying thcm
I IL fl.,t souutiy where hope there j. no war III
ri. f.,t.re In is required ~ -, 70 500 that no SUR
as, cas-. ON soldier, and sailors. their families q"
fu,lr frpuili.pr and that the slight recognition WHICH
r small amounts il paid o them /, given IN Tie sam"
.rr.t with wh..h any other debt Is met While they
o Win o., let o.. not forget that during the .tr''c
,f..,.on wa. odlou- and patriotism honorable above
al other trait. and should Nri De- 80 "" are No"
, uit,~i country AID ia" rebels have been Forgiven.
i.t That -hplh NOT make sentiment ln thr mlNd 81
/ ,,l, lover ~ Dis country witch would honor par
f.ret r.l.i or traitor a. the expense OF npb"
uairot Our soldier, and st.iDrs. officers and men
me ,..t. d, the rlOu ea.,r. friends indeed IN tiW'
/ o,.ry citizen. ard u pension. given In the proprf
| .r.-i vNl cutVr'c -u.h feeling, IN the 'omns
generations a. VIII enable us TO caro- ipr "ur altar
! .fr rou.- md oar hIl, against any 10 rom VIVA
/ an, nj. WIN, n. ". lIrTLEfELD
phii,a. lpAi,, Penn. April 70. 1870.