The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-19
SOLDIERS v. BONDHOLDERs
A Plea for The Veterans by a COmraae.

I y
strikes me as being the true business" and as
something that all old soldiers ought to take
| hold of right now, aud push until they sue
ceed in getting the recognition from the Gov
| ernment that they earned in the years from
! 1861 to 1865.
| Capitalists, popularity known as "bondhold-
| ers," loaned their money to carry on the war,
and in doing So of course took chances; for
| II the Union arms had not been victorious, tho
| probabilities of their getting their money back
would have been slim indeed ; and give them
| all thanks, gratitude and honor for coming TO
the rescue with their coin at the time they did,
and believe that they should have been paid
as they have been. every dollar they loaned,
| with fair rate Of interest
| But, right here, let us look at this matter as
business proposition, in cold business man
| ner, leaving out all the elements Of patriotism,
love for the old Union, its flag, etc. The bond
| holders had property, had large investments in
variOus enterprises, had their wealth in such
| shape that they could not at a moments notice
| put it in their pockets and seek safety in some
| other place. If the rebellion succeeded it
meant death to all of these enterprises, and q
| loss OF everything invested therein. This must
have been the case because, if secession had
been success the change in our whole system
Of Government, and the time that it would
necessarily take to accommodate ourselves to
the new order of things, if indeed we could or
would do so, would be so long that two or three
generations must live and die before anything
permanent could be established so that the
breaking up of the Government meant, practi-
caliy, tho breaking up and destruction of all
private enterprises as we'll.
Taking this view of the matter the wealthy
man was bound to risk some of his wealth for
the protection of the remainder, and, rs he re-
Ceiyed good interest, it was, in fact the best
thing he could do, and, as a business PROPOSE
ton, was n good Investment. Now, after this
investment was made, on whom did it depend
for success
Not on the money lenders by any means, and
not on the great Gnanciers of the country; but
it did depend on those brave young fellows
who, not having had time TO accumulate
wealth, but who were just entering on the
great struggle for fortune who left business
prospects, homo, friends, mothers, wives and
sweethearts, and all the comforts of peaceful
present and prosperous future-left all this to
brave death in every form, to suffer privatons,
hardships and trials hardly dreamed of in all
their lives before; some to linger suffer and
die in hospital; some to be instantly killed
on tho battlefield; some TO be wounded and
thenceforth drag out a miserable existence
some TO be starved frozen and furnished in rebel
prisons. These were the men TO whom tho
country looked for the safety of the Union the
hcnor of the flag and the security of the bonds
held by the moncy-lenders.
And right well did they DO their work. The
"errug sisters were brought back into the
National family. Not a single star was per-
mitted TO drop from the blue field Of cold
Glory" The question IS TO whether people
are capable of self fgovernment was sol we'd in
the Affirmative, and greeubacks, that at Que time
during the struggle were worth but 10 cents on
the dollar, were made equal in value with gold
and silver coin. The bondboders were paid,
principal and interest, in hard gold coin, aud
peace, plenty and prosperity once more pre-
vailed.
And what is the reward Of these heroes the
very flower Of our population at tho time who
dropped all private occupations and aspirations.
literally g leaving the plow in the lurrow," TO
answer the call arms2
They were promised almost everything that
goes to make life comfortable and happy. They
received their board and ciuthes-of;cn a short
allowance Of each-and from Sl3 t. SIG per
month IN deprecated currency. aud that is all.
Aud for this what did they DO? They in
cured dangers, hardships. priyatious and ex-
pOsuFes OF every kind. They made long marches
on land. and long voyages by sea. They fought
bloody battles. They made roads. They dug
trenches They built forts. They proved them
selves the grandcst army the world ever saw.
They lost from one 10 five years of the most
valuable portion of their lives the very prime
oi their manhood whom ordinarily the whole
future OF a mans life is shaped aud his pur-
poses settled. Aud after il was all over they
again proved themselves a greater army than
was ever organized in any country before, by
quietly disbanding and min2ling in civil life,
without jar or diseord and this in spite of the
croaking prophesies of "coppcrheads" and
stay homes"
And where are they now? very few of
thom are wealthy aud above all danger from
pccuniary want. Tho great majority probably
are in fair circumstances, and while health
lasts will be able to earn n comfortable living
fnF FEHlf fnpH sY,a a{Ks Int.
aud are living on the bounty Of others or in
public charitable institutions.
And now what should be done? Pass "The
National Tribune Service Pension Bill" or some
other equally good service pension bill that
would give every soldier and sailor who served
hiscountry, something TO remind him that he did
do something, and that the country appreciates
1t. The country is rich and prosperous, there
is plenty Of money, aud the people would never
feel the additional tax that this pension bill
would impose.
Some time in the future, when we are all
dead aud gone, there will be large appropria-
tiOns made 10 erect monuments TO the memory
OF the dead soldiers; but !, for one, would pre-
fer to take my share of the monumental fund
while living. aud know several comrades who
agree with me. This view of the matter NAV
not be sentimental, but TO me it seems sensible
It is true that this bill. or any bill that we can
hopo to have passed, will not give the old SOL
uler inuch; but small as the amount is, it
would be great help 10 many, aud as TO those
who do not need ID for their own use, ii would
not be hard TO fnd a worthy comrade on whom
to bestow it, and to whom il would be great
blessing.
And it will not be long that the Government
will have to pay these pensions; the men who
wore the blue are all wearing "gray now, not
as a uniform but rs natures signal that age Is
creeping on, and another quarter Of a century
will find but few of the old veterans 10 muster
for roll call
How is this TO he accomplished? Simply by
bringing the matter forcibly before the Con.
gress of the United States, and having a service
pension bill passed.
The people are ready for II ard willing that it
should be done, and il only remains for the old
soldiers to step to the front. in body, and say
to our Legislators, Pass this bill, " and the
thing is accomplished. Let every veteran write
TO his Representative and say TO him. "This bill
must be passed" and stick TO it, Just as he did
to his musket aud cartridge box while in the
service, and keep ut IL, just as he did when he
was pounding before VicEsburg and Richmand,
and other places, and the same success will fol-
low that crowned the soldiers efforts ut those
places. The soldiers hold the balance of polit-
ical power, and ought TO use il In securing what
is justly their due, and what ought to have
been accorded to them long ago. that is, some
substantial recognition of their services i'm pre-
serving the unity of this great people. All that
Is required is an organized and earnest effort
on the part of every veteran, and n pension
bill can be passed that will help many a poor
old cOmfade on the last march and add n small