Telegram-herald., 1890-12-06

H. =..s Fs.1A.x rh.s srsAs sAs eAa~l.


Ke sAe Eaitor 81 ths Ts.sszsx nss.ts.
~ attsaGoa bas l1st besn ea,lsd .
a. 4Ftseis II the Demeerst q Sossm-
eer -, - wh.eh Il : st4te,t lkal tie
naaaAkesn<nt of ths seldsrs Heas pro
pose - eoAaseate ths p.ttznse shieh
TIE Jasssd states Government grants
- certain Inmates II thas instaL2n-
IRA = SIMPLY 4n0khef tNiss % tbe
rope uhieh : arouua TIE aseks q tee
veterans tnerela, 80 tents - plig them
= Lille nearsr "a the level slsa slsEss
alt ao<s, AID thls Ees move oaEnt -
ee resisted - every ex-soltles aaa eyeEy
ioxeF ~ q sol4isF Ia the Stale.
Little by little, BloBth ~ moath,
s1ee Col. Wells ictt. 01e privilege after
smother has been tzk=n fgo = the yet-
sFans. They have been serimped n
tais, and then IL that, ia every case
e4aslng thsnl 10 feel more and more
thslF degfxdat.On. Iney are snarled
a. and snapped a., over every c0ucelv-
able thing. from 4 fe3 natches 10
suit Or clothes; bar this last impostion
. the feather that breaks the camels
back" Every man that draws more
~%-@- - = it+tAAi4t = 70 A- 4EAtN4
IA nlssl0u 20 the home. AZ II 4 man. un-
able % iabor. could support hlmself on
siZ.5Q or Sl3 A month Why. IL will
scarcely pay hls hoard. Rui II be gets
only 81, 10 wlll be compelled 10 turn
over s. OF Il - the management, 10 DO
as they please with. Oae thing Is ceF-
tain, there is no authority IN law by
which the management can get hold OF
h. -. h.
that =, outside Of the National Homes:
and there s 10 authority in law CON-
pellng peDsiOner To give his pension
money To anybody.
The very most the cOmmandant can
do 10 TO use the threat of expulsion, a.
a club 90 coeTce veteran 10 turn over
s. OF his money 10 him. The article in
question would seem 10 imply that they
propose 10 compel him 10 turn over the
entire Sl2. and that they will dole out
To hlm 81 during the month, at such
times and IN such sums as they see tit.
NOW, l am willing to admit that
there are some cases In which this new
arrangement would not come amiss;
but protest against the whole busi-
ness, on general principles. Our Sol
dlers' home Is being converted, step by
step, INTO national home; and IN the
national homes an inmate IS OF no more
account than dog, II as much.
l presume the c0mmandant's dog
mas much more attention paid him
than IS paid 20 disabled defender of
our country therein. The unfortunate
veteran does not own the clothes he
wears even now in our soldiers home
tie IS told that they are only loaned to
him; and now he will not be allowed to
control even the miserable pittance
which the Government gives him for
the loss of his health. and for twenty
i've years of suffering, the agones of
which are known only TO the sufferer
himself.
l protest therefore against the new
arrangement, as a mean dastardly con-
trlyance for stripping an ex-soldier of
ms last remnant of independence and
manhood. Heis now n beggar, indeed.
In former times n pension was con-
sidered Il badge of honor, a token of
bravery; now IN the case of the veterans
at the Home, it is to become an iron
necklace, certifying to all beholders
that the wearer is a galley slave.
lt may be thst the G. A. X. and SOL
dlers generally throughout the State |
will approve OF this, as they Themselves |
have become used to being called "Gov- |
ernment beggars," and all that; and it |
may be that the friends of the veterans |
will also say "amen" to this last move |
at the Home, but if they do, shall |
conclude that their memories are very |
short, and that it is now disgrace ever |
to have been soldier. Can it be we /
have at last come to such q shameful |
end? CHARLES K. GIBSON,
Late Acting Chaplain"
Dec. l, 80.