The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-13
A sENsELESs BuCAnoo.

year for the next 10 years for pensions;
suppose that every dollar of the present
surplus, and every dollar of the revenues not
needed for the actual running expenses of
the Government is expended in this way
will the Nation and the people be impover-
ished thereby?
Not to the amount of single dollar.
VIII the taxes paid by the common people
be higher?
Not single cent.
Will the profits on farming, business and
manufacturing be lowered2
Not in single instance.
Will the poor mans food, clothing, rent,
and other comforts of life be made dearer
or harder to prOcureP
Not particle.
On the contrary, quite the reverse.
Every dollar of this sum will go directly
into the pockets of the common people. 1t
will be distributed in the most effective way
that can be possibly devised, directly to the
persons and classes who should have it and
where it will do the greatest good to the
g-eatest number, which is the aim and end
of all truly republican legislation.
1t will not be used as much of the other
large payments of the Government are: to
manipulate stocks in Wall street, or to
corner grain in Chicago, or strengthen the
power of the great money-kings.
No; within 80 days after the quarterly
disbursements from the various pension
offices the money will have been equitably
distributed the entire length and breadth
of the land. Every township and village
will get its share. Some dollars of it will
find their way into the pockets of every la
borer, every wOrkingwoman, every mechanic,
every farmer, every butcher, baker, store
keeper, doctor, lawyer, minister and school
teacher, from Maine to Oregon, and from
Minnesota to Texas
Nothing will do more TO curb the power
of the money-kings, to prevent panics and
"squeezeS,n and to insure the steady, even
flow of the tide of prosperity than this. One
hundred and fifty millions distributed
through the pension agencies 10 the entire
mass of the people will be a power that the
intriguers of Wall street dare not grapple
with. twill be an obstacle TO their manip-
ulatiOns which will hold them in awe. To-
day the Government holds over their heads
nearly S200,00O,O00 in gold. 1t would be
vastly wiser policy to use this to
pay of the arrears of pensions, equalize the
bounties, and provide for the other legisla-
ton recommended by the GAR. National
Pension Committee. While this sum is
lying idle in the Treasury, it is, though in
one sense a menace to the great gamblers Of
Wall street. in another it is of vast help 10
them. 1t diminishes enormously the avail
able stock OF gold in the country, so as TO
make the remainder the easier of manipula-
ton. They can calculate confidently where
it is and that il viii remain quiescent, except
in the greatest possible emergency. ii, on
the other hand, il were taken out of the
Treasury and distributed to the veterans,
and by them TO the people at large, it would
become an active force of inconcciyable
benefit TO every interest in the country, and
could be still arrayed against their machinas
tons with as absolute certainty as it can at
present.
Senator Sherman stands on record ms
having said that nothing helped so much in
making the restoration OF specie payments
successful as the passage Of the Arrears Of
Pensions Act, which distributed such large
amount directly TO the people. As the great
architect Of that measure his evidence is in
disputable. 1t is equally indisputable that
the country was never more prosperous than
while it was paying an average Of $150,000,-
900 year to the bondhohers. If it pays
| Sl50.000,00O year to the veterans for the
next ten years it will be vastly more prosper
Gus, op. account Of this amount being distrib.
uted more Immediately among the common
people, than that paid the bondholders, and
because the payment of this amount insures
the maintenance Of the present protective
system, under which every interest in the
country is furnishing.
Above all, the country should do this foi
the supremest of all reasons BECAUSE
IT Is RIGHT. TWAS right-indisputably
right-to pay the bondholders to the las
cent Of the letter Of their bonds That wa
honorable and just. 1t is sacredly anC
eternally right 10 pay the soldiers according
to the spirit and meaning of the promises
made Them when they gave up all aud de
voted themselves 10 saving the country
The Proverbs say that durable riches shal
be with him who doeth righteousness, an,
nothing will more exalt this Nation and in
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