New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-20
rETER4NS md PENSIONS.

Less than one-Sixth of the members OF the
National Grand Army Encampmcnt voted Ill
favor of persiSting in efforts for n service
ponsion hill But a still smaller number voted
AGAINST the measure. and so it goes on the
record that the Grand Army approved the bh
by 4 vote of IA to 100. although I3I mem
bors more than two-thirds of the whole, did
NOT vote NJ all. The men who cared nothing
about the demand-not enough, at AL events
to vote either way-were more than four-siXth'
of the Grand Army, and those opposed to II
were about another sixth, and yet pension
agents will quote the vote aS If the Scanty ma
ioritv of fourteen expressed the deliberate de-
cison Of Union veterans.
This is not a creditablc mode of making
q decision. and the decision itself does not APP
near to THE TRIBUNE worthy of the veterans
Probably the great majority OF the members
prcScnt declined to vote because, while they
were unwilling 10 antagOnlze proposition lol
tbe benefit of comrades, some of whom favored
il strongly. they were not able 10 support 1t
in consistency with their conception OF duty
Is citizens If that is the correct Interpretation
of their refusal - vote. their duty aS citizens
might have been more fully performed II they
had made ~ kUONU llldN INV hi''""'' N'''
not receive the support Of the Grand arm!
and thus had caused it to be Withdrawn. For
the i'll informed and unthinking VIII again DO
IMPRESSED hy the statement that majority oi
the Union veterans deliberately ask service
pcnsion. What they deliberately ask many
citizens are always strongly inclined to grant
in recognition of services which cannot in truth
be too highly valued.
Yet II will have 10 be remembered that a
debt which the Nation can never fully pay Is
for that very reason not a debt which II can
with propricty be called upon to pay. General
WASHINGTON would not have been fully paid
for his services if he had been made President
for life. General Grant would not have been
fully paid if he had been made Dictator. \
uaymcnt which sacrifices the welfare OF th"
Nation. the equal liberty of It's citizens Their
equal opportunities. and H. blessings for the
millions vino labor and earn wages and pay
taXc,. i not payment which will ever be-
asked by the patriotic mon veteran !"
mortcar, The earnings Of sixty millions OF
pooplc all their lives in order 70 pay sums Ia
half a million on more who are not dependent
and not unable or unwilling 10 earn their living
by honorable labor would not pay debt. but
il would create special class. against whom
popular prejudice could not long bc restrained.
The injured, the dependent the helpless. and
the children or widows OF those who have fall
en- have been placed beyond the reach OF want.
70 take sixty millions year or more for the
Others who are not in need * not 10 lessen the
accumulation of a few rich men. but il Is Ia
cut down the scanty earnings Of the poor. The
sugar duty, for instance, takes nearly as much
from the poorest day laborcr as from any
millionaire who has family Of the same num-
ber Not only must such duties be contin-
ucd. but others must be added, if a service
pension is 10 be added to other expenditures of
Government. The attempt to carry such a
measure will not meet with favor, and the
danger is that it may risk all that grateful
country has already been willing to do foy
Union veterans and their living representatives
who are in need.