The National tribune., 1891-12-03
.nreRLnArroN or rFNs1oNs..

Founder Of the Society Of Loyal Yolun-
teers, has an article in the December Forum
under the above head, setting forth his ideas.
Much Of il is devoted to detailing his own
military service in order 20 Justify his
claim 10 speak for the real fighting men of
theVar Of the rebellion. According to his
own statement has record is as good-nO
better-then tens of thousands Of other men
who responded 10 the first three-years' cali,
and arved through the struggle. His arti-
Gle is a rather incoherent production, made
up Of lamentations over the vast amount OF
money being drawn from the Treasury TO
pay PENSIONS and the number Of unworthy
men who are drawing pensions; denunca-
tions Of pension attorneys who are encour-
aging veterans 10 take advantage Of the laws
passed for their benefit, and adiurations to
the ,eterans not 10 prostitute their patriot
ism for pelG While dealing with general
titles Lieut. Foote gels along fairly well,
though his eXaggerations frequently reach
wildncss. when he comes TO dealing with
specific facts aud figures they trip him MP
and leave him noundering. He opens with +;
have earned nhe iglt TO speak. stood in the
ranks, loyal volunteer, in 1851, Rud hrRrh The
kissing balls when the Grst guns wcre fired al the
5sirmish Of Blacl.buuIs Ford, three days before
tho iiI,i battle OF BAIL Run ] marched with my
company 80 The last grand review AZ Washington
in lsC' lost not day from service between those
dates, except when disabled boy a wound received
ni The battle OF Fair Oaks no mau can say 81 me
that z ann not lilI those " no demand pensions FOR
loyal service because did not serve 81 did not
suffer ] have written my record with my blood.
J am not with the ucroenaIy horde who de-
mRud pensions Tor duty done, because my 10y
alty il uoi aud ucvor WAS Tor sale.
What right has he 10 say that those who
demand pensions for duty done are a "mer-
cenuy horde whose loyalty is for sale
he demanded, and very properly, that The
Paymasler pay him the Sl3 a month which
the Government allowed him during the
time ne served as an enlisted man. We
presume that he got every dollar Of that.
Did he consider himself mercenary in so
doing? Did he sell his loyalty when he
signed his name to the rolls acknowledging
the receipt Of $2G Tor two months service +?
IN the eyes Of common sense it was just as
"mercenary" 10 accept any pay for service
during the war ust as much a sale Of 10y
atty '-as il is to apply for and accept a
pension now. Both pay and pensions are
the Governments partial return for, not
payment OF, the services it received
lie goes on to say:
what would be just basis for pensions? In
forming tie legislation OF the country thn clam0r-
ng 81 Tie dshonorabio should not be considered
when ihc pcusiUu-roll g. relieved 81 90 those who
are not n need, 9ud alI who are willing 90 earn =
living f q fitting opportunity rs found for them,
those that remain viii be- only ihu very few who
can. tudcr The mos, favorable circumstances that
can be found for them, earn only partly enough 10
support themselves ia comfort those who eau do
nothing toward leir own support and those who
can earn nothing and Who periodically require the
aid aud attendance OF other persons. TO each q
these clusses abundance should be given. No hon
/ otabic person VIII Tor an instant withhold from
such us they the fan sympathy aud support which
/ are lIei. due when lie peusion-roll has been "a
siheG, some dFegs may be lcit, moral aHd physical
I wrecks who have reached the lowest depths d
degradation. and are unworthy OF consideration,
/ eXccp as paupers.
In the thiclly -crowded errors OF this state
ment the crowuing one is that pensions
should be based upon mans needs and in.
/ digence. The sentiment Of the veterans and
the country has been repeatedly expressed
Oh this IDEA Of degrading pensions into aims
and always with The greatest emphasi,
against it, lie would take from the roll.
all who are willing 10 earn living il .
/ fitting opportunity is found for them" la
De thought out what this means? II q,
fitting opportunity 10 he partially disable,
to earn living is found for them, it mos
be found by the Government II il nCbodl
olse's duty o. business Then the Govern
meut would have 20 DO ms those OF Europ
do provide its old soldiers with employ
ment IN iis civil service. Ia German,
and France old soldiers, and The wivc
and widows Of such, are given en-
ploymcnt TO the exclusion Of civilians
They are conductors, clerks, ticket agent.
telegraph operators, messengers, switohmer
and watchmen on the Government railroads
they are clerks, messengers, watchmen, etc
in the Governmental bureaus; they are give
privileges Of supplying the people with e
hacco, matches and other articles, the sal
Of which Is a Government monopoly; The
are employed in The Governments forest
mines and manufactures and in thousan
way are taken care Of and enabled 10 ear
a living. Many Of these ways could be mad
. practicable under our Government; man
more Of them could not. Small pension
mus, take thc place Of methods possible
D Europe, bat not here.
p Again:
1 J sm oi tbe opinion uat d CLOSE canvass 81 !
4 loyal volunteers 1yIu result in securing the Hct,
support 80 al least 81 hundred thousand real vet,
9 uu- lUr sBla "a 4ei0Ia 90 ,Hc pension lave ~ "
change tlae ieRa ba-is ~ tAe olaim FROM supp,
br uruuW SAILOR 10 impairment ~ earning c
d lerIil Hud, further provide that no claimant sh
receive payments when not ib need o. ~ ltllc car
IHg a comfortable living by public or ltliyate ~