The National tribune., 1891-11-19
PENSIONS AND SOCIALISM.
An Answer to Charges Hade By One Sloane in the
EPnfnrY.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the Century
Magt-ias for June, there is au article written by
one W. III. Sloane, called Pensions and Social
Ism, that deserves more than passing thought
by the members Of the GAR. The heretofore
high literary standing Of tho Century, and tho
apparent literary abilities Of this Mr. Sloane as
well as the real literary abilities Of its con-
trlbutOrs, causes, no matter how erroneous or
libelOus the article may be, 70 have more weight
than If the same article appeared in the columns
Of some political paper Of the day
Such an article rs that Of Mr. Sloane should
be replied 10 without gloves and as the pages
Of the Century are closed 10 those not Of a ma
tiOnal reputation. replies FROM other sources
must be used. For one, while possessing no
literary ability, cannot sit quietly by and
without a protest allow such an article as that
written by Mr. Sloane TO pass. hoping that
even a pistOl-shot from the hands Of a private
may ultimately bring up battery Of big guns
that will make Mr. Sloane think that he has
attacked the wrong fort.
The article Of itself is a heterogeneous mass
Of incOngruities he builds up, vet wantOnly
destroys, he praises and defames, is consistent
/ aud inconsistent in the same paragraph; while
he seems 10 praise the old soldier for what he
has done, he damus him because he has pen
sion. As far as the use Of the English language
il concerned his article shows an educated
mind, yet his arguments show a mind made
mad on the subject Of pensions. He writes
regardless Of logic, sound reason, or even COM
mon sense, and even says that the citizen
soldier has neither a legal nor moral right to
pension; Z" that we are in the midst OF social
/ ism -; that the Grand army Of the Republic
has - lost its moral force and hold on the
people," etc.
Read what he says: 1.-THE Grand Army,
| theoretically organized for a laudable purpose,
for sCciability and the perpetuatiOn Of the most
tF,rTa
more or less a political organization. But, in
so doing, il lost its moral force and hold on the
| Nation as disinterested band of War-wOrn
veterans who had deserved we'll Of their
| country"
Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty are the
watch words of the Grand Army Of the Re-
| public and that they are no meaningless
words we will Try to prove, and show that his
theoretical is the Imagination Of his brain.
In the report Of the Adjutant- General Of the
I GAR, August, 1890 we fad that for the year
ending March 81 1890, S22l ,3j0.lS was dis
bursed from the Post funds for charitable par
poses; also. that the Woman'5 Relief Corps for
the year ending June 30 1880 used S62, 226 13 for
the same purpose, a sum total Of $3.50, 1851;
for 1891 the Adjutant-Generai reports for the
year ending June 30 1891, 1888, 500 So, and
from July /, 1871 to July /, 1891 s., 23I, 23L10.
Now. Mr. Sloane, how does your theoretical
look when compared with practical facts? Isn't
it about time you eTawied into your hole and
pulled the hole IN after your III such an ex-
penditure Of money for charitable purposes is
theory, then, for God 5 sake, the more theory we
have the better place it on our standards and
hold 10 it as SIC would our lives. So much for
his theoretical.
became more or less a political organi-
zation." Comrades isn't that bit of news for
you? 1t is but natural, all things being equal,
that ono old soldier should vote for another.
l.. - 4. u
walk Of life, even In the church.
FOR time stood blamelesS" Pray tell me,
when did it ever stand in any other way? Mr..
Sloane iufsr5 that 10 one time we were all right
but now we are SET Of scouudrcIs, whose only
aim is TO get a pension, no matter how, pro-
yided we only get it. What a pity it is that
even q ray Of light cannot penetrate his be-
cOuded brain!
And lost its moral force and hold on the Ma
ton To show She utter nonsense Of such a
statement one has % but look at the large
crowds that turn out all over the land on Me-
mortal Day On assist by their presence the sur
vivlug boys in blue do honor 10 their departed
comrades. DIi the vast crowds that welcomed
the G. X. ~ Boston in 1890. aud at Detroit in
1851 shuw ih1t we had lost our hold on the
Nation - IL we have, why IS it that ut every
pubic Campfire or entertainment gotten up for
the G. AZ. that The rooms are crowded TO over
flowing? Would they be so if We were a mere
body oil DummcTSE Facts prove That the gem
tlemau does no; know what he is talking about
when he makes such statements. The simple
truth Of the matter is that he is troubled with
a disease called "caCOethes scribendi" and that
his rage for scribblng has found vent against
the GAR. We DO hope that we shall survive,
but If not-"let her rip"
Comrades. just pass around this Mr.. Sloane
no matter ii he does wear fae Taiment, he is
no better than any Of US. Take him to your
Post rooms your State and National gather
ings aud let him see for himself that he has
made a big error in judgment. I'll warrant
that he will see as fine a body of men as he
ever saw in his life; lie must look somewhere
else for bummeTs.
The writer of this served his time and did
his duty as a private soldier to the best of his
ability. He never has applied for a pension,
and never intends to; but he does say that
those who are entitled TO q pension should re-
eeiye it; that it is theirs by every legal and
moral right; that they have given value re-
eeiyed. even if such pessimists as Mr.. Sloane
think that they have not.
Comrades, show him that you are yet rs true
and loyal as You were in the dark days of
i-6l-'d5, when lac and such as he staid at home
lived on the fat of the land, and made piles Of
money out Of you. Show him that the decline
of y0ur Iulup.frer lq- nor l.sftt v1 that