The National tribune., 1891-08-27
.rESsIoSs AND socIAL1s,r.-

one OF The Sociological Group" As these Socio-
logical " Wise from the East are not infllli-
bic. and many Of them are unknown but
slightly known In this longitude, It may not be
prcsnniptuous for one equally unknown but equal
~ entitled to opinion to challenge OF their
deIiyeTaHces, especially those Of the unknown
ton OF the Group.
The aninus Of the article Is apparent IN the sec
OEd sentence and crops intervals 10 the close
II = the advocacy Of \ pOiiticO- economic theory
in dispute between the too great political parties,
and might have been entitled "A Plea for Free
Trade, OF the Importer Is. the Veteran"
As 10 bears the earmarks Of q recent Harvard
graduate, ambitious to air his c..iIow opinions
take it for granted that the writer was ia The
Union army that suppressed the rebellion.
But as "he who saves life has simply done bis
duty" he Is OF course in the coast Iard Efs
saving patrol" doing his duty like "A little man.
However. i may be mistaken; he Is perhaps only
n modern political Pharisee, binding heavy bur
dens aud laying them on other mems shoulders"
the legitimate successor Of the newspaper Gener-
nls vino embarrassed the Government and
noyed the armies by debating campaigns from the
safe vantage of Park Row aud Union Square.
The cases Of eoast-guard and ei..zcn-soIdiery
not parallel indeed they only remotely anal0-
GOus, inasmuch as the State asserts the right 70
military service and Ia emergency eompels It.
while the cOastguaTd service is purely voluntary.
That the Government accepts an extrahazardOus
service, in which "the personal risk IS extreme and
exposure produces disease and brings Ou pEena-
ture old age" which involves physical and intel
lectual strain and jeopardizes life" and reWGrds
this service with "a Pittance and a temporary pen
sion," Il a monumental meanBess that ought to be
corrected. II bears but shabby senbIance 10 rea-
son why the citizen soldiery should be similarly
dealt with. "No man (or Stats) Is permitted to
plead his own wrong" To talk Of "compeusa-
ton" in either Is folly. Of which he alone il
capable who supposes that human life and noble
Impulse can be weighed for 50 much gold.
Nor - the Regular Army parallel ease, since
the professional soldier j. educated at the expense
Of the country. has "A Ife-e7nie in hls profession,
aud Is provided for on retirement; while the ed-
zen.soldisr Is called into service in emergency, at
serious disadvantage to his business interests and
generally at extreme peril 10 life aud limb
This writer's theory Of the relation Of the TO
the State - stupendOus discovery discovery
made while rummHgins in the tombs Of the dark
ages the exLumatiOn OF a few bones so utterly
blasted by the breath Of centuries Of popular
Grafton that they can never again be clothed with
life; scarcely ~ to masq ucrade as king Of the
motley crew which hc passes in review before us;
worthy only to keep company with the mummy Of
Rameses II. and tire dust Of Philip Of Spain. Il
ignores the rights Of persons, eHaces the man. and
seeks 20 rehabiitate an absolutisul that finds its
best exponent in an irresponsible despOt aud its
f4icst expression in the Phrase Of Louis XIV
The individual j. before the State his person
atty. his manhood his right TO life liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness" fIrhers in him they do not
all-uor any OF them" come to him only In organ
lied society" Organized society has no function
and no rights except such have been delegated
By the individuals compo7ug it; nay, it has no
existence except by the will Of the individual.
The only limitation upon him in society is that
he may not set himself above the State, nor with
draw his contribution 10 the general fund except
by Withdrawing himself beyond the domain Of
organized society; and this he IL generally at lib
erty To do. without leaving Ibis personality his
manhood, his right TO life, liberty and tine pursuit
Of happiness" behind him.
All rights and responsibilities are mutual T. e.,
they met by corresponding rights and RESPONSE
bi.ites II the citizen owes duty to the State
this vests him with right, both legal and moral
against tire State, aud vice versa.
The Union soldier. surrendering his personal
liberty for term Of years. enduring hardship and
hard fare. exposing himself to disease and wounds
suffering manning and death, lays the State under
| the highest conceivable obligation TO him He
may waive his claim but the denial Of his right by
the State is the blind selfshness of despotism.
And If he is merely performing act OF enlight-
ened seIfshness" in defending his country at all
l
much at stake aud as much advantaged by his de-
vUiiOn who could not be persuaded or shamed into
bearing his share Of the burden, but seduIousIy
devoted himself to the arts Of peace made mer-
ehandse Of the woes of his country, and laid the
foundation Of his fortune while thousands Of his
fellow citizens rendered TO their country the last
full measure Of devOtion"f
Avery slight approach TO the equalization Of war
burdens IS made by 1.-THE enforcement Of war con-
tvsN.r Afs.rv - IL. =
which suppose is meant the levy and collection
Of war taxes; because the fighting citizen ia the
ranks pays his share Of these IL he has taxable
property finds his income relatively about 60 per
cent OF the ncOmbalRnt reduced still further by
the eXigencies Of actual warfare. and in addition
exposes himself TO the tolls privntions and dangers
of camp and field. And this approach becomes
infinitessiuAl when remember that there are no
terms Of commerce in which the value of human
life may DO expressed. This doctrine Of money
equivalents Is a complete Justification Of him who
for the most unworthy reason refuses to render
personal service In the field in the hour Of his
countTy's peril-he pays his taxes and she has no
further claim Oh him; and this Is "a death blow to
patriotism.
II Is assumed and asserted that "the eitzen-soI-
der has neither legal nor a moral right 10
pension" IL Il altogether an assumption, unsup-
ported by any reasouing indeed, the alleged rea-
sOning makes against rather Than for the assump-
tion. II is briefly this: The professional soldier in
the Regular Army IS at disadvantage as COM
pared with the civilian, his earnings being about
co per cent Of those Of the latter bat this pay IL
calculated with reference to the lifelong pension
paid on retirement or disability and this pension
il much part of the remuneration the full
pay during service. The volunteer soldier serves
in times Of Extraordinary peril for the pay as
the Regular, or less, without promise Of pension;
therefore he has neither moral nor legal right
TO IA pension. The Government, then Is entitled TO
anything Il lay hands on including the life Of
the citizen, provided II makes promises; and
the citizen soldier made mistake in not decker
ing" in advance.
II lac has neither "a legal a moral right to
pension II follows that the appropriation Of public
money to this purpose Is robbery, and the pen
sioner is q receiver Of stolen goods-"a partaker
with thieves" And this. plainly stated is Just
what the writer is trying TO make out, viz that
the people being robbed, the treasury looted
by a political party. and the silence and support Of
the citzeI.- soldery are being purchased with a
share Of the swag"
Notwithstanding this wholesale indictment Of
the American soldier and the American people,
our guide, philosopher. and friend" attempts "A
ground? Charity! No more, no less. He will
sauctify the steal in the Of sweet charity. II
the ciiizen-soldier proves himself pauper the
Government may recognize his pauper condition
and grant him a monthly dole out Of the charity
fund. But as the United States has no charity
fund. nor any fund which may without robbery