West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-08-20
MONEY AND PENSION.
Tho Late War and Somo OF It's Effects
As Viewed by An Ex.Soldiers

the pen of Mr.. Edmund Mcsseng ger
and was published In the Terra Alta
Enterprise of March 9TH 1884.
There is food for thought IN what ho
says and much OF il appropriate at
this tlIe, so that we deem tho ar.
ticlc worth republishing,
Will some ono please tell us where
the soldief's aid poor mems friends
are? We are told that bankers
saved this Government by loaning
their money to tho people to pay off
the soldiers. IL is true the Gov
ernment issued bonds which the
bankers bought at fifty cents Ola the
dollar, and several years after the
wat Was over, when the banks had
large amount of grccnbacks on
hand, which they blaiined were al
most worthless, they called upon
Congress to pass a law making
green backs equal in value with gold.
Congress obeycd, aud also doubled
their bonds by legislation. Now
let us see how Congress favored the
soldiers who spent all the noon.
days OF life defending and building
up this country IN war ana peace.
First, Congress agreed to pay the
soldiers eleven dollars per month,
during the war, in coin this they
could not or did not do. The value
OF the paper money they received
was about fifty cents on the dollar.
This would leave balance duo
every soldier which should have
been promptly paid. Tho Govern
ment has on hand to-day an enor-
nous sum OF motley belonging to
the volunteer soldiers, and whore
did they get this money? First,
they kept back part of the soldiers
monthly pay that he honestly earn.
ed on the battle field. Let us
notice how this state Of affairs was
brought about to cover up mon
strous crimes. FIRST, the chief eli.
gincer or boss of political machine
has the patty btains, but he keeps
himself in the background-ho
makes honors for others and money
for himself. If the chief boss
wants certain man nominated for
President Of the United States he
communicates with the bosses Of
the State Conventions, these com
manioate with the bosses of Inc
County Convention and these with
the township bosses. The town
ship boss Immediately proceeds to
pack the caucus and secure az del
egates to the County Contention
men Who favor the choice Of tho
boss in chief. IL any unfortunate
chance gets in an opposition dele
gate, lie is bought off, If possible,
with the county convention. This
manipulated, it is an easy matter
to run the State and National con-
Ventions provided there is one as.
| pirant TO the position of boss.in-
chief. If the title to the position
is held in dispute; complications
arlsej end sometimes the brainiest.
sometime the woalthiest, carry of
the spoils of victory. When this
is accomplished it is all in their own
hands. Thus the bravo battle of
Freedom is left TO be fought by the
grand souls who love their fellow
men too steadfastly to be eaeily
driven from the field, and whose
power OF good and chances Of site.
cess are weakened by lack of
money and by foolish prejudice OF a
people who have been drinking so
long from poison fountain, that
they cannot appIcciatc the crystal
waters Of truth. Supposing all the
farms IN the Union were appraised
at That cash value and then NOR
tagged for one-third their value to
some Government pets at 10 per
cent then ali their ta1es, say 5 per
cent were assessed against them, in
ten years the same Government pets
would own the whole county with
out labor bnt through law. These
same jews, in case of another war,
would appeal to the poor man,
whom they have piundered by their
own laws, To hay down their lives in
AbltitSb VI bltlI hbDiCn pFOUcTtys
They would say, ooh, boys J you
must fight, because we have lands
and gold and silver and green backs
and this wealth must be protected
II yoU all perish" Preachers say
God hates % coward, and so do Jews
when tlTcir wealth is in dangor
The reward for fighting for this
country rs TO many soldiers is 10
fall into the hands Of usurers and
to be thrown into the street. This
| Government has q right to coin and
stamp our money. IL follows that
it has q right TO loan it direct to the
[ people upon good security, and
thus end this usury slavery. Ifow
much money do the people want
How much should they have? just
what trey can give good security
fOf. This is The rule adopted by
all bankers and money loanors i'm
all nations. First, let the Govern
ment take up 10 per cent. and