The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-15
TIRE NATIONS RIGHTS OVER LITE.
Tie Portland OrcgOnian says:


disabilities which arc not proven to have been in
cured In the service and in line OF duty. IL Is
worth while 10 stop aud consider why the great
military nations Of Europe have never erected any
precedent for our action. The reason why they
have never granted pensions for disability not In
CURED la service was because the State has Alright 10
the life OF citizen paramount to the citizen right
To his own life, just the State by its right OF
eminent domain has right 10 the property OF the
citizen. Every citizen belongs 10 his country as
property. The Stale may take mans property
Tor The public veal tmay take mans liie IL
may lax him into the earth for the defense OF the
state II may force him into the army TO fight in
It's defense, with OF without reward. This Is the
theory Of all Governments aud it il The invarable
practice Of Europe Europe holds and justly
teaches the citizen that he belongs 10 his country
absolutely; his life and property are subject TO
perompory ooufsoation by The State for the public
veal IL European soldier is not satisfied with
ans situation and compensation a patriot the
State refuses 10 erect precedent for reducing pa
irlouc service 90 cash basis refuses 10 allow a
cIond oil mercennries, Incorporating as patriots TO
piundor the trcnsnry under the preiense OF collect
ing "a debt" Every man owes his country at need
property, liberty aud life and patriotic military
service ID only payment OF a debt Our latest pen
sion legislation hss erected precedent that Europe
has wisely refused TO set, and above and beyond
The inEhiful pecnniRry cost Of this economic
bunuer isl the FAC, that This legislation has educated
the generation that followed the war into an i'll
disguised but no unnatural contempt for the
motives and character OF men not disabled in war
who still survive merccnaries, while continuing
to pose and strut and paw the ground " as pa
tsiols.
As in all screeds against pensions this is
very illogical, and ignores vital points in the
discussion.
In the first place. no one admits more
freely than the old soldiers that the Nation
has supreme power over the lives and prop
erty Of its citizens. The only limitations 10
this power are those it has prescribed for
itself in the Constitution.
But the Oregonian carefully ignores the
essential feature Of such a statement as
applied TO the pension discussion. This is
that neither at the outbreak Of the war nor
during it did the Government exercise its
undoubted right Of compelling every man
capable Of bearing a musllet to enter the
Army and defend it with his life, if neces-
sary. Had il done this, il still would not
have escaped the obligation-recognized
\ ~ every civilized Government under the
sun-of having 10 make proper provision
for those who were forced into the field and
suffered injuries by reason Of their service
Instead Of ayailing itself OF its powers the
Government called for volunteers. IL APP
pealed for a certain number Of young men
TO come forward aud take upon themselves
the burdens and hardships which ii could
have with entire pTopriety, distributed over
the entire community, just as the Southern
Conlederacy did within the region over which
il exercised control. They did SO, and be-
cause Of their selfdeEotion the great bulk
Of the men Of the community were allowed
TO remain at home in peace aud security and
pursue gainful occupations. Not merely in
immunity from hardship and danger, but in
a pecuniary way, the men who remained at
home profted enormously by this sacrifice
Of the men who went TO the front
II, as in the Southern Confederacy, every
able-bodied man had been forced into the
field, and compelled to stay there until the
/ close Of the war, the veterans would not have
so strong a claim upon the country, and the
0regoHians argument would have some
force. But the facts are that only portion
Of The men in the North bore the whole
brunt Of the war, did all the fighting, sui.
fered all the hardships deaths, wounds and
disabilities, while the remainder-sheltered
by them-dwelt in peace and amassed
money.
A. and b., standing on the shore, see c.
struggling in the water. A jumps in and al
the risk Of life, rescnes c. T., who has done
nothing, says coolly: "A is entitled to no
credit he only did what common humanity
dictated" D. would occupy exactly the
position Of the 0rcgOHian
A prairie fire threatens 10 destroy Browns
home and all his property. Smith, who is at
work in the neghborhood knows of the dan
ger, rushcs to the rescue, fights the fire vigor-
ously and saves the property, though he re-
ceives injuries which confne him to his bed
during the whole Summer, aud cause the
loss of his crops while Brown, who has, at
the first sign OF danger, retreated 10 a place
Of safety, prospers greatly. Brown says that
Smith is entitled 10 no consideration for his
/ gallantry and unselGshness-h only did
what il is every neighbours duty TO do and
If he had got hurt in doing it, il was one Of
those accidents which must be expected
This is precisely the OrcgOaiaa'S position,
and il is base and selfish beyond description.
ONO MONUMENTS AT CHICKAMAUGA.
Ohio soldiers everywhere will unite in
the hope that the Ohio Legislature will take
immediate action upon the following recon-
nendation Of Gov. James T. Campbell, Of
Ohio, taken from his annual message lust
out:
Congress has provided for the establishment az
"a National Military Park upon the battlefield Of
Chiczamauga, with approaches which pass through
the fields u Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge. The President iRs appointed commits.
HEfra IN frF I..F ill.,.