The National tribune., 1891-12-03

the other three at tie conclusion Of tae wax
in more OF less injured condition. Ca
pacity 10 do manual labor is the best and
most inialiible test Of physical condition.
aud forms the most just basis Of 4 pension
in all but small per centage Of cases.
Lieut.. Foote'S expectation that large num-
bers Of loyal volunteers" will cancel their
pension certificates because some undeserv-
ing men get on the roll is absurd. Why
should 80 men surrender that which is
justly due them because one man is Teceiv-
ing that TO which he is not entitled? The
just and sensible way is to find out the I'M
deserving man and expel him from the
rolls.
The article concludes with this iarrago:
Comrades, a new duty is ours. II calls us 10 en-
roll for a conflict requiring finer courage, iruer
perception OF patriotism, nobler loyalty than that
Of 1861 il requires 20 defend our honor from
the defamation OF character which las come upon
us unawares, through the unholy greed Of corrupt
men who have made use Of the gratitude Of a gem
crous people aud our silence TO gain their selfish
ends. II requires Us 10 verify the fact while we
can--that 81 may be known and appreciated now,
md taught 10 prosperity; ;hRt the conditions as-o-
Citations, and Influences under which thc loyal vol
Uuieers of ls6i-G5 served their country. did not
render IL necessary for any man to lower his moral
standards 20 contract habits If vice; that the
men who had the Intelligence, courage aud persist
cut energy 20 win victories on the battlefield. by
viuuo Of these =nme qualities of character, orc able
successfully 10 compete ror the rewards Of civil life
with those who did uOt eor tic service; that the
majority 81 men whose terms Of s,rvice exceeded
enc year had their life enlightened and their earn
/ Ing capacity increased by reason Of thrir army
experience. Such a lesson ID - sur ALI aud duty
10 teach. la doing ihis we SHAFT make conlribu-
tiou 20 The caUsc Of good government Of The high
est and most enduring value.
IL VIII be a new idea TO most comrades
that the longer they served in the army
the longer they endured the exposures and
priyations Of terrible war-the longer they
would aferward live. The most Of them
entertain the deIusion that the longer they
yaGed and slept in the Swamps Of the Mis-
/ sissippi country, the more nights they stood
/ picket under the peltirg storms Of VIRGINIA
and Tennessee the greater were their pros
poets Of consumption, rheumatism, heart
failure, and other diseases incident TO such
sappiug Of their vital powers. If Lieut.
Foote's idea is correct, it should be the duty
Of the Government. in The interest Of public
health, to compel ali the young men Of the
country TO spend several years-the more
the better-biyouackin in the most malari-
ous districts 10 be found.
The Commissioner Of Pensions estimates
that the average expectation Of lie was
shortened fully - years by service during
/ the war.
That veterans have managed TO succeed 50
well in civil life, and that so many Of them
are alive to-day, is not because Of all that
they endured. II is because they were the
flower and pick Of the young men Of the
Nation-superior in physical and mental
energy 10 those who staid at home-that they
were able to 20 through what they did, aud
yet come back and wrest The prizes Of life
1 from weaker siay-at-h0mcs.