Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-14


have seen them subjected to almost every
kind of exposure, where they contracted
diseases which they would carry with
them for life and which must shorten
their days, and I also know something
of the sacrifices which these men made
when leaving home and feel that they
should have justice done them.
JUSTICE FOR THE SOLDIER
cat the beginning of the war the gov
eminent needed money and in order to
raise it issued bonds. which it sold to the
money classes at little over 60 cents on
the dollar, and when the war was over it
was decided that the honor of the gov
eminent would require that these bonds
should not only be paid in full but
should be paid in gold, and say that if
the honor of the government required
that those rich men who had loaned the
government with which to prosecute the
war should be paid nearly 50 for each
one they loaned, and should be paid that
in gold, then the honor of the govern
ment as well as good faith and Justice
and equity required that those men who
had left their homes and imperiled their
lives in order that the government might
be saved, SO that he could pay anything,
Some years ago, when I had just
been elected judge of the superior court
of Chicago, the publishers of a soldiers
newspaper requested me to publish my
views on the pension question, and did
SO, considering the question from the
standpoint of what Justice, fair dealing
between man and man and between
government and man required, and in
sisted that the soldier should be made
whole, that, if practicable to do so, he
should have dollar for dollar for the
actual loss he had sustained in money,
in limb, or in health; that, while the
government cannot pay for patriotism,
that while patriotism cannot be estimat-
ed in dollars and cents, and is above all
| money considerations, that while the
government cannot pay for the anguish,
the heartaches incident to going into the
war, while it cannot pay for the spirit of
patriotism which promptly drops all
private affairs and private business and
responds TO the call Of the country and
marches to the field without promise of
reward and not knowing whether he
will ever return, the government can
pay and should pay for those losses that
can be estimated and ascertained in
dollars and cents; that, when property
is taken by the government, it always
makes compensation, when money is
loaned it not only pays it back, but pays
a large bonus; therefore when the high
est kind of service is rendered, service
which requires the greatest possible sac
rifices known to man, the government
should extend the proper recognition.
HIS VIEWS THEN AND NOW.
"These were my views then. they are
my views now. The publication con-
tanning them was circulated over the
country and was used before congress.
When the gallant Capt. Wallace Foster
of Indianapolis, Ind, was making his
fight for justice to the deaf and dumb
soldiers l repeatedly gave him what
assistance I could before the national
congress. 1t may surprise some of you
to know that until few years ago
man who is deaf and dumb received but
$l3 month pension, although if thrown
out upon his resources it was impossible
for him to make a living.
Now wish to say that the old SOL
diers owe me nothing. l have no claim
upon them. What did was done in the
cause of justice and fair dealing, and
| work thus done creates no debt, creates
no obligation. l simply recognize the
&Eedt ooue, Tic kTSdb
endured by the soldiers. am satisfied
that these organizations not only give
great deal of pleasure, but they have
been the means of extorting more equit-
able trt atment from the hands Of con-
gress. and if they are kept up for the
purpose for which they were created,
a social reunion, they will continue to
be both pleasant and mutually proteo-
tive in their character but if the time
should come when they are run by men
who have been described as being invisi-
BILE in war and invincible in peace-men
who never saw the enemy, who followed
the baggage trains of the American
armies, or if they shall be controlled by
a few men who, although they did see
actual service, are now forever rehearsing
with the view of getting the old soldiers
to help them to fat office-then the use
fullness of the order ceases.
men who are brave usually do not
talk much, and the great majority of
the old veterans who are carrying rebel
lead in their bodies or suffering from
incurable wounds are not making great
noises. The men who are engaged in
doing that are men who have found it
profitable to do so. Now 1 will say to
you, go on with your reunions, enjoy
the days that are left you, keep your
organization above the domain of poll
tics and you will have not only the
respect, but the good will, the good
wishes, and the -bless-yous of all
good people,
Do Your Work.
Illinois Democrats should not worry
their heads over the New York or