Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-05-07
An Exhibition of the Confederate
Spirit Regarding Bounty to
Union Soldiers.
A Tennessee Man Thinks Them a
Curse and Blight to the
South
Another Speaks Of the Matte ms De
tenders as Camp Followers
and Bounty Jumpers

In his recent speech IN the house of
representatives, General Patterson of
Tennessee, gave the following reasons
why be thinks the payment of union
pensions course and blight" to the
south:
do say that the enormous sum paid
in tire way of pensions is a double hard
ship on the people of the south 1t is a
hardship because it is drawn, not from
the wealth or property of the country,
but from its consumers And it is a
hardship because that part paid by them
is transferred from the south to the
homes of these soldiers, thereby depict
ing from year to year the money in cir
culation. From all these causes it re-
suits that there is a dearth of money
south of the Ohio river
THE saddest thing in life to me-" said
Congressman John II. Bankhead of
Alabama in his speech in the house.
March %, 1892, lis to see a poor confed-
crate veteran as he drags himself from
his cabin to the field to labor, to earn
bread for his wife and children, and to
realize that one twelfth of all he makes
must be taken from him to pension some
camp follower or bounty jumper"
Mr. Bankhead's great sympathy for ex-
confederdtes may be accounted for by
the fact that he himself served four years
in the rebel armyand was wounded as he
claims three times, and doubtless by
men whom he now styles "camp-follow-
ers" or bounty jumpers Mr. Bank
head said also:
But | do not care to pursue this ques-
ton for fear | may let my feelings get
r. al ont 4
thing that had better be left unsaid
That is, he feared he might disclose
his real desires and intentions instead Of
keeping them in the dark as the good
OF the democratic party demands-at
least until after the election in Novem-
Der. AS reason for his hostility to
pensions to union veterans Mr.. Bank
head said
This congress has passed bill appro-
priatiug Sl40,0OO,000 for the payment of
pensions This large amount must first
be collected from the people 1t is
cash transaction. not credit, not checks
or drafts, but cash. The amount is more
than - per capita, or more than $1,000
600 for the state Of Alabama, or nearly
twice the amount collected for state aad
county taxes in that state; to put 1t more
plainly each family of five are taxed
more than $40 for pensions. This
money, the representative of one
months labor for the head # the family
on the farm, or one-twelfth the years
return for labor, goes into the pocket of
some pensioner, many of whom are rich
men and women. A very small per cent.
goes back to Alabama, for we have but
few pensioners, and those we do have are
not as a rule entitled to the money they
receive"
Notwith standing his Prevent prayer
that his feelings might not get away
WITH him while discussing pensions,
mat was Just what happened when a
little further along in his speech Mr..
Bankhead warmed up to the point of
declaring that the south would not long
suLm4' TO the tariff and the payment of
pensions TO Union veterans, but would
destroy the government if these exac
uons were not stopped. lie said:
When the people can no longer stand
The operation, when they can no longer
remain silent, when the time comes, as /
believe 1t will If they are not given re-
lef, that the masses in this country
rise up and demand justice at the
4ands OF the law makers, | trust that
may be found on the side of the
people and fighting with them for what
] believe to be just.
The essence of my democracy is my
sublime confidence in the people They
VIII do right when the right is under
stood by them. This is their Govern
m men and they will control it's destiny
When 1t becomes oppressive they will
ny to reform it, When it becomes I'M
oearable they will destroy it and build
upon the ruins another, fashioned with
lhelr own hands | warren you, gentle
men, not to tempt them too far. | re
mind you that it is unwise to treat the
su,nIerlngs Of the people lightly.
Ihls is precisely the kind OF talk that
was heard in congress in 1861, but be-
,ore Mr. Bankhead INDUCES it any
lurrther he would do we'll to pause and
ithect hat as the three tailors OF Tooley
street. were not 1.-THE people, neither are
.ne -confederates for whom he speaks
aof any other class at the south that is
opposed to the payment of pensions to