Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1892-05-04
OPPOSED TO PENsIoNING UNION
 VETERANS.

OPPOSED TO PENsIoSISG UNION
 VETERANS.
 Our esteemed and very able neigh bor, the Albuquerque Democrat, took the JOURNAL MINER to task recently for what it was pleased to term in the grave of the late civil war. Just what article it referred to we are not aware but as We have seemingly offended the tender sen abilities of our neighbor, we will try to make amend by quoting some which we have not yet dis covered in any of our democratic exchanges, although it isdemocratic literature. As the sentiments ex- pressed in the quotations which fol- low speak for themselves We offer no comment. In speech made in con gress March 2d, Congressman Pat terson, of Tennessee, said:
 "I do say that the enormous sum paid in the way of pensions is a double hardship on the people of the south. It is a.hardship because 1t is drawn, not from the wealth or prep erty of the country, but from it's con sumers. And it is a hardship be- cause that part paid by them is transferred from the south to the homes of these soldiers, thereby de- pleting from year to year the money in circulation. From all these causes it results that there is a dearth oi money south of the Ohio river"
 On March 23 Mir. Bankhead, ol Alabama, referring to the same sub ject, said:
 "The saddest thing in life to me is to see a poor confederate 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 te pension some camp follower ol bounty jumper"
 This congress has passed a bill appropriating Sl40,000,000 for the payment of pensions. This large amount must first be collected from the people. It is a cash transaction not credit, not checks or drafts, but cash. The amount is more than S. per capita, or more than S,0O0,00( for the state of Alabama, or nearly twice the amount collected for state and county taxes in that state; or to put it more plainly. each family of five are taxed more than Sl0 foI pensions. This money, the repre- sentative of one months labor fol the head of the family on the farm or one twelfth the years return foI 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"
 As MT. Bankhead warmed up to his subject, and as the vision of the pensioners of the union veterans re- ceiving a small pittance each from the government, for having dared to risk their lives for the preservation of the union, passed before his eyes, while his fellow citizens who fought with equal bravery on the other side, not only received nothing but are compelled to help pay these pen sions, he grew eloquent. And in his eloquence he also grew threatening and issued an ominous note of warn ing as follows:
 "When the people can no longer stand the oppression, when they can 10 longer remain silent. when the .ime comes, as I believe it will if hey are not given relief, that the masses in this country rise up and demand justice at the hands of the aw makers, I trust that 1 may be ound on the side of the people aud ighting with them for what I be- ieve to be just. "The essence of my democracy is | ny sublime confidence in the people | of the southl. They will do right ! when the right is understood bv | hem. This is their government and | hey will control its destiny. When becomes oppressive they will try | o reform it. When it becomes un- earable they will destroy it and | 'uild upon the ruins another. fash oned with their own hands. I warn ou, gentlemen, not to tempt th.m DO far. l remind you that it is un- 'ise to treat the sufferings of the eople lightly"
 Voicing the sentiment expressed Mir. Bankhead, in a recent speech ,e president of the Georgia Farm Is alliance said:
 Had our southern alliance the ,wer We would abrogate all pen ons. The war was over more than Tenty-fve years ago and our south n people won't stand that swindle y longer"