The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-07-23
THE DEBT WE OWE THEM.

IL seems almost Incredible that IN
twenty seven years, with so many evil
dences Of the terrible conflict still plain
ly visible. so many people are ignorantly
sneering at and reviling the old soldiers.
Have many of these scoffers ever balanced
up the account and learned for them
selves just how it stands? Does the gov
ernment owe the old soldier anything?
From '6l to '65 Though besct by foes ut
home and abroad the old soldiers saved
the nation from destruction; the seced-
ing states were brought back into the
Union. By the sacrifice Of health and
prospects, the old soldiers have given
us an undivided country AID the stars
and stripes proudly float over forty four
states and 65,OOO,OOO OF prosperous
people. 1t is stated that the government
has paid s1,0Oo,OOO.OOo in pensions i'll
the last twenty five years. This seems a
large sum but there is a counter claim
that must be settled, and settled right,
for it is just and reasonable claim.
The army OIL four year basis was
1897 ,6l7 men and at that time any man,
could command $1.OO per day or $27 per
MUntaeaad board. BY enlisting as a
soldier to defend the nation, he got s14
per month less than he could have earn
ed had he staid ut home. Multiply 1897,
817 by IA and it gives S33, ,2SG, ,63s the
amount given to the government by the
old soldiers each month. Each year it
amounted to S39s,439,656 and in four
years it reached the enormous sum Of
$l,597, ,75s,624.
At that time gold was not paid to the
old soldiers, but Oh gold basis their
$l3 month gradually went down until
the soldiers, paid in gold, would have
received only triae over IS per mouth.
The men who did not enlist but got S57
per month at the commencement OF the
war, were more favored in The matter of
wages. getting for three years very high
wages and running no risk Of losing
their place by being shot.
The difference between the gold we
were to get and the greenbacks we did
get In those four years amounted to s67o,
490,O96 and the difference between what
the soldier was paid by the government
and the average wages of the man who
remained at home those three years,
amounted to S5,02S, ,3O0,42O.
Now how does the account stand?
The soldiers gave up the difference in
wages and the difference between gold
and greenbacds. Add the difference of
wages. the difference between what was
received and what might have been earn
ed had the soldiers remained at home
and 1t gives the sum of s7,2a6,549,14O.
Take the Sl,O0o.cOO,COo already paid for
pensions from s7,269,549,140 and it leaves
$6.276, ,o49, lao still due the soldiers.
II 1t has taken them twenty seven
years TO get less than one seventh of
their just dues, how old will they have !
TO be il they see "the last dollar paid"
Tie sneers eame mostly from ignor-
ant or inuOnsiderate men; but occasion
ally there is person who gives evidence
OF vicious hatred of the Old soldier, He
ls called pension grabber, coffee cooler,
and hummer, They never censure the
rebels-neither north or south-who
were responsible for the dark days of 'Gl-
% and made necessary the sacrifice Of
4CONOlives and almost countless wealth
to save the nation, They have no word
OF cheer for the men who followed the
Tag more than three years, through sun
shine and Shadow. victory and defeat,
from sumpter to Appomattox-Canton
News.