The National tribune., 1892-04-07
PENSIONERS ABROAD.
Foreign Veterans Criticism OF Gen. New.
berry's Bill Before Congress.

tive NeWberry, OF ILLINOIS, Is mentioned Ior tue
purpose of cutting off pensions to foreigners
and non residents. In an interview with an
Associated Press reporter, Gen. Newberry is
mentioned as speaking of soldiers of fortune
and adventures who live in luxury and ease,
and raising families on the pension paid them !:
that it is known that in Wurttemberg several
thousand are living. Now this is gross ex-
aggeration. On March a. 1892, the number
| of pensioners was precisely 81, including wld-
| ows and dependent parents, and If all pend
ing claims under the new law of June q, 1870,
are allowed, there will be 215, provided none die
in the meantime, and in this number widows
and dependents are also included; this is the
exact number in the Kingdom OF Wurttem-
burg.
Before the new law was enacted the number
was about so, the rate of pension for most Oh
them being small. Some received the magnlh-
cent sum of So 81, or Sc. These poverty
stricken broken down veterans don't know
what luxury means. Some are unable to take
care OF themselves. One of them, an acquaint-
ance of mine, past 20 years of age, served IN
the war from the beginning until the battle OF
Franklin, Tenn, Nov. 80, 1864, where he was
shot in the head, losing a piece of the skull
bone as big rs a medium sized watch-dlal.
The scar on his bald head looks sickenlng. lie
was allowed three-fourths pension, which at
that time, 1865 was only Sc. He is getting
the same to-day. How is that for luxury and
ease at Uncle Sans expense? This same old
invalid is a bachelor and lives mainly by the
charity of his brother who is now 30 years OF
age, and not overstocked with worldly goods
himself. This invalid has not been able TO
work at his trade of coppersmith since the
war, and is to-day next to helpless.
My humble self never yet received one cent
of pension / served from Aug. 5. 1861. till
Sept 10, 1S64-37 months and five days; fell,
wounded into the hands of the enemy and
passed 176 days in the hell-hole of Belle Isle,
barely coming out alive. Alter living 16 years
in the States, continued i'll health and affairs
at home compelled me to return to my native
place Is years ago. l am an American citizen
and intend to remain one, but uncomfortable
circumstances, combined with l-health, pre-.
vent me from going back to Goods country"
as we used to speak of Uncle Sans lines on
Belle Isle.
Can Government which grants pension
to disabled soldiers for only 80 days service,
deny me one, having served 1130 days, only
because live abroad? The pensioners here,
the biggest part of them, if they had to return
to the United States, would be a poor acquisi-
ton, for Uncle Sam would have to provide
quarters for them in some Soldiers Home, the
pension of most of them being insufficient to
keep body and soul together, and manual labor
being out of the question. The climate here is
milder, and living cheaper, the pensioners be-
ing mostly from the lower walks of life and ex-
tremey poor. Still they manage to exc out an
existence with their small pension. 1t would
be most cruel hearted to put the alternative to
these poor devils to lose their pension, or part
from family and friends and return to the
States, where they have neither home nor
friends. Uncle Sam would have more expense
and trouble then than now.
But most Of them have not the means to 60
even if they wanted TO. They are not so for
tunaey situated as some Of their comrades In
the States, who stay in Soldiers Home and
put their liberal pension in a savings bank,
who also have had a more favorable opportu-
nifty to apply for increase than those invalids
have here. Nearly generation has passed
since the war, and before half generation
more passes this pension question will find its
own natural solution without taking to arbi-
trary measures, for most of us will then be in
q better world.
Pensioners from England Austria. and even
despotic Russia, are allowed to live and end
their days where it suits them, many of them
living here, and number finding their last
resting place in the cemeteries here. Could
the American Nation, with its free institu.
lions, the wealthiest nation in the world, be
less liberal and 90 back on the men who risked
life and health for it, and now, after so many
years. put restrictions on law which granted
pensions without restrictions?
We have right TO expect well-dlsposed con-
sderation. No doubt most Of the pensioners
are American citizens. and Mr.. Ncwberry jumps
at conclusions if he thinks US foreigners. He
tries to make a case against US with vague esti-
mates and unfounded charges. Fifteen thou
sand are living abroad OH Uncle Sans bounty,
he asserts. Why doesn't he inform himself at
the Pension Bureau2 He says we evade our
duty to our Government. What duty is ex-
pected of us2 Let him inform us. We did our
duty 30 years ago. and there is no lack of men
now, younger and more able to take our places,
if necessary.
We cause trouble and vexation at the Con-
sulates, he says. There is not one word of truth
in this. We are subject to law and order here,
the same az every one else native or foreign.
Our sons are charged with not ack nowledging
allegiance to the United States. Our sons (pro-
vidcd we have any, which is not always the
case) have the nationality of their fathers until
they become of age, when they have to decide
for themselves. The German Americans caus-
ing tronble are those that evaded their military
duty and then returned az American citizens
but this is regulated by law. They made
to leave within given time or serve their term
in the army; but il they have passed their 32d
year when they return they are seldom mo-
Tested, unless in aggravated cases. Even the
of war is considered, where our sons
might fight against the United States.
now, MT. NcWDcFTy, give US Il resi-, ana OOn I
worry about unlaid eggs. There used to be
Knownothing party before the war, which
looked upon foreigners as interiors and second.
class beings. This Newberry bill favors a little
like that. A citizen by choice is as good as a
citizen by chance, other things being equal
During the great civil war the loyalty Of eiti-
zens of foreign birth was of the best. The
Southern armies and their leaders, which tried
their utmost to dismember the Union, also
many of their Copperhead friends North, were
not foreigners.
! would like to be Informed how family can
be raised luxury and ease aside, on q few dol
lars per month although | am too old and
broken down to benefit by the advice And
now another question Could widows and de.
pendent parents be deprived Of their pensions
guaranteed them by law, especially the latter |
who have never seen America? ! don't think |
they can; and. if / am right, how could the
veteran be deprived? he certainly ranging
ahead Of widow aud dependents The whole |
bill is small-potato affair, couple of thou |
sand pensioners out Of nearly million. Mr. |
Newberry should use his wisdom TO better ad.
vantage in moro necessary reforms II will
interest your readers to give an official
statistic of soldiers who entered the Union |
army during the war. The seemingly large |
number is caused by many serving two terms, |
therefore being counted twice:
Americans, 1923 300 |
$500 |
A-"kiI9Hhcn, 9o,uDU |