The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-08

100000 year in gold. as they did, FOR sew
eral years after the war. The 65,000,0OO
people in the United States to-day, with
the vast increase of wealth since the war,
can inconceivably better afford to pay the
veterans even 5000, 100000 year for few
years, than could the s50Oe,00O people in
the North pay the money-lenders from
S125,oOo 900 to $14o,OOO,ooo year in gold,
for interest, besides principal, rs was done
from 1866 to 1872
At most, the present volume of pension
expenditures can be kept up but few
years longer They are swelied to their
present size by the payment of long accumu-
lating arrears. If every man and every
woman in the United States entitled to a
pension were put on the roll at the rates
allowed by existing laws, the total pay
ments would not exceed S150,0O0,000 year,
and the amount would then rapidly diminish.
The arrears once paid, there would be re-
duction of from 100000 to $4,000, 600
in the annual disbursements, and then the
expenditures would fall with melancholy
rapidity, for already death removes fully
$4,000 pensioners from the roll every year,
and this number must increase rapidly with
advancing years. The plain duty OF the
Nation is to settle the cases already on file
with the utmost rapidity-pay the arrears
in full. thus placing the pension roll on an
honest, business-like basis. It can do this
without making . deficit in the Treasury,
by stopping the investments in tho sinking
fund-alrsady far beyond the requirements
of the law, and by curtailing for few years
some of the senseless River and Harbor ex-
penditures.
These facts outline very plainly the duty
of the comrades in the present situation. We
must arouse ourselves for a resoluts strug-
gle for our rights, and for justice to the
dependent ones of our departed comrades.
We must meet our flushed and confident
enemies with firm, united front, and grid
ourselves up for fight to finish. We
must everywhere meet their ISLANDERS and
lies with q vigorous assertion Of the truth.
We must rally our friends everywhere, APP
peal to the Nations sense of justice, refute
the calamnies of those who would rob US
and ours, and stand elbow to elbow In de-
Tense of our rights.
Never since Appomattox has there been
% much need Of Union soldiers standing
solidiy together as now. If We do not our
cause will suffer irreparable harm. IF We
do, we can Illustrate the designs of our
enemies
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE will, as ever,
lead the fight and contest every inch of the
ground Let the comrades take the first
step in forming the ine-of-battle by seeing
that it gets into the hands of every veteran,
son of a veteran, and friend of veteran.
With half million subscribers THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE can accomplish vast
deal for the comrades, rs it has done in the
past.
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE will make its
fight, as it always has done, on strictly nom
partisan grounds. It is outside of and above
all parties. 1t is for the soldier every time,
without regard to politics. 1t has never
praised nor denounced any man because
he was either Republican, Democrat, Popu-
list, OF Prohibitionist, but because in his
acts he was friend or enemy to the veteran.
1t will continue this course fearlessly and
consistently, and it invites to its standard
every man who believes that the Nation
should treat the ex-soldier fairly, and deal
with him as honestly as it has done with
the bondholder.