The National tribune., 1892-02-11

that class many thousand of whom, through
the long years that have interviewed since the
close Of the great struggle, have suffered IN
silence and without reward, save only that
found in mere sentiment of gratitude"
which the writer for the Century assures us IS
" the only claim the soldier can now set mp
and even the Acknowledgement Of the debt OF
gratitude establishes no further right for
those who have served and suffered" says that
high authority.
While the writer INDUCES in the usual pa.
tronilinG platitudcs eulogistic of the veteran
soldier covered with honorable sears" yet il Is
evident that the CsltHTV Is volunteering the
inlucncc of its columns in war about 10 be
waecd upon our entire pcrsion system.
The effort of Mr.. Sloane is undoubtedly
deeply sociological" aud possibly il is philo-
sophical Ii is certainly lengthy paper, aud
couseq ucn,ly cannot be very fully quoted from
and still leave space la letter like this for
what ! would like 10 say in general terms upon
the sahi,ct in controversy.
As real soldier who had enlisted for the
magnificent salary of Sl3 a month, taking my
pay ln a currency deprecated over 200 per
cent. paid very little attention 10 the 3" socio-
log cal - view Of the case. The people aud the
Union soldier At that time seemed 20 be more
interested in discussing the probabilities OF the
future geography Of the country than its " So
. GEOLOGY" The appeal 10 the soldier then was:
Maintain the integrity Of tho Union OF these
States Preserve a Government for us, aud
keen a roof over our heads and thus make pos
sible for ms and our children in the future the
enjoyment of life, liberty, aud the pursuit Of
happiness, aud we will not count the cost, for
these arc blessings that cannot be measured by
a mOncyed estimate!
True, after the war closed. and the Aide
vouring flame Of disunion had been extin-
gushed beyond the power Of civil discOrd 10
rCkinde, the people turned for a brief period
/ In. q
conditions into which we had drifted during
the great upheavcl. Those educated in the
school suggested by pcrusal Of Pensions and
/ Socialism seemed 10 entertain tho gravest ap.
/ prchenson for our social aud political future.
/ IL was claimed that the disbandcd armies ag-
1 Gregating in total onlistments nearly 100000
men, accustomed 10 the use Of arms and scenes
OF blood and carnage, aud unrestricted during
4 the entire term Of their enlistment IN desire
! (mOre or less natural TO an army in active ser
vice. for plumber, would, when turned loose
I upon the State become a very dangerous ele-
mont TO society by a certain class, the very
worst was foresbadowed who, in their perdic-
| tiOns. did not stop short Of social chaos" and
an absolute reign Of terror" But those fears
were never realized. The disbanded army dis
appeared as il 10y magic, and the threatening
ogre was absorbed by the countinghouse, the
pulpit, the pillow, and the shop, all Of which
had been well nigh deserted az the first call for
I volunteers. And 10 begin where they had left
! of? Not at all but i'm most instances. with
broadened view Of life and its responsibilities,
and with an enlarged and exalted apprccia-
/ ton Of citizenship, and the blessings OF good
! Government. Injured 20 hardships and trained
! in organized aud systematic effort, aud above
! all. with an intensified love Of country, that
! God given spirit that makes heroes Of towards
and saints OF debauchces. And the old soldier
has been identified with the many progressive
T nj hot h1va fEff gla oh fhn
course Of this country from that good day. No
place Of honor, trust or profit bestowed upon
him has ever been misplaced, from the exalted
office Of Chief Executive down TO the humblcst
magistrate Of a country precinct. IT will not
be denied, then. that 50 far as good citizenship
may 60, the " old soldier" is entitled to equal
respect with any other class, though il would
be surprising indeed, if, out Of 100000 men,
there were not found some immoral and dissO.
lutte characters.
Soon after the close OF the war, when the in.
terest on the national debt, amounting 10 more
than slG00JO0OO was being annually paid 10
the b0ndhOlders that vast sum was paid cheer
fully, aud no murmur Of complaint came from
any source, every good citizen being only too
thankful for the blessings Of restored Union
aud the privilege Of contributing TO the sup
poIt Of great Government, made possible only
through the courage patriotism, and selfsacri.
lcing devotion Of the Union soldier. But the
]
forget the past, 10 live in the present aud for
the future. il is only through the lapse oil
centuries that the historian and biOgrapher il
enabled 10 arrange and classify, each according
10 his merit, the great names that adorn hi.
pages. The memory Of the stirring aud dra,
matte period Of the war, and the dark forebod
ings and disasters which IL brought, have been
dimmed by the flight Of quarter Of cen
tury's time
period Of unexampled prosperity is upon
Us, the National debt Is fast being obliteTatet
$50 That We are now paying less than $40 900 OOl
interest per aunuml and with the present
q Astounding assurance OF continued National Sc
curity and financial prosperity, we are losin,
= / sight OF tho obligations, aud / fear also tht
" debt Of gratitude which Mr.. sloane In IA,
= Century says the Government is willing 10 ow,
the soldier forever, rather than cheat him on
l. Of IL. Taking this view Of the case then. M
= wonder that students 81 socialism and the sol
der sec evidences Of the lattcr's waning iunu
encc.
Dcduding the present interest on our Ma
a tonal Debt from the vast original sum annu
81 ally-and justy-paid the wealthy bOudhOld
J. crs we have left hundred and tweut'
millions. Less than twOthirds Of this amour
d Is now being paid 10 the disabled veterans ant
a their dependent widows and orphans, and thi
"a ID appears Is not being paid chccriully. True
% the Government Is more abundantly able {
q which the people contributed ia the way Of in
J. tcrest AZ the close Of the war. Ii has neye
u been denied that the soldiers investment il
r Government sureties was as unsclfish as pa
j. trlotc, ms honorable, aud as necessary 10 ia
d perpetuity Of the Union as that Of the Ma
~ iional creditor. In the nature Of their serV
X ices aud ia the pay received there was ccr
d tainly vast difference. The bondholdeI
., laying back in his luxuriant counting. room
< cutting on has coupons, aud receiving his pa
= 10 gold, while the soldier, shivering half clad
" on the tented field received his miserable pit
e lance IN currency worth 20 cents on the dol
IL Jar. Aud now that he is impecunious and Ofte
le helpless, and in his desperation asks for aid h
Is must be told, in general terms the people ar
IN tlTing OF aud losing faith ia him, because thcr
3, are found among the many, beggarly, dissolut
- and immoral characters And when he assert
his manhood IN so far as 10 vote 0stensbly Z
he shot, lac therefore becomes, in the languag
OF the Century writer, AN immovable part
20 san, and dr0ne without energy" In view ,
y, ali the facts is this quite justice TO the old so
'v dicr2
or The author Of Pensions aud Socialism," I
or his rejolnder TO C0mrade Bell. who answer
he Mr. Sloane in the September Century, pays I'll
C. comrade the high compliment % to say b
M Belle " view Of the question is admirable Il
D. its repression aud good temper"
in AZ the risk of failing TO win the plaudits an
h. hatteTing fraces Of so able aud distinguished
on writer as Nj. Sloane evidently is. am incline
Cd TO give my feelings greater play. aud write
cr least from the heart, II not from the brain