The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-26
G. A. II. AND PENSIONS.
The Action of the Noah L. Farnham Post |
Severely Criticized,
Neig York Press

EoU York Press
The circumstances which have
resulted in Noah L. Farnham
Post of the Grand Army Of the
Republic being deprived OF it's charter
have deservedly attracted wide atteR-
ton. Farnham Post, as it is usually
called in brief, contains q number OF
brave and worthy veterans who served
the country well in the struggle for
the nations life, Many OF its mem
beers are we'll to do enjoying comlort-
able incomes from municipal and other
offices, and while some OF these, accord
ing Ia common report, have already ac-
cumulated competency, not few will
be entitled to civil pensions when they
arrive at tho age for retire
fair, Is it soldierly in these men,
secured against want and agoodly num-
Der in the enjoyment Of attluence, to
point at their less fortunate comrades
and say: "You shall have no protec-
ton from the pinch OF hunger in your
declining years; the country owes you
nothing but berth in the poorhouse,
and you can choose between that and
starvation2" All OF the veterans have
not been equally fortunate, and some
OF those who fought the bravest aud
served tho longest, and are tottering
with trembling steps toward the inev-
liable goal, have no other resource or
refuge from q paupers fate save the
pittance which a grateful nation has
provided for their relief. Farnham
Post has said they should not have re-
lief except when their incapaclty for
labor can be traced to wounds or disa-
bilities incurred in the service.
1t has been falsely claimed In Mug
wump and confederate newspapers
that the Grand Army Of the Republic
was opposed to the resolutions OF Farm.
ham post because those resolutions de.
nounced pensions fraudulently OBJ.
tanned. This assertion is as slanderous
as it ia malignant The veterans OF the
Grand Army are as stEenuous!y OPP
posed 10 fraud rs they were opposed to
treason and Cowardice. The resolutions
OF Farnham post speak for themselves.
They virtually ask for a repeal OF the
present pension laws, and they de-
nounce "any old soldier or sailor" as
guilty OF dlshonorable conduct who
accepts pension under that pro-
vision OF the law which awards
moderate sum to the aged SOL
der or sailor OF the Union who Ia
unable to take care OF himself through
inability TO work, not the result Of mis-
conduct That is, the atfluent veterans
OF Farnham Post declare, from the
midst Of their plenty and their luxury,
that II is dishonorable for the poor vet
eran, stripped by misfortune OF every
thing but honor, and debarred by age
from earning living, to accept at the
hands OF this great, this united and
prosperous country, which owes its
unity and prosperity to the soldiers Of
the union, the moderate allowance OF
twelve dollars q month, to keep shell
ter over his head, and to help to pro-
vide him with the bare necessities Of
life.
No MHgwump sophistry can obscure
the truth as we have stated it. Farm
ham Post has done an act for which its
bravo veterans should apologize to their
veterans, just us worthy, II poor.
or than they. Tho withdrawal OF tho
charter under such circumstances was
more than amply justified. The author
tiles OF the Grand Army could have
done no less with due respect to them.
selves and to that great organization Of
the survivors OF the greatest OF wars.