The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-29

An immense cry 10 going up now against the
upon the Government are being charged, and were
charged In the last Congress by Representative
Tarsney. of Missouri, and Representative oNeii.
OF Massachusetts. II these claims just nd true,
the particulars and illustrations susceptible of
being stated. When we ask for =" bill OF pariicu-
lars" We have none And deny and throw back
with scorn and contempt these wholesale charges
OF lying, falsehood and corruption made against
the men who saved the Union. Il Is unreasonable
TO suppose that In the disbursement of so large
sum OF money $ called for by the present pension
roll. which resulted from the greatest war OF all
history, say IL is unreasonable TO suppose that
there would not be some dishonesty in the dis
bursement OF so large sum, but the wholesale
charges of fraud against Union soldiers repudste
RS false and ltbslous, and vile SANDER upon the
brave men who saved the Union.
The bondholdeTs who loaned their money to
the Government, when there was doubt about
the financial ability of the Government to pay.
have been paid principal and interest in full In
gold, and the soldiers of the country stood as .
solid piialanx In favor OF the redemption Of these
financial promises.
Now, tell me- shall the unwritten promises made
10 the soldiers In the war meetings 30 promote en-
iistment by such represent alive men in massaehu-
sets as Gov. Andrew. Judge Russell and Henry
Wilson be repudiated? These representative men
promised The soldiers that il they survived the war
they should have civil preferment; they promised
more-thRt IL wounded disabled in the service,
or should they die or be disabled in consequence
of such service they should be pensoned and their
wives and little ones should be cared for.
They say the pension-rol is large and calls for
large money Oh yes. II is; but it Is large coun-
try, and 1t a large war, and Il the hottest
cause that Jeff the arbitration of battle
We have in this country standing army TO eat
out the substance Of the people. The country has
depended in the past and must In the future de-
pend, on its citizen soldiery. And the Governments
cannot afford to break faith with these
Be patient. gentemeni the old soldiers are being
mustered out very fast-30.000 died last year-the
little flags in the cemeteries increasing with
each returning Memorial Day and large reduc-
ton in the pension-ro is near at hand.
There is another fact which has an i'm portant
bearing on the subject under consideration. This
$3.50 600 900 of pension money is not like the in
demnity paid by France to Germany. Under the
wise provisions Of the Mckinley tariff act it is
kind of Dick Turpin arrangement on a small scale
which works WELL This money Is taken from the
wealthest of people, in the form of duties
upon champagne, cigars, silks. broadcloth, etc,
and is paid to the very poorest of our people. This
money is not boarded, but goes Immediately into
circuation-goes to pay the grocer. the butcher,
the baker-to buy boots, shoes clothing, and ne
eessities; and the money does not leave the eoun-
try at all.
The amendment proposed by Representative
O'Neil in the last Congress. such TO take the
pension away from soldiers widows who were
married since 1870. would work dire distress and
great hardship, and rs a member of Congress VIII
resist such legislation to the last extremity.