The National tribune., 1893-03-23
PENSION WATERS.
Some Views Expressed by Comrades
In All Parts of the Country.

C. F. Sprague, Co. F, 9th Iowa, Iroqnois.
8. D., says: Like most all old soldiers. feel
that the pension question is of the greatest I'M
portance to those who served in the Union
army from 81 to '65 l notice that the term
soldier haters is an oft-repeated expression,
| and seems applicable to a certain class OF men
who are now enjoying the benefits of united
| and prosperous Nation. Why should there be
| a class of people in this Nation that the term
'sodier.haters should apply toP Why should
anyone hate an old soldier? Is there any good
| reason why anyone should even dislike them?
| Commander Weissert says that such men
| are composed principally of capitalists and
| towards No doubt every honorable old soldier
| believes the same. towards who skulked in
time of war and capitalists who specuated in
| their countrys great necessities, and would
| have their interest paid in gold, even though it
took the last drop of blood next to the Nations
| heart"
John s. Dreckster, Co. A, 22d Ohio Zelda,
| Wash, says: I'm your issue of Feb. there
| is an article under the heading To Revise the
| Pension ROLL which contains bill introduced
in Congress by Congressman Little, of the 18th
District Of New York, who evidently feels very
sick over the result Of the two Congressional
investigations of the Pension Bureau, both of
which were grand failures. We think that he
ought to feel very sick, since he was member
of one of those committees. / have not here
tofore heard of him. He was not like certain
| other gentleman, who, in place of getting sick,
became suddenly possessed with spirit Of fight,
and threatened to demOlish the Commissioner
of Pensions and then just as suddenly cooled
down again. All yes, his name is Mr.. Little
very appropriate name-for he appears to US
old boys out in this part of the world very
small indeed, in that he seeks to make the PEN
| sioners do the grand work which two Congress
sional Committees have failed to accomplish,
| and which a part of duty laid upon his
shoulders. We wonder whether New York has
any more men within its limits who are the
happy possess0rs Of so fertile brain as to be
able to produce measure so thoroughly eiiec-
tive in its aims to beittle and dishonor the
old soldiers of the war of the rebellion?
II. II. c., 10th Wis, Chicago. H., says that
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE should be in the
hands of every soldier, and son and daughter
of veteran in the country, that they may be
posted on what old enemies are doing,
whether in the North or South, and that we
must teach our sons to vote the way We shot.
The soldiers are dying faster and faster each
year, but our votes should be on the increase,
by the influence of sons and daughters.
By our work in the field we saved the Union
from being dismembered, and by our pension
money we are now saving the Nation from
financial disaster for if the Government
gathers money from taxes and from the tariff,
it must have way to pay it out or it will in
the course of time all be in one place, and idle,
and be benefit to nobody, just the same as the
gold was before it was found in its hiding place
in the bowels of the earth.
Chas. O. Stone Co. ], Sd Me-, and Co. E, 21st
Me-, Augusta, Me, writes: did you ever
think that we old soldiers, who contracted dis
ease while in the U. S. service, such rheuma-
tism. chills and fever, chronic diarrhea, and
resulting diseases, may have transmitted such
disease to our children born since the war? /
believe such to be the case, as / have son suf
ferng from disease similar to that contracted
by myself while in the service, and / think
there are many such cases.
"Do you suppose the soldier haters ever
think that but for the disease contracted in
the service many of US might now be in COM
Portable circumstances, but owing to such dis
ease have been unable to work but a part of
the time consequently have but just been able
to get along, our small pensions barely paying
for medicine and doctors bills, which has just
kept US alive, suffering all of the time? We
are also debarred from joining any beneficiary
association, such as the A. o. U. W., and others
like III; consequently, when we die our
families arc left unprovided for, but for the
pension which our wives may receive. | wish
some OF them that DO not believe in giving US
a pension could be in our shoes little while.
l guess they would want pension, and good
big one"
John McGrail. Providence r. T., says: SIN
reading The NATIONAL TRIBUNE and other
soldiers papers / see that there is great out
cry raised against the soldiers of the late war;
1t appears to me that those lying editors have
some other object in view, to distract the minds
of the people from the bondholders, who have
received their cent. per cent. years ago. Now,
what are we going to do about this TRADE Of
abuse that is being heaped upon US? There is
one thing should do-that is. boycott them.
Comrades. don't buy read the satanic press,
nor trade with those who advertise in them.
The GAR, W.RC, ID. of V. and S. of V. are
strong enough to wipe them out. / want this
subject discussed by abler pens than mine.
Don't think am opposed to the press; oh /! no,
! am only opposed to it's lying abuse"
III. E., Grand Island, Neb., says: Please allow
me to make some remarks in regard TO the bill
framed by Congressman Little, of New York,
in regard to pensions of old soldiers. The bill,
as drawn up, shows very little humanity or
justice on the part of Mr.. Little. 1t would
place the old soldiers in the hands Of the Cop
perhead element of the country to dictate to
them whether or not they should have pen
sion. 1t would be sad calamity to befal the
old soldiers, after they have served three or
four years, and some five, in defense of our
country, and suffered the hardships and priva-
tions of soldiers life to have Government
be SO ungrateful as to place them in position
where they should have to ask favors of its
enemies The old soldiers are fast passing
away, and il the Government will have
patience few more years it will have PEN
sions to pay its defenders. They will have
passed over the silent river on the higher plane
Of existence, where wars and rumors of wars
shall cease. If the said bill should pass and
become law, it would be better for the old
soldiers that they had never been born or en-.
listed to defend so thankless . Government.
They are prematurely cid and infrm from
hardships of the war, and not able to contend
with the stern realities of life without a pen.
sion. Some old soldiers in the vicinity where
live are trying to get along without a PEN
sion they are doing the best they can under
the circumstances The writer of this article
served faithfully three long years in Co. F. 7th
Mimi, Capt. John Kennedy's company; dis
charged Aug. l6, 1865, as Second Sergeant of
said company; was sick for three years after
my discharge, and spent all the money had in
doctoring. aud tried to get along without PEN
sion for 12 years, but after a while laid aside
my pride and called for pension. / am now
getting all am entitled to- and have no reason
to complain, thanks to grateful Govern
ment. but / earnestly protest against placing
the old soldiers in position where they will
have to humble themselves to the cowardly,
sneaking, Copperhead element of our country
to get justice.
Hc was Member OF the Loyal Legion.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: l send you
the following, copied from the register of the
Commsndery of Massachusetts, Military Order