Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-24
That Roll Of Iii Desert.

The propose Ncaraguan canal IS grand
work intended 10 connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. and thus 20 save thou
sands Of miles Of that travel which is now
necessary ia order to profitable traffic
bewcen the United States and the nu-
herous countries which Will be brought
Comparatively near to our doors by that
canal. but which travel will be rendered
unnecessary bv tho completion of that
highway of commerce. THIS commercial
highway will make the United States APP
pear 10 be in the centre of the earth,
Though its estimated cost to this country
Will hardly be q hundred million of dollars.
And yet this magnificent work is. we are
fold, TO be DELAYED by a Congress which
threatens 20 increase the pension roll To
such an extent as to levy an annual tax OF
two hundred millions Of dollars to enable
various classes of unworthy persons TO
live upon the bounty of the National Gov
eminent. The persons whose names are
70 be added to that roll of i'll desert "
were many of them during the war be-
tween the States nothing but malingerers,
bounty Jumpers. doseTters. and camp-iol-
lowers. Think OF il. If we strike from
the pension list ono fifth of the names
which are wrongfully upon IT, we shall IN
three or four years save money enough to
enable Us to complete the Nicaragua
canal and also "A canal to connect the great
lakes of our northern aud northwestern
borders with the Atlantic Ocean.
Is there no man IN Congress who has the
courage TO rise III his scat and say Of the
proposition 20 purge the pension roll. as
Dir BENTON said on a memorable occasion
Of his expunging resolution. Solitary and
sone set this ball in notion and then
Keep that ball in motion. as Mr.. BENION
kept his. until that proposition becomes
successful? Shall Congress shrink from
b battle with bounty-jumpers. malngerers.
md desorters? Are not the men who
Sere invisible N war rhe very men
who are "invincibe in peace? One
thing Is certain. and this is that Mr..
CLEVELAND Is not afraid 10 challenge those
men IN buckram" TO a combat even unto
death. He vetoed many pension bills
whilst he was President of the United
States. but WILL we trust. have no occa-
term IN the same Office. Did h
lose vote a. a consequence OF
his courage? Not one. we think. The
real soldiers are ranged on the side OF Mr..
CLTyELASD on this question of feeding ten
times ten thousand men who have no
merits whatever. and whose conduct III
peace as IN war stamps them rs utterly I'M
worthy Of the bounty which grateful
people are not only willing but DESTROYS of
bestowlng upon the men who actually
fought the battles of the nation from 1861
60 1865. Is 1t not discreditable to our law
makers that there should be. as New
York paper SAYS is the case, " more pen
flons by hundreds of Thousands on account
of alleged services in the war than there
were soldiers present for duty in all
fine armies Of the Union at any
time between the first shot on Sumter
and the surrender OF General LEE to Gene
raj GRANT? In the presence of such
facts Congress ought TO be ashamed to talk
about the cost at the Nicaragua canal or
Of the Northwestern canal. The money
thrown away annually upon unworthy
Claimants of government aid would extend
the free delivery of mail matter to every
town. village, and hamlet in the United
States: would enable the government to
reduce letter postage to one cent per
ounce: would pay the whole cost Of con-
structing a Worlds-fair electric railroad
between ST. Louis and Chicago to be run
ct the rate of IA hundred miles an hour
would pay for LAYING down pneumatic
tubes between all the cities in the United
States and transmitting letters at the same
or a greater rate of speed, and would pay
for now government building in every
city Of 10000 inhabitants in the United
States.
Shall the peoples money be longer
~asted upon bounty-jumpers and other
men Of I'LL desert?