The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-05

IHIETY years ago to-day, the mon ana
the Confederate forces were engaged in
the desperate struggle at Gettysburg,
which virtually decided the fate Of the
Union. History records no greater nor
bloodier battle than the three-days con
test in and around Gettysburg, waged on
the three irst days Of July, 1868. Pick
etts charge on the third day will ever be
elassed as among the most courageous and
desperate ever delivered on any battle
field. and its gallant and successful re-
pulse by the Union forces gave evidence
TO the world Of the val0r and heroism Of
American soldiers. The young men who
fought and won that glorious battle are
now Iast middle age, gay haired, most
Of them bowed by infrmities, and many
Of them dependent on the Nations graf
itnde for the means Of livelihood The
Nation has not proven ungrateful, but in
comprehensive as It may appear to the
stranger without our gates, the men who
were 50 broken and defeated at Gettys-
burg thirty years ago. are now controlling
the destinies Of the Nation, and the press
Of their party Is engaged in vilifying and
denouncing the dependent soldiers Of the
Union, and vociferously demanding that
the pension roll shall be summarily and
arbitrarily reduced. Behold the spirit
which ex-Confederates are now display
ing towards the Union soldiers The
Louisville C9lrieT-J9Enal, under the
heading of The Poor Old Pauper,' de-
clares that the pensioners are "a robber
horde Of mendicants voting as an army
Of partisan janisaries," and then adds:
TheP Pension Bureau, under Republican
domination, has been a perpetual scene
Of abuse, a very sink hole Of Wastefulness
and q reservoir Of scandal, dishon0ring
the name Of America and discreditiDg
that Of soldier. Meanwhile the South,
which has 10 fork over its share of the
plunder and ge,s none Of the profit, has
looked on silent and aghast. Already Il
has paid IN this way 70 the North ten
times the tribute exacted by Germany Cf
France. Every day our industries are
being depleted and our energies sapDed
Dy this Wanton outlay Of money lavish
"a up0n tens Of thousands Of men who
never saw q battle nor smelt anvl hing Of
camp life except the coffee kettle.
IN the same strain, and even more
plainly than It's soldier-hating contem-
porary, the Charleston Ness and Courier
voices It's views as follogs
The United States Government IS now
paying half q million dollars a day TO
soldiers who fought in the Union armies
tgenty-eight years ago This is note
worthy 10 view Of al that We have heard
from SOya. sources as 10 the patriot
ism Of the gallant men who composed
the Union armies" Il looks strange
that men who were inspired by high mo-
tives in t.eir service 70 the country
should be willing 70 lend their influence
70 thieving schemes which have well
nigh bankrupted the Treasury. But this
Is the loyal view. public theft Is a pa
triOtic duty. Nothing better was 10
be looked from the rank and file Of the
BOYS who wore the blue" but ii is a
commentary upon the honesty and pa
triOtism of many Of their most illustriOus
aAAtAA tit NaAAalF u Al1E -tk-
ernment should have been diverted for
partisan purposes.
It is well that in this anniversary Of
the great battle for the Union that the
heroes who won on that, as well as on
many another CORY field, should be made
conversant with the rebel sentiment still
cherished by their former foes. 1t Is by
and through the instrumentalityo Of these
men that the present Administration is
in power, and it IS to placate and crafty
them that the present warfare against
the pensions OF the Union soldiers is be-
ing waged. The thirty years that have
elapsed since the fateful battle Of Gettys-
burg has apparently not ameliorated the
hostility Of the Confederates and Cop
peTheads 20 the Union soldiers.