The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-10-25
Report Of Com. on Pensions to the 27th
National Encampment, G. A. r.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Sept I, 1893
Your Committee on Pensions BEG 10 sub
NIT the follo,cing Report and Resolutions
on The subject.
"To bind up the Nations wounds; to
care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and orphan. Z"
Thus spoke Lincoln the Great, Lincoln
the Just. standing reverently, with un-
covered head, in the immediate pres
ence of a cruel and devastating war.
that had already lasted four years, the
end of which, although so near, his
prophetic vision was not able TO see:
speaking to, for and by the the author
ity OF the American People, concerning
one of the supreme duties of the hour
and the future, when entering for the
second time upon the discharge of a
trust committed to him by that people.
Within few short weeks that end so
long hoped for had come; but his dying
eyes We're not privileged to see the full
fruition of his labors, and the work so
well begun and carried on by him fell
into other hands, charged with all the
trusts that the condition implied and
required and those who had ''borne the
battle" after so many days ''turned
their happy feet toward their long
deserted homes"
A grateful nation met and received
them, and gladly showered upon them
the plaudits and the honors they had so
well and hardly earned.
These "bearers of the battle" were
then, in the main, in the prime and
vigor of young manhood, with all the
honors and possibilities of life before
them, with all the hopes born of lofty
courage and patriotic and successful
achievement beating high in their
bosoms; and they little needed and still
less cared for material aid from the
country they had preserved and made
free, save where loss of life or limb or
impaired health and broken constitu-
tions were pretty visible: and for such,
in the main, ample and prompt provi-
sion was made by that country.
But as the years passed by, middle
life too frequently developed into prem
ature old age, and youth passed into
ripper years with galloping feet; and
alas. too soon the exultant and hearty
soldier found that in the race of life
there were weights upon his feet and
burdens upon his shoulders as the result
OF premature and over-heavy draughts
upon his vitality, that sadly interfered
with successful competition in the
crowd and jostle Of the fierce struggle
for advancement. And still the nation
sought to keep abreast of the necessi-
ties OF her heroes, and by additional
enactments to measureably make pro-
vision for those who had 'borne the
battle"
A quarter OF century had elapsed.
The middle-aged had become feeble,
and the old had crossed the river.
Time, with its ruthless fingers, had
joined hands with the ravages Of
war, and the two combined had
proved burden upon the aging soldier
greater than he could bear; and the cry
went abroad that in too many instances
for the credit, honor or good name of
the nation, many who had followed the
flag and faced the fiery furnace of bat
tie, had in want fallen by the wayside,
and in the poor-houses were looking
longingly for the relief and comfort Of
the grave.
Their sympathizing comrades and
patriotic people, with one accord,
voiced the sentiment that such was not
human administering OF the sacred
trust recognized and announced by Lin
coin. AS to what the remedy should be
mems minds differed. Many, possibly
majority of the survivors of the war,
believed that the time had fully come
when the name of every honorably dis
charged survivor should be placed upon
the pension roll. Others, denying the
right that they should receive aught
from their country through the pension
roll, stoutly resisted the demand.
1t was under such circumstances and
dealing with the conflicting opinions,
that Congress enacting the disability
law of June, 1890. This act was accept
ed by the surviving soldiers and by the
people in general as a settlement of the
question. Under the administration OF
that law, the poor-house gave up its
veteran-he who had borne the battle
was cared for, and thus the sacred trust
accepted and left as legacy to the
nation was faithfully administered.
Within a few months we hear with
profound sorrow and regret that all
this must be changed; that the con-
struction of the law has been changed,
and the regulations and rules in regard
TO- -