Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-02-11

psflls II war, one suprene Question
cnA.i~nxec every loyal An<sf.cAn.
The federal unlon, shall Il be pre-
seFscar % TIE issne involved IA knst
question L.ncoin made tie appeal 10
TIE country. aud "a responss - tnat
appeal usofs t1an two and one-hat
niiiiscns u mea moved g. the defence
aud pres<fsatsou OF the endangered
govern tnolt.
The vast majority OF those Who
composed that mighty boat carried the
naskst aud Tie knspsack. abe canteen
and tie hsverssck, tne cartridge box
AID the esssnet- They marched ~
day and ~ nlgpt paced The senunei's
beat or stood Tue Lonely psekess' slgll.
iney received least Of pay aud endured
mosl OF hardship and prlvatlon.
whether IN TIE camp or on the march,
IA nosp.tal or IA prison. AZ . RUE
thcy .eii nearest the forces. II the I'd.
vance Or the retreat.
"Ho~eser intelligent and patriotic
! ss individuals. however faithful in the
T. dlscharge Of routine duties or brave "a
IN the hour OF deadly conflict. with
fare exceptions have the men vac car
fs-d the muskss received any personal
recogniti, n IN the annals tnaI record
the services aud deeds OF patriotic snd
heroic men. Only ~ the esnbattlec
| column that swept with fesiftless yslor
the enemies line from field or parapet
or fort. Do they I've IA their counlry's
history.
1.-The great body OF those who made
up the rank aud tie of the union
army WAS trom 10 10 IS years Of age.
| IL required great sacrifice - be called
into tneir country's service 81 time
when are laid the foundations. intel
iectusl or financial. on which rest the
superstructure OF iife's possibilities and
mplisnments, and return, when
with most that time had pssses, 10
lind themselves Scared by snot or
shell, manned Of limb or manglsd OF
body, with Institutions impaired or
broken, standing pennies on the
shores OF receding tide, which Ia
TIER absence had been ~ the flood
with almost unparalleled opportunities
"'But. IL - asked, are not these all
| peEsionersg
"Mr. Chairman. may be permitted
seemingly TO digress IN go far ss 10 cay,
Il 10 becoming quite Common of late 70
hear and read expressions derogatory
TO the pensioners OF the late war To
point 20 the enormous sums
annually disoursed from the ma
toms treasury TO the survsv.
ing veterans and TO the widows and
orphans OF aid ere deceased. ,And then
cr.tcise and condemn the recipients,
ae = class, - being unworthy the ma.
tons generosity. Sir. shall not un-
dertake 20 inpugn the motives OF those
VINO, covertly or otherwise, attack tho
pension system and lite beneficiaries.
can readily perceive how, 10 those who
were not IN the army, aud especially
to those horn during or since the war
the services rendered by tue cold ler.
seem wholly inadequate TO the pro.
longed compensation received. i Ind
myself in thorough sympathy with
those who would, were il possible, re.
move every unworthy man from tina,
column OF blood-stained, battle
scared, heroic men. VINO quarterly
answer TO the roll call OF q nation
seeking to remind them of its unfAii.
ing gratitude. Though suffering every
wakeful hour from . wound received
IN defense OF my country, would he
classed with those who believe the gov
eminent has been generous 10 her do
tenders, almost 10 fault
"And yet, standing ~ do. on tn,
nights Of forty seven years of lac's ex
periences. with the horizon Of numal
possibilities and hopes lifted and broad
ened, with my wife and my childrer
IN my minds eye, with the abiding anS
VIVID recollectiens OF Shiloh and
stones River. OF Chickamaugs AND
Mission Ridge, ssy withyou | could
not be induced. for hire. FOR fnancss
gain. 10 60 into one great battle for al
the gold that could be piled within th'
area OF this building from the founcA
TONS bottom stone 10 the summit o
the vaulted roof.
.'Ne man who ever inhaled the no
breath of battle, who on the hels
where for days great armies contendet
for the mastery, met again and agar
| in the awful shock If mortal combat
whose feet have carried him over mile
and miles of the siorm-swept fielS
| men who went down before the Leaf
and iron hail OF death. no such maj
will contend that the government eve
has. or will or can. pay the men wis
manfully and herolcaliy endured a.,
rutierirgs, fought the battles and save.
the nat.on's life.
4
declaration. Whea the Maynard sol
has paid her VINO went down into en-
valley and the shadow Of death. an.
at the peril Of her own life brough
life ~ him; when be has PAID hi
mother for the days and n,gnfs, th
months and years of unrequted Toll
OF anxious solicitude. Of unvesried de
votiou, of unfasiiDg charity aud unisl
tering love; when be has restored IN
luster 10 her dull and sunken eyes. pu
hack the bloom OF health urea he
wrinkled brow and restored The con
siitution shattered and broken for HIM
then, and not ull then. will tn
government pay the men who, II
the hour Of the nations travail for
new blfth. went down deep into th
valley aud the shadow Of suffering an.
Of death, brought forth . new nation
baptized IL with their own blood 40
consecrsted it TO the proposition nc
only that ali men are created equsl
hat that m the United states Of Amer
lea ali men are equal before the law.
cit 10 on this high piano OF living an
doing for others that ice true glory G
the greas strucRle ~ revea I'd.
"ft - vnttens All that man hat
will he give for his lsft.' Prom lss
10 1915 inclusive, more than three bur
! dred and ffty-nine thousand unto
soldiers lad thIs priceless boon on tn
altar Of patriotism. OF those who s1i
vlvtd the oar scores Of Thousands nav
since d-scended precautionary to "a
grave, while thousands And thoussr &
more are passing The remainder q
Their dare attended ty 4 scsse and sul