The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-13
MONEY-LENDERS vs. VETS.
Comrade Shows that Former Estimate
for Soldiers Are too Eigl.

| A Comrade Shows that Former Estimates
| for Soldiers Are too Eigh.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your article
| on Money Lenders versus Veterans" which
| appeared in the issue of Dec 90 1892 was read
| with much interest. There is much plain truth
in it, and it should be read by these Soldier
hating people," to think Of and ponder over.
The figures given to show what q soldier re-
ceived for his three years. services and . man
who remained home, will show at glance who
made the money. l think your estimate for
the soldier is too high, at least, in some cases.
Here is the estimate given:
$I3 month for &c months. 1898 90
SIG month for 10 months leo 90
~ % bounty 100 20
Three years clothing. 1875 90
Three years board at Is cents day....... 273 IS
Total rs
Your estimate. of course. is for those who
served in the land service. My case is different.
/ enlisted on the 25th of May 1861 in the u.
S. Marine Corps, aud served four years, being
discharged in Washington on the Goth of May,
1865. Of course those who served in the navy
received no bounty, at least not till tho latter
part of the war; 50 the 500 bounty must be
omitted in that list in my case.
But l am not the only one. there are hun
dreds and thousands of others like myself OF
course some will say, those who served in the
navy received prize-money. Very true but
1t must be borne in mind that q small pro-
portion Of those who served in the navy
received prize-money. Many vessels did
good service, and some hard fighting too, that
never received one cent in prize. money. It
seemed to have been my lot to be aboard vessels
that captured no prizes, at least what they did
capture were of little value. Iseryed on board
four different vessels, and had plenty of duty
to perform during my four years of service
and received but 10 days of furlough in all that
time. And now after nearly 30 years have passed
away since the close of the war. and when hear
men cry out against the old soldiers, that they
have received enough, especially those who
made money by the war, and have been living
in luxury since have no way of expressing
my feelings, except in these words: 1t biteth
like serpent. and stingeth like an adder"
When the war broke out in 81 and the call
was made for men to save the country, gave
up good situation and responded to that call.
rs hundreds of thousands of others did through
out the loyal North. thought of no pay.
bounty, or prize. money. Had tho pay been
but So per month instead Of $13, / would have
responded just the same.
Here will relate little incident land there
arc thousands of others just like it) to show
who made the money-the one who risked his
life and left homo and everything that was |
dear to him. or the orc who remained home |
during the war and lived in luxury and sur. |
rounded with the comforts of home and friends. |
A certain young man with whom / was &C. |
quainted at tho time enlisted, chose to remain |
homo rather than 60 to war. After the war had |
been going On for Q while he was fortunate in |
getting work that paid him we'll; in fact, he |
made more in one month than made in one |
year in tho navy, and this too without risking
his life-with NO hardshipS whatever and sur. /
rounded with the comforts of homo and friends.
Mind, this Is no fairy tale -; am not telling
this " to the Martinez" alone, but to others as
we'll. After my discharge from the navy
paid visit TO my young friend. We had not
met for over four years. must cay found
him we'll fxsd.p He had just beaght him.
Ielf . new home; had . nice little wife and
little curly-hsaded boy creeping about the