The National tribune., 1894-03-29

CONFEDERATE PENSIONS.
The Confederate States, perhaps with one ex-
ception, grant pensions to their citizens who
were in the Confederate army. 1t is an act of
humanity, and csmmend them for it. They
sent their men forth to risk everything, and 1t
is nothing less than their duty to care for them
in their years of decline. Shall the Nation,
then. which owes its very existence to its SOL
diers, do less for them?
CONSTITUTION AND PENSIONS.
The fourth section of the 14th amendment Of
the Constitution of the United States declares
"The validity of the public debt OF the
United States, authorized by law, including
debt for payInent of pensions and bounties for
services in suppressing nsurrecton or rebel
lion, shall not be questioned"
There can be no fair Interpretation of this
provision of the Constitution other than that
the debt for pensions, for deserving pensions,
Just PENSIONS liberal pensions, should ever be
a sacred one.
This provision does not warrant a narrow and
mean construction of the pension laws. 1t does
not warrant a technical construction OF laws,
rules and regulations against the penslOner.
1t does not mean arbitrary and unfair rulings
and constructions which tend to disallowance
rather than allowance of the pension. 1t does
imply an open, fair, and liberal construction of
the laws that will be AL honor to the soldier and
an honor to the Nation he saved.
ROLL OF HONOR.
The pension. roll is roll of survivors of all
the wars in which this great Nation has en-
gagged 1t is roll of undyng honor, and so it
will ever be- and no class more than the soldiers
themselves will demand that it be SO kept.
BLESSINGS TO COMING GENERATIONS.
To the generation of men and women who
succeed that to which this soldiery belong |
commend the earnest and eloquent words of
the late honored Commissioner Raum:
"The generation of people who have come
upon the stage of action since the war closed
should understand that the blessings OF peace
and prosperity now enjoyed by the people of
the United States are due to the patriotism and
valor of the soldiers of the Union. These men
met and oyercame the greatest rebellion the
world ever saw The stake for which they
contented was the greatest ever submitted to
the arbitration of arms They maintained the
political unity OF country which God had
made for one people. lhey solved the mooted
question of mans capacity for sef-government.
They broke all the letters of slavery. These
men will pass away as a tale that is told, but
their work will endure forever"
PASSING OVER.
great army corps of their number pass over
the river Death every year. To their numbers
who remain on this side there come no recruits.
Their great commander, he who never erred
except on the side of mercy" long since passed
over.
Honest. noble martyred Abraham Lincoln,
how truly has it been said of him:
"He had paled the glory of Hastings in the
preservation of all empire; he had won COM
parison with Hampden for selEcommand and
rectitude of purpose, while as the emancipator
of a race he stands slene in his solitary glory
without rival and without parallel"
And SO, Mr.. Chairman, let this whole Nation
do justice to these 9men and honor the cause
for which they foughtai,