The National tribune., 1894-03-29
TIE UNION SOLDIER,
Nr. Pickler'S Grand Speech in the
House Recently.

The House being in Committee of the Whole
and having under consideration the bill (H. D..
1892 making appropriations for the payment
of invalid and other pensions of the URltea
States for the fiscal year ending June 81, 1882
and for other purposes, Mr.. Picker said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: After tutelage OF more
than three centuries; after the experience of
long colonial existence, with all the trials and
yicisstudes imposed upon weak colonies by the
strong ruling power of the earth that had sent
them FORTH the colonists were sore discouraged
After in vain imploring leniency and considera-
ton from the mother country, in its control OF
the colonies; after repeated denials OF the
rights of Englishmen TO the American coonlsts;
after long wears of submission TO tyrannical laws
and requirements, imposed by England upon the
greatest colonies she had ever set forth, these
colonists in love of liberty and the equal rights
of man. defed the mother country, and III open
rebellion launched an independent Government
upon a tempestuous sea- dedicated to individual
freedom and the equality OF man.
The step taken, the die cast, our forefathers
risked life, liberty, and sacred honor in the
prosecution of a seven years war
1t was a contest for individual liberty against
kingly usurpaiiou. 1t was the battle of the
Republic against the monarchy. 1t was the
struggle of manhood to free itself from oppres-
sion and wrong Monarchy was defeated.
Manhood and freedom were triumphant.
The American Republic was established as
nation among the independent powers OF the
Garth 1t proved nation rapid in advancement
Id marvellous in progress. 1t invited the people
Z all nations who loved freedom to find home
Fithin It's borders. Its territory was broad
In extent and wonderful in fertility and re-
sources. Its population rapidly increased, ana
its wealth kept pace with population. 1t
adopted a constitution; 1t Instituted It's dlner-
ent departments of government; it acquired
territory. 1t prosecuted war successfully, and
was rapidly acquiring the standing OF first
class power among the nations of the earth.
REBELLION.
Sectional differences arose between the North
ern and Southern States of the American Union.
All other differences, however, finally merged
into the question of the future treatment OF the
institution of African slavery by the Govern
ment.
The South contended for its extension and
protection in new States to be admitted into
the Union, and for its perpetuation in the Ma
ton. The North cOntended for its restriction
and for its final adjustment. The contention
was an irreparable conflict.
To fight the battles of the country ana save
the Nation, the great Union army was en-
listed.
Mr.. Chairman, to provide for these soldiers,
now growing old in years. who are pensioners,
their widows and orphans, and army nurses
who cared for these soldiers when wounded,
sick and dying is the object of this bill.
THE VOLUNTEER.
And we may well inquire who was this SOL
der who in the years from 1861 to 1865 fought
for the supremacy of the American Union. He
was the Roy of is, the man of 80. the middle
aged of As and the gray haired veteran of other
wars.
He was not vicious, nor was he from the
vicious classes. He was not immoral, he was
not corrupt he was not criminal. He came
from the desk, the loom, the anvil, the shop,
the store and yet far more largely from the
farm. The pen, the shuttle, the hammer, the
saw, the yardstick, the plow were the most
formidable weapons he had ever known. he
was the husband and father, the brother and
lover, with tears and heart-breakings bidding
farewell, it might be forever to those who
were dearer to him than his own life.
HE WAS HONEST.
Hewas honest, he was upright, he was virtu-
GUS be was brave. Why did he leave his home
and his friends? Why did he volunteer? Sir.
he was a patriot; he loved his home, his coun-
try and his flag. He was honest when he took
the oath to serve his country three years or
during the war. He was not dishonest when
he made affidavit to his disabilities for pension.
His name was one of honor when it was entered
upon the muster-roll. 1t is not a name of dis
honor simply because it now appers upon the
pension-roll.
The country did not doubt his word when he
promised his services and his life. if need be,
in the hour of it's great peril; it should not
doubt his word now in the years Of his decline.
lis has been faithful, lsw-abiding citizenship
since the war. He was brave as a soldier be is
honorable a citizen.
What burdens did the Union soldier bear?
What resistance did he overcome? He was a
lover OF his home and friends. With few ex-
ceptions he had ever been near them. His had
not been a life Of absence or travel, or separa-
tion from home. He babe his home and friends
n Ill Il. e
who knew little of the untried experience that
was before him. but knew it was danger, pri-
walton, lOng-suffering, with the death proba-
biity ever rising prominently in the fore
ground.
How little can the generation which has
grown up since that war realize the great and
overwhelming grief and anxiety that come to
homes both North and South during that terri
bic struggle.
The mothers heart was wruug by the same
anguish, whether the son passed out from the
home roof 10 battle under the Stars and Stripes
or to struggle under the stars and bars. The
fathers anxiety for his boy was not different,
and settled upon him with the same troubled
intensity, whether the boy fought with Grant
or fought with Lee. The Union soldier and
the Confederate soldier recount the scenes Of
those days with air Of cheerfulness that in
no way conveys to the younger generation q
correct idea of the teTrors of that war.
The great civil war is now considered as
lightly as a tale that is told. The men Of both
armies discuss the trials and hardships of the
terrible years with little Of the intensity that
stirred them in the days Of the conflict.
To all the Nation. North and South those
were terrible days Of FIRE and sword, of blood
shed and death. Death rode with free rein
throughout the land. and the cry of the widow
and orphan converted every breeze into a
funeral dirge Dread and anxiety were con-
slant, and sorrow the normal state.
FOB WHAT HE FOUGHT.
For what cause did the Union soldier strive?
He battled for the rights of man. He fought
for the peTpetuation OF free institutions. The
Government CT the fathers was assailed-he
defended II. The Republic Of Patrick Henry,
Of Sam Adams, of the minute men of the Reyo-
luton, OF George Washington, Of Alexander
Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had been as
saulted-he rsked his life to save it,
Constitution under which and by the terms
Of which the Nation had become strong and
great was now laughed to scorn by large por-
tiOn Of that Nation; the Union soldier in the
hours OF its danger sOleUInly swore TO defend