The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-05
AN APPEAL.

To ALL COMRADES: The veterans Of
the war of the rebellion and their de-
pendent relatives are in the sorest straits
that they have been since the close OF
the great struggle. Evil days have
come upon them at the time when they
are least able to cope with adversely.
All of them are well advanced in years,
and very many quite aged. The terri
bic struggles, hardships and wounds of
their service have made each one of
them prematurely old, and less fitted to
struggle with the hard conditions of the
times. At this disadvantageous period
they see their enemies in position where
they can infict upon them the utmost
harm. 1t would seem as if the whole
Nation which they had saved at such in
finite cost to themselves was forgetful of
the sacrifices they made for it; migrate
full for their lavish outpouring of their
youthful strength and hearts blood,
and contemptuous of their appeals for
scant, ordinary justice. In their whole
horizon they can see nothing but the
cold mercies of the poorhouse and the
unhonored refuge of pauper's grave.
But there is hope even amid the lower
ing of these sullen clouds. Justice is
not dead, nor are the American people
coldly callous toward those who stood
as a living wall between them and de-
struction. On the contrary, the great,
warm, generous heart of our people
beats as truly and strongly for its saviors
as ever. The virulency of unrecon-
structed rebels, the Misrepresentation of
blatant demagogs cannot long obscure
the peoples realization of the great debt
owing to the men to whom the entire
salvation of the country is due. Signs
of great reaction are already evident.
The most urgent duty of the comrades is
to unite firmly and assert themselves in
defense of their rights and their fair
fame. There are still fully 100000 of
them alive, and they can exert a power
full influence. We can make the reac-
ton a revolution, if we will only try, and
aCe mast try.
We are confident that one of the very
first steps to be taken is to extend the
circulation everywhere of THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE 1t is the champion
and advocate of the great cause of justice
to the veterans-the strongest and most
effective opponent in the country of the
malignant soldier-haters 1t constantly
opposes the antidote of historic truth to
the poison of their lies, corrects their
Misrepresentation of fact, and breaches
the gospel of Loyalty, Union and Vet
erans' Rights. Wherever it goes and is
read it strengthens the cause of the vet
Grams. Consequently it is to their direct
interest that it be taken everywhere. In
no way can they help themselves so
effectively as by helping it. Every sub
scriber that they get for it aids their
cause.
Therefore We earnestly ask every man
who receives this paper to do whatever
lies in his power to get others to subscribe
for it. This will be much the best way
in which be can help himself and his
comrades. The paper is their standard,
around which they should rally in this
great fight. Much of all the pension
legislation of which the comrades have
received the benefit was directly due to
the skillful and persistent struggle which
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE made. 1t
expects to do still better for them in the
future. The more subscribers it has the
stronger it will be for the great contest
this Fall and Winter-the greater will
be our chances of victory.
Comrades. let us hear from you at once,
with the subscriptions of those of your
neighbors who are interested in this great
cause. Get them into line with their
comrades who are already suhccrihars