The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-21
AS TO A SERVICE PENSION.

The indianapolis journal, which has
a talent for transformation quite I'M
usual in a Republican paper, has made
a deliverance on the question of Serv-
ice Pension. 1t recites that at the Ma
tioDal Encampment at Louisville the
National GAR. Committee on Pen
sions reported that it was inadvisable
to ask for further general pension legis-
lation at the present time, and this re-
port was adopted. 1t then says:
1T was stated by various speakers in the
course OF a debate on pensions that the act
Of 1890, If fairly enforced" would afford
relief TO all veterans who are unable to make
living by manual labor.
In the face of this declaration Of the only
representative organization Of veterans in
the country the declaration of claim agents
organ in Washington that the incoming
Congress should he asked to pass service
pension bill is rather presumptuOus and af-
fords ground for suspicion Of self-interest.
position 10 assume such further burden as
a service pension system would involve.
The deficit at the present time is SIS 100000
a year, if not more. A service pension would
add SIS, 100000 more TO the expenses of the
Government, which is already devoting more
than oDe-third of its revenues TO pensions.
As the years pass the aggregate of pensions
viii decline, SO that IS years after The close
OF the war-the period which elapsed between
the end Of the Mexican war and The passage
of the Mexican service pension bill-the
Government VIII be in position and in
duty bound to pay service pension 10 Union
veterans. But then il should be a service
pension-that is, pension TO men who saw
real service.
This is inaccurate throughout, and
very misleading. The report of the
GAR. National Pension Committee was
as follows:
Who shall be Just if not the Nation
Who shall be grateful if not the Republic?
Who shall be generous if not the people
whose life and liberty have been preserved
and re-established by their worthy sons?
The Grand Army OF the Republic in Ma
tional EncampmeLt convened, speaking not
IN its own behalf nor III anywise for its own
interests, but for worthy but needy and suf-
fering comrades, who, in the days of their
youth, gave 10 their distressed country all
that they had and all that they held dear in
order that the Union might be preserved in
tact, and that the sunlight of liberty might
shine undimmed throughout the whole land
they loved in all its parts, appealing to the
whole people for justice, sOlemnly protests
against policy which would deprive, di.
minish or impair the liberal provisions made
during the past 30 years for the man who
had borne the battle and for has widow and
orphans"
In recognition Of the sacred trust imposed
upon them by the immortal Lincoln, and
The unseliish services rendered, a grateful
people has striyen for a third of a century
10 measurably relieve the suffering of its
distressed veterans, and make recompense
for the trials they had endured and services
they had rendered Wise and liberal construc-
ton had prevailed, in accordance with recog-
nized legal principles, applicable to remedial
legislation, so that the remedy sought TO be
provided should be furnished. and the trust
so imposed and recognized fully and faith
fully carried out; but as the years have
passed. the smoke Of battle blown away. and
the war itself become memory and passed
into history, generation has come on that
knew not Joseph" and in some quarters
the old soldier has come TO be looked upon
somewhat in the light of a burden instead
of a great and patriotic privilege, as he
should still appear when viewed in his true
character.
Deierring TO this view-wholly unworthy
Of great and patriotic people-construc-
4 tions have been given TO laws, wise and Just
! in themselves by and under which burdens
aud restrictions have been imposed upon
4 those lily able TO stand up under them, and
the just provisions authorized have been
! grudgingly doled out as though laws passed
in the interest Of the pensioner as just
recognition Of the obligations OF the country
were criminal laws, to be strictly con-
strued, and the benefciaries thereof were
public enemies, or parasites, seeking unjust
admission TO the Treasury OF the United
4 States.
The representatives Of the people, in Con-
gress assembled, recognizing the deep senti-
ment OF gratitude which justly pervades the