Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-04

facilitate the allowance of pensions under
existing law. Each man has his partic-
ular excuse for his opposition; 1t may
be one thing with one man and another
thing with another: but IL always comes
from the Democratic side of the House,
and 1t always has to be met by the Re
publicans.
l repeat that l honor the gentleman
from South Carolina for standing up
here like man and having the courage
to say squarely that he is opposed to the
increase of pensions. unlike most of our
friends on the other side. who claim to be
really aching in their hearts to increase
the old soldiers pensions and facilitate
their allowance. but who can never bring
their minds TO support any measure for
that purpose which Is being considered
and has the least chance of being enact
ed into law.
Why. sir, have stood here many
time and heard the Union veterans called
coffee coolers" and 'bummcrs.' and all
that class of pet names. But. Mr.. Chair
recognized by this country. too-that all
these insults to the soldiers, these at
tacks upon their characters. these SIAN
derous words as unjust as they are in
famous and indecent. have never come
from the Republican side of this House.
(Applause.)
Sir. have been here for thirteen years
have heard all the debates on this sub
ject during that time: and when gentle
men stand up here and claim that the
Democratic party. as represented on this
| IlOOT, HAS Dfcil Tue ITlcIU Oh the SulultE.
they have the 'gall'' and the assurance
to deny the absolutely established facts
of history: history with which the people
of this country are too familiar to allow
themselves to be deceived by such false
and absurd assertions.
I favor the passage of the bill before
the House because ] am satisfied that II
will secure a more speedy adjustment OF
pension claims than can be reached UNI
der the present law. And this ! regard
as contamination most devoutly to be
wished.
A great ma jority of the veterans of the
Union armies are becoming old men. In
the ordinary course of nature We can
hardly expect for them many more
years of life. If we could have the Gov
ernment confer upon them a just recog-
milton of their services we must provide
that ii be done soon. or 1t will not be done
in this world.
Thousands of them are now waiting,
suffering. for the relief which their gal
liant services entitle them to. with very
little prospect of receiving it in time TO
do them much good.
AS their age advances their inirmities
increase Many of them who came out OF
the army buoyed up by the vigor and
bilitated, decrepit. suffering. and unable
by their labor to earn the comfortable
livelihood which they, above all others.
most richly deserve.
Each year and month finds them less
able to support themselves and those de-
pending upon them than the year and
| month before. Time, which finally de-
pletes the powers of all men. is swapping
the vitality of the veterans of the Union
armies more than any others. 1t is de-
veloping the effects of the hardships and
sufferings of war and the inhrmities
caused by life in the camp, on the march.
and in battle.
Their wounds are many of them. sorer
today and their diseases incurred in their
military service have grown worse than
they were on the day OF their dis
charge from the Army.
These men must very soon receive the
Governments aid in granting them just
and well-deserved pensions or become de-
pendent upon charity for support, and
do not believe that any brave and worthy
soldier should be driven to be a beggar
or made to enter the portals of the poor
house. (Applause)
This great nation, cramped as it is in
its resources by the wretched economic
able TO properly care for those who in the
day of it's danger saved it. They gave the
vigor of their young manhood to its de-
Tense. With unsurpassed courage they
| chung to it and supported it. They. came
home not to make excuses for defeat.
They accomplished their patriotic mis-
sion. They brought back the flag Of
plant. its integrity complete. The ma
ton can not afford in the smallest meas
urc to neglect them. 1t would be a shame
and a stain upon its escutcheon which
could never be eradicated.
l favor this bill. because it will confirm
the soldier in his pension so that the
privc him of it. doubt not that there
will be rulings and rulings in the Pension
Office SO long as that Bureau shall exist
and conclusive. l would shut the legal
door so tight, that no ruling not made in
direct and clear violation of law should
deprive any old soldier of. fairness and
justice.
He should not live i'm constant fear that
the benefits rightcously conferred upon
him by the Government might at any
| moment be taken from him by some
| caviling pension Inspector perhaps once
a member of the rebel army, who either
| in order to show himself to be earning
soldier. or from total depravity should
report to the Pension Bureau against
| him.
He should hold his pension after sub
| hitting to all the examinations and fur
nishing all the testimony necessary to
| secure 1t by some stronger tenure than
| the whims. the caprice. the hostility, or
| the self-interest of anyone.
This is my position and it is the policy
| of the Republican party.
The gentleman from South Carolina
| sought, a few days ago. to sustain his;
position against the further allowance of
pensions by comparing the amount paid
| out each year by our Pension Bureau
with the cost of maintaining the armies
Of some of the great nations of Europe.
Did it never occur to him that the waste
caused by taking thei young men of
| France Germany, and Russia from the
| fields of production and making them only
dcstrOyers and consumers is much great
err than the expense of supporting them in
the army? Would the. gentleman have us
adopt the European system of keeping
great standing armies Does he not think
| that this nation is much richer as well
as better. for retiring her armies at the
end Of her wars and pensiOning the
wounded and disabled than she would he
under the military system of the Old
| World. where the young men who should
be pursuing civil avocations and promot-
ing their countryS progress and great
| ness by the exercise of their genius and
energy are drafted from their COMMUNE
ties to become oilers or destroyers? l be-
| lieve. Mr. Chairman. in the military sys.
tenn OF my own country, as l believe in
its economic system.
My friend asks if we shall turn the
United states Treasury over to the old
soldiers. No. They do not ask or want
II. What they want and should have is
that they and their immediate Deepen.
dents shall not be allowed to suffer If
their old age by the neglect of the countr,
whose life they offered their own lives t.
save.
But II the Treasury were to be depleted
mucn prefer 1t should be done in payins
pensions to the veterans of the Union ar
mics to having it's contents sent acros.
the ocean to foreign laiids to purchas,