The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-09-12
The Pensioner.


OF all the special pleas made by
the oddities, the one addressed to the
pensioner is perhaps the most repre-
hensible From whatever standpoint
we approach it the plea is not only
devoid of merit in economies, but it.
is open to the severest condemnation
because of the spiritin which it is
made.
In the first place the millionaire
bankers who, the world over, are at
the head of che gold standard move
ment, endeavor to delude the old
soldier into the belief that they are
peculiarly and exclusively his friends
Men who virtually control the worlds
limited supply of gold, and who real
ize millions of dollars profit on sim
gle bond dicker, seek to make it APP
pear that policy which gives them
such advantages is just the thing for
an rs per month pensioner. The
fact that all of their interests lie on
the side of approaching gold, while
the pensioners So per month is gen
orally but a small part of his inter
ests, is studiously kept out Of sight
Let us make a comparison. A mans
wealth consists mostly of money and
money obligations, and it amounts
to, we will say, a million dollars If
that money can be SO appreciated as
to add 10 per cent to its purchasing
power it is equivalent to adding
100000 to his wealth. The same
process will, Of course, increase the
purchasing power of the old soldiers
pension. His SO will be enhanced
10 per cent and become worth $3.50.
So the millionaire says to the old
soldier, "Pard, our interests are
identical. We are both of us bene-
fitted by big dollars | make 800
900 on my money invested; you
make so cents month on your
pension. Hurrah for honest money!
Shake" But it so happens that
the pensioner owns little farm
worth perhaps $4,000 As the mon
ey goes up the prices of his products
go down. A crop that was worth
last year $500 shrinks to $3.50, and
the farm itself drops in the same
ratio. He has gained so cents a
month on his pension and lost 81
month on his crop. Ultimately he
may lose his farm through inability
to pay the mortgage, if there happen
to be one on it. oh says his bank
er friend, that cannot be helped, it
is simply the vicissitude of fortune.
You see there is over production of
the things you are raising. Hence
the low prices. But don't think OF
that. just look at the big dollars
you are getting on pension account
"But," replies the pensioner, ''these
big dollars will not pay any more
debts or taxes than they used to
when they were not so big, and as
result, | have lost my home "Well,' y
answers the banker, that is too bad,
of course, but then you know we
must have honest money and we
are determined that you shall not be
swindled by these silver knaves on
your pension That must be held
sacred"
Again, this plea to the pensioner
proceeds upon the theory that the
old soldier is thoroughly and uncon-
scionably selfish. That no matter
how blighting the effect upon the ma
ton, how destructive to the prosper
ity of his friends and neighbors the
gold standard may be, the veteran
who risked his life for his country's
salvation, is perfectly Indifferent to
its prosperity now, and utterly cal
lous to the suffering around him, so
long as he can get his pension of SO.
IS or $12 month in appreciated
money.
Every pensioner in the country
ought to, and every really deserving
pensioner will resent such an impu-
tation upon his patriotism.
The pensioner is entitled to ''hon
est dollars" but he is not entitled
to anything more. A dollar that is
growing bigger all the time is mot
honest" and neither the pensioner
nor any other person has right to
exact pay in such money.
The writer is not himself a pen
sioner, but he was humble mem
Der of the army of the union, and
his heart beats in perfect sympathy
with every just and proper measure
for the benefit of his comrades in
arms. But he knows that an appre-
ciating standard of values EFFORTS
from every debtor more than he
owes, burdens every taxpayer with
more than he ought to pay, and robs
every honest producer of portion
of his just due. A system that leads
to such results must be destructive
of national prosperity, and cannot
be defended upon any principle ever
taught by the Savior of Man.
If, in any case, the old soldiers
pension is too small, let it be in
creased; but it should never be al
lowed to increase by rise in the
purchasing power Of money, for a
rise of money means fall in the
prices of those things out of which
the pension must be paid.
If the pensioner expects to retain
his hold upon the affections of the
American people, who so ungrudg-
inolv cOntribute TO the nayment of