Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-08-26


Every human and patriotic citizen looks
with the utmost satisfaction upon the
munificent provision which the nation has
made for the old soldiers, says the Cham
bersburg Public Opinion. Actual want Ia
relieved, as well as substantial honor con-
ferred, by the pensions granted to the dis
ablcd men who bore the brunt of the bat
tie in the contest for the life of the nation.
Doubtless there have been pensions given
to unworthy and undeserving men, and
but no right minded ana good hearted
citizen would consent to any substantial
reduction Of the pensions on account Of
this abuse, or for any other reason. The
system is approved nike by the patriotic
sentiment and best judgment of the great
body of the citizens
The payment Of the pensions to the old
soldiers Is beyond question one O{ the
great financial burdens Of the nation, but
if it wcro tenfold weiyhticr 1t would be
chccrfully borne. because 1t Is the meet
ing of IL just, humane aud patriotic u bli-
CATION. Citizens would bc unworthy par
ferred upon them by - redeemed and rc-
established government if they were un-
mindful of the COS. of the rcpu bile in the
sacrifice and labors Of these men who
stood by it In the hour of its peril.
Any direct and avowci proposition To
scale the pensions would invosc tho dis
favor of the people, and the party advanc-
ing such u proposal would bc rebuIcd by u
most decisive inaj jorty of til. voters. The
pensions are not now in danger froIn any
avowed opposition to them, but In an intii-
ract way they are seriously threatened.
The free coinage of silver, If IL is adopted,
will result in the scaling of tbs pensions
almost one-hnlf. When the silver dollar,
with fifty-thEcc cents worth of bullon in
IL, comes to be the standard and mea sure
of value. rs mas. inevitably by the result
under the free coinage OF silver, then the
pcnsioncr Will BE- paid the same number
of dollars but the new dollars will be only
about onc-hnlf th. value :" hi,n Of the old
dollars which were exch,n gable for geld.
Under this change II standard there is
no compensation to the pensioner for his
loss. h the world of ,r,,.ic the ch,n re OF
llnsrtHt tHc system rrcc
coinage of silver il not 40 important. mas
much rs prices will be changed in Ill conn
rioditics, and approximately f.ir compen-
sntio:is can bc attained and no great in
justice be done. But tbs pen iioner has
nothing 70 advance in price. He Is in the
market with the new dollar under tho
new system, ana finds all price, advanced,
AL Is able to buy with his pension only
half as much Us h" could bay with that
which was paid him I'm the old dollars.
The only way in which he could be made
whole in the change of standard, would
be by Il general Law Increasing all pensions
one hundred per cent. The prospect for
the passage Of such law Is very slondcr.
The difficulty Of passing new pension laws
involving even the slightest advance in
pensions is ,voll known. Hence tho OLD
soldiers prospects under the froe coinage
OF silver are very dark. indeed; old anG
feeble men are able to keep soul and body
together by the slender pensions they re-
ceive under tho present standard. Want
and suffering are inevitable undcr .
change which reduces the purchasing
power Of their pcnsions Surely patriotic
men will hesitate and refuse TO vote for a
change which involves such burdens to the
h,l 40. inn