The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-09-30
y THE YEAR 1861, when the south
was afire with the spirit OF rebellion
lNeRAIl1voE TREATMENT or
TINE CONFEDERATE VETERAN.

our beloved land, and patriotism al high, many and eloquent wcrcth the
promises made TO the brave boys who left the pillow, the Workshop the desk,
Citations. They promised that "they and their children should not suffer
for any sacrifice which they wight make in defense OF honor, country and
right They said to the soldiers, go; and we will see, that If you should be
50 unfortunate AS to Ill a soldiers grave, your wife and children shall not
need for anything. Should you be wounded or otherwise disabled We shall
see that in your latter years all the comforts are furnished you"
In those days the people were excited and patriotism wasthe ruling smr-
1t. The south fought agreat fight. Her soldiers made a record for vaor and
courage which challenges the admiration OF the world, and which will ever
be cherished by their progeny as a priceless heritage. Indeed, it will always
be regarded IS one Of the gorics OF the nation. But how about those prom.
ises. Is the south doing It's duty to the old confederate veterans? With a
profound sense OF humiliation W e re compelled to say, no! There are
thousands OF them today who aca absolutely suffering for bread and whose
impecuntous kinsman or friend. 1t is an everlasting shame In The state
I0f Mississippi some OF them are paid the miserable pitance Of $l7 or BIS
per year Great God. What would have become Of him who had dared to
interrupt the fiery elo4uence OF some redhot sccessionist in 1861 and sug.
gested to him that such would be the treatment of these men whom he
urged to 90 to the front, after they had made the gallant fight which they
have? Why he would have been denounced as a base migrate for harboring
such y thought, ors shot as q traitor for suggesting that the southern people
could be capable Of such pusinanimous insrathude. But there is no doubt
but that he would have been telling the thing as it is today. Seventeen
dollars apiece to the heroes who followed Lee, Jackson, Joe johnson, Forest
Humphreys, WalhaI, George and other great leaders into places so
trying and suffered such deprivation and made such sacrifices
as will make the stories Of ancient vaor on the field Of battle read
like prosey narratives Seventeen dollars a year. Many are too old to work,
with no one to look to for support. all friends and associates of early life
having passed over the river, he finds himself alone, almost fncndlcss- a
stranger at his old home.
These men did not enter the confederate service with any hope of reward,
save the approval Of their own consccnccs They fought for the south be-
cause it WAS right with them it was principle, not pef. SO much the
greater the debt upon the present generation. The treatment which the
dear old veteran is receiving at the hands of MNsippans sa serious rchec-
ton upon the manhood, the patriotism, the gratitude of every citizen lin the
state. 1t should bring the blush of shame to every cheek-it is discredita.
bic. We hope the legislature may be brought to view the matter as we do
let the State either give them enough to do them some good enable them
TO spend the few years yet remaining to them in comfort, or give them
nothing. Don't, for Gods sake. insult them with the pittancc which is now
given them. The state is able to do right by these old men. She owes it to
them, II left to us we would give at least one hundred dollars each per
year, even II we had to reduce official salaries and double the tax. To con-
tinue the present policy lisa piece of ingratitudc bordering on to crime.