The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-08-24
CONCERNING PENSIONS.

The pension system is looked at
from many standpoints, one of which,
and we think rather remarkable
one, being taken by Mr.. Aldrich,
whose communication appears in
this issue.
AS we SAID in the editorial that
suggested M. Aldrich's reply, we
believe in the pension system, but in
one that takes care of those only who
from wounds or sickness are pre-
vented from earning living. Mr..
Aldrieh's position is cold, strict
business. Let us see how it would
work. He thinks that the pension is
simply the difference between the
wages paid by the government to
the soldier and the wages of the
country. He lays aside all elements
of patriotism in the calculation, and
loses sight of the fact that each gen.
Grafton must protect its liberties and
its rights for itself and for its poster
ity. Race preservation is as strong
a law of nature as self preservation.
Now in the late war the questions
involved had to be settled; each
side thought it was right, and force
had to decide. In the northern
army from first to last there were in
round numbers 100000 men en-
listed. As many of these were re-
-enlistments, the total number of men
enlisted was perhaps not to exceed
100000. OF these about 100000
were killed or died, leaving, in round
numbers, 100000. The pension
list now contains the names of about
100000 soldiers and 25O,00O wild
'ows. These figures are only from
memory, but the grand total is cor
rect.) Now, taking 100000 men as
the total enlisted, and counting them
all at full three years term of enlist
ment, and il would equal the EN-,
ployment of one man for 57,6OO,OOO
months. This at $40 per month
would amount to $2,3O4,O0O,
Now take from this the payment of
$l3 per month-though part of it
was $16-and we have as the total
sum due the army, hired and paid on
strictly business basis and at the
end of the war the government owed
the soldiers 81, 100000. Up to
date the government has paid, in
round numbers, O0,OOO,OOO in
pensions, or the full sum at $40 per
month, with three per cent a year
added.
1t may be said that the country
owes a debt of gratitude that no
money can repay. This is true.
That is why 1t should not attempt to
repay 1T all i'll money. We realize
dnone more keenly) the hardships,
the privations, the loss to the coun-
try, the bereavements, the heart
breakirgs; but at the same time we
do not believe in the doctrine that
A'the jingling of the guinea cures the
hurt that honor feels" We do not
believe in measuring heroic deeds,
sacrifices, loss, in the hard half bushel
of dollars and cents. We honor the
old soldier for his patriotism, his
sufferings and his sacrifices. We
would see none of them suffer in
their old age; but we would keep
the pension roll roll of honor. We
would not destroy all patriotism, all
sentiment.
We cannot picture the parting of
husband and wife during the dark
days of the union. when the good
wife, with her arms clasped around
that husbands neck, bade Linn tear
ful farewell for $40 q month. We
cannot draw the mental picture of
the brave father lifting his prattling
babe to his knee and bidding it per
haps an eternal farewell, because he