The National tribune., 1897-01-28


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Will you
permit me to say few words in regard
to Per Diem Pension-not to ventilate my
views, but to get an expression from comrades
along the line.
Everyone who served his country faithfully
and honorably, and endured all the hardships
and privations that such service required,
will say the Per Diem principle is correct,
logical, and right
Some contend that because the Revolution
ary soldiers the survivors of the War of 1912,
and the Mexican Veterans were given stated
amount ($8 per monthly, that that established
precedent that we should follow. don't
think SO. Because our grand fathers did wrong
is no excuse why we should do SO too. The
heroes who served from Lexington through
Valley Forge to Yorktown should have re-
ceiyed more than he who enlisted 80 days
before the surrender of Corvallis Surely
he who fought at Lundy's Lane and New
Orleans did more for his country than he who
only served IA days and never saw battle
Then, the Mexican Veterans. We know
nearly every one knows-that thousands of
them did not get to Mexico until after the
war was over. Were they entitled to as
much as those who fought at Palo Alto and
Buena Vista; fought through Cerro Gardo to
the city of Mexico? No, dear comrades, they
were not, nor are those who served only 80
DAYS in our late war entitled to as much as
the veteran who served three years or more
fought many battles, endured many hardships
on the march through snow and rain, on
picket and in prison-pen 1t was he who gave
the best days of his life to his country. 1t is
he who deserves moro than the substitute and
the bounty-jumper.
AS to the cost, it will not cost any more
than lump sum of So a month for the
number who served two years or more is not
much larger than those who served shorter
time.
To illustrate my argument will give you
the history Of two comrades OF about the same
age Peter Altgeld, 165th Ohio; mustered
into the service at Fort Dennison. o., May
20, 1864 ordered to J0hnson's Island, O., to
guard rebel prisoners June % ordered to
Kentucky remained there until August,
1864; returned North; sent to Maryland; mus
tered out at Fort DennisOn, O., Aug. 81, 1864;
served 81 days. Amount of pension under the
precedent ide9 49, per month amount of
pension earned, 81 cents Oliver Opdyke,
18th Mo-; mustered into the service July rs,
1861 was engaged in the battles of Fredric-
town, Mo-, New Madrid, Island No. 10, Mount
Pleasant, Mo-, Pennington, Miss, Siege of
Corinth, Iuka, Miss, Battle of Corinth, jack
son, Miss, assault on Vicksburg (wounded
and knocked senseless bya hand-grenade),
Mechanicsvillea Miss, Siege Of Vicksburg
Hurricane Creek fupelo, Miss. (sunstroke),
Nashville, Tenn, Spanish Fort, Ala. Mus
tered out JulyaO, 1856. Length Of service,
1861 days. Pension under the precedent
idea So monthSssame as Altgeld. Pension
earned, 81 g. 31fper month.
Some may SLY Gomrade Opdyke is entitled
to pension under the general law. But he
can't get it, for he has no hospital record.
He has had claim pending for gunshot
wound incurred at the assault on Vicksburg
May %, '63. That claim has been pending ever
since August, 1885,, -over IA years, and no
prospect of itever being allowed. Allie gets
is So per month under act of June 81, 1890.
l may be prejudiced, and can't see why the
Altgelds should be on the same footing as the
Opdykes, and if am wrong wish the
comrades would set me right.-F. C. GLASS
MAN, Co. F, 18th Mo-, Paso Robes, CAL