The Monte Vista journal., 1898-02-05
ALLEN TALKS.

lhSG Woek IN D0n6II OF C00 OLD SOL
diers while his amendment was un.
der consideration which provided:
That from and sftsr the LIST day of
January, A. d. 1888, all existing pom
sions as well as all pensions hereafter al
lowed shall DO for not less than Ss per
month. and all pensions Of less amount
are hereby raised to % per mouth.
This amendment was met by
technical objections and pushed
aside by the republican majority
without consideration.
We quote from the senator's
speechsas.fpllows:
MANY OF them (old soldiers j
have deserted the Republican par
ty and are not following its ban
ner to-day, and many more will
desert it in the near future. In
all the great Populist State con-
ventions held in Nebraska and in
other Western States, numbering
from seven to eight hundred dele
gates, we found from IT'S to 2l5
old soldiers among them, and they
were not camp followers either.
They were not hundred-dsy men.
They were not men who were rid
ing In ambulances when they
should have been marching. They
wers soldiers who saw service.
Now they are growing old.
Some Of them are perforce recip-
tents of charity. BY force of cir
cumstances they are compelled to
receive it. They are appealing to
Congress by the hundreds and the
thousands for relief, ,lfor a slight
increase Of their pensions; and
when they'r come here and their
cause is presented, some distin-
guished;pstriot, under the pretense
of a hostile rule Of the Senate or
of the House, deprives them of a
hearing. You can noticed or pen
sion the old soldier on the rules of
the Senate.
"The old soldiers might as we'll
recognize the fact that however
great their claims upon this Gov.
ernmeut-and they are Rre.ter b,
odds than the claims of holders ol
Government bonds, for there
would have been no Government
but for them-the Republican par.
ty has no use for them any: furthe,
than to get their votes by unful.
filed professions OF friendship and
promises Of liberal pensions.
"Bu: there will come time, and
it will be before many years. when
the great1unnamed and unknown
masses will take possession Of the
Government in all ~ branche.
through the ballot, by peaceable
and intelligent means, and tier
the soldier will receive justice .,
the hands Of his Government and
this pitiable, petty, psltrv. aud pic.
ayunish way Of trsnsacting bust
ness with him will cease.
"Sir, when the smoke OF battle
hung over the country and the win
dows OF this Capitol were shaker
by the artillery Of the enemy, whet
the life Of the nation hung in th,
balance, many Of the patriots G.,
who are now talking about pen
sios being big enough were absent
from the battlefield. Their plume'
were not waving ON the field o
battle. They were taking D,
chances on their precious lives
No. they wsre by their firesides il
New England or somewhere else
They were conveniently abscn,
from all danger while the men who
fought were at tho front beinf
MANNED and wounled or sustain
ing injury 70 their health by ex
posure. And then after they cam,
home. many found the avenues o
business closed 70 them. Man,
after an absence OF three or fou
years returned TO find their forme
positions occupied by some on
else; they were compelled to NOV
West and become the pioneers Il
= new campaign that 10 to end on
ly with their lives.
"They were given the right 70 g,
West aud take up . piece Of LAM
and build them homes, aud bull,
towns and cities and churches an,
schoolhouseA After they ha,
done oil this, after they had Tough
the battles Of the country and tn
battles OF civilization. thcss natri