The San Francisco call., 1898-12-31
Ex-coNFEDERATE PENSIONS.

brought out the hearty feeling of nationality in
 that section and gave needed sense ot the ab- solute security of the Union and the passing ot the lost forever.
 Men who have chosen to rise above the influence of prejudice have long desired that the martial incl dents Of our civil strife should be placed in history as the common heritage of the American people. The soldiers of the South and of the North met and fought and died like men, each for cause and an 1dea Each proved the courage and fighting resources o the race and their strife notified the world that united under one flag and for cause, the men Of the two sections could beard the embatled nations and for ever defend their country against the joint armies of the world.
 It is pleasant now to have all this recognized and to have Northern man able to say it without being taunted as rebel sympathizer, and Southern man without being hounded a traitor to the lost cause
 Out of this agreeable situation that has been ere ated by the skill and address of the President has issued the Quixotic proposition that Confederate vet erans be admitted to the national pension roll on terms of equality with the Union soldiers. Senator Butler of North Carolina, who is not Confederate or any other kind of veteran has introduced bill tC that effect.
 There has long been feeling that the pension list, which now requires nearly our whole income from customs duties to pay it, is on scale too extrava-
 
 power Politicians have gone inventing new classes of pensioners until the immense appropriation for that purpose has become to many other interests.
 Twenty years ago. when General Garfield reported the pension appropriation b which called for thirty eight millions he said to the House that he was aware that 1t would starte the country, but that he able say that in that bill the pension appropriation had reached high water mark and from that point would progressively decline Instead of declining 1t has ad vanced to one hundred and forty-eght millions a year and is still increasing. Up to this time no mem- Der of Congress has dared propose remedy. None has had the courage to attempt restoration of the original idea and purpose of military pension. Originally the system was provided to make good a soldiers sef-supportng capacity to the extent to which it had been impaired by wounds disease suf- ered in his countrys service, and to for depen dent parents widows or minor children deprived of their support by the loss of life capacity caused by military service There is every to believe that t this idea were restored the pension appropriation would decline to less than fifty millions year When Garfield made his pledge to the country that idea still the spirit of our pension laws. But 1t is longer considered.
 It will easily appear, then that instead of admitting Conederates to our pension roll we should purge 1t of thousands who are not in physical need of the bounty.
 Acts of amity and forgiveness praiseworthy. But expressions of that spirit should not be panied by demands for money. It IS unfortunate that Senator Butler has attempted to turn friendly and patriotic situation to such uses
 There is, however, modified proposition that IS deserving of support The nation has many Soldiers Homes to which the decrepit and disabled Confeder- ate veterans may be properly admitted to be cared for.
 The first of these homes founded at George town in the District of Columbia, by the tribute which General Scott levied the City of Mexico when it surrendered to his assault. Northern and Southern soldiers fought there side by side and their common valor won the endowment of that home. The disabled veterans of the Confederacy surely may find there shelter to which they have hereditary right and, if there why not in any other of these homes in which there is ample room and where their presence would be beneficial and proper? l We note with pleasure that the c. A. R. posts are pettoning to have this done There IS not Union veteran who the battlefield would have refused to share the water in his canteen with wounded Con federate with whom he had just been in death dealing conflict To share with him also the protection o these homes is simply extension of that gallant spirit of humanity and it ought to be done.