The National tribune., 1898-04-07
as THEY VIEW IT
Veterans Opinions Of the Pen
sion Question.
These Things Might Have Happened.

r. p. Cormack, S9th N. Y, Delhi, n. Y,
says, among other things: There is
well grounded suspicion that the dettma-
ton of which The old soldiers have a right
to complain comes mainly from the wealth
of the country, whether they be bond
holders or otherwise. If this oe true, nave
this part OF the community reflected as to
what would have been the result in event
OF the failure on the part OF the Union
armies, and the expense which would in
evitabiy have followed? II the people OF
the South had succeeded, rs II not natural
TO suppose that such success would have
resulted in the eStabl Shment OF a ne Oh
custom officials reaching from Maine to
Texas, to be a source OF continual expense
to tax payers? In cons eqitence OF such
success is it too much to suppose that the
South would have demanded that the
North agree by treaty to the rendition OF
slaves fleeing from the owners? Can they
not understand tfat The principle OF Seces-
sion hav ng once been established, great
danger would have ex Sted that the Nation
be still further broken up, until VIC should
have been OF no more account among the
family of Nations ttan was Germany re-
fore the birth Of the Empire. Have they
reflected that the necessity would have
arisen for the ma ntenance of a large
standing army On both sides OF the line,
with its tremendous expense, and that
such conditions would have presented the
ever-rresent danger of war together With
all us DOTIUS!
Not an Easy Lot.
J. NJ. s.. Omaha, Neb., writes: ''The ex-
perience of all the old veterans within my
knowledge has been that of pain, trial. and
broken health, even if they were not
wounded can call to mind at this time
many Sol,'iers who died soon after the
war while mere boys from disease CON
tracted from exposure, and 10 day many OF
those who should be in the prime Of life are
PHI siCai wrecks from the same cause, un-
abe to attend to business, and suffering
for the want of the absolute cessit es of
life and proper medical attendance, Tor
which they are expected to pay, or go with
out, on from Sc to So per month. What
that viii Obtain in the way OF necessities |
leave to you, and appeal to the conscience
Of the Representatives iii Washington 10
solve"
Must Look Out for Their Interests.
p. C, Souie, NJ D., Rossburg, n. Y,
writes: 90 ! most heartily commend your
recent editorial: Politics and Pensions
indeed. pens ons, as well as all other ini-
portant questions, must ever remain pollti-
cal where the franchise rests with tie
people Politics is tie only means omen to
the people to- express their w IL. The sol
der however should rever be tied TO any
particular political party, but should SUP
port such par from tire to time that IS
the most considerate of their lest interests.
The soldiers votes together with those OF
their friends in New York State amounts
to- at least zoo eco. What is true of New
York is proportionately rue of many o her
States. Hence it is safe To say that no
pol teal party can with any safety ignore
this vast power"
Defends the Short-term Men.
Mcclure. O., writes: with regard to the
attack on the 100 days men, they were
pushed into the thckest Of the fight inn
mediately. It often took from 200 to 800
days to prepare the three years regiments
for the field. / reinliSted after my first
service, but never found it in my heart to
attack these men, who as recruits gave
such good account Of themselves when
thrust into the works before Richmond and
Petersburg within 10 days after enlistment
TO serve in the hardest kind OF warfare 80
days out of the hundred.
Miscellaneous.
Eugene f. Curtice, Co. A, 9Th n. H.,
Nashua, n H., writes: The old soldiers
90 not receive al Of the money appro-
pria,ed The employees of the Pension
Office receive a large sum, much is paid
TO the Special Examiners, while good deal
is expended in hunting down cases OF
alleged fraud"
G. w, Go. B, 5th Iowa, Newton, Iowa,
writes q | wish to urge every GAR. Post
to petition Tor IL service PENSION, say, 30 per
month. 10 every hOnorably discharged sol
der and in addition to this a Per Diem
Pension of one cent per month for every
day in the service. A sunstroke received
in the service has disabled me for the past
IL years. / applied for "a pension in 1897,
and at last succeeded in getting S12. |
have heart trouble, but the Department says
that il cannot be traced to army service. |
was in the field over four years"
c. NJ Herman, Lamberton, Mimi,
writes I've need lots OF agitation to bring
the people to an understanding of our
claim Can our enemies point TO an in
stance in the history of the Government
where a more lust means has been taken
to put money into circulation and for the
benefit of all? Not one pensioner in
thousand who does not use his small al
lowance as soon as received to supply his
actual needs
Veteran" MiddIetown, O., writes: 81
say stop ali pensions except those that are
being drawn for wounds, then give the rest
a service pension, and the kickers won't
have any Just cause to kick, as they now
have"