The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-02

with moribund Spain over Cuba, is gro
tesquely absurd.
"Now, do not misunderstood me. I
have not the Sigh test feeling OF animosity
toward any man who was a rebel, either
as soldier or as civilian, II he is. now, "A
loyal citizen OF the United States; but !
want the Union veteran preferred, even 10
loyal citizen who is an ex-rebel, and
many ex-rebels are not even loyal. Let
us never cease to RENE mber that rebellion
was treason, and that rebels were traitors,
and that, when the rebellion was put
fdown those who were engaged in il had to
be pardoned to be readmitted to citizen
ship of their country, and acceptance OF
pardon implies aCknoT ledgment OF wrong
-penitence-cont triton. Where is the ac
acknowledgement of wrong, where is the
penitence, when men, at the present day b,
are organized into socie ties fostering the
cause OF their wrong doing and Haunting
the flag OF rebellion, and such effrontery
can be applauded as that of man pin
ming the badge of treason upon the breast
of the Chief Magistrate, and Southern
Congressman can express regret that he
was not Confederate soldier, that is,
that he had not MANNED or killed, or tried
to kill, those who opposed destruction OF
our country. 1t is true that the President
repudiated the badge; but the mans act
was not rebuked by his fellows.
when l go TO secure a Government
confronted with the fact that il is filled
by some rebel, or ! see some man who
never did anything for his country, ap
pointed in place of worthy and com
petent Union soldier. What is the use OF
the statute to the effect that the Union
soldier shall be preferred' AS matter OF
fact, he Is not, and the law may be liz
nored with impunity, since there Is no
penalty attached to its non -obse rvance
In addition TO this, there is the ingenious
clause other things being equal, which
gives opportunity for any evasion desired
The only questions in regard to the mp
pointment of a veteran should be, Is he
it' Can he discharge the dutiesF II
there be any influence, whatever, in this
law, even this faint influence will be en-
| tirely removed. when the rebels are made
our equals.
! rebel that the Union veteran is ignored.
Many of the commanding positions of the
Government are held by civilians, men
who are old enough to have served their
| country in the war, and who did not, and
who, in consequence, have little or no
sympathy with the soldier; indeed. from
the very fact of their course, may have
an aversion for him, so that the soldier
gets insult from them. | may bring the
particulars OF such case to the knOwl
edge OF all the veterans. in addition IT,
the exclusion of the Union veteran, by
the stay M nome, we nave, also, 10 con
slider the snobocracy OF Washington, In
the matter of nepotism, and the holding Of
Office by two or more OF a family, or.
occasionally, by an entire family. have
heard OF case In which, in one house
hold, the salaries exceed that OF the Chief
Justice. And, finally, there is the matter
Of donation Of places, by heads OF; De
partments or Bureaus, TO certain pfOmi
nent men In Congress, probably for their
action desired. venture to say that few
If any, of our veterans are, then, given
these places.
There is only one thing for you to do
not To be reiegated to the shelf and treated
as back number, and that is TO act
unitedly and assert yourselves. Act In n
body at each and every election, and vote
only for him who is pledged to be your
friend Remember that the fundamental
principles Of our Order are Comrade ship
and Unity and that such comradeshir
must be full and clear. The mere fact OF
d man belonging to this Order does not, vi
Itself, alone, constitute him a cOmrade In
the sense that the Order rust stand by
him. The question may still be, DO you
stand by your comrades, or have you
allowed them To be treated with injustice
or indifference. or with INSULT
"rhis Order is now very large and 10
growing rapidly Conside ring the numbe,
VI battle men left, ! predict that, within
two years, We shall number 200, 900, Or
more ard, from the confidence and re
lance which have in my comrades, |
d m satisfied that the Union Veterans
Union will determine the next Presiden
tiaI election" -