The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-22

No glory Shines with brighter gleam,
The name of Patriot stands alone.
1t is matter fer your consideration, to
imsre>s upon the people of Nc1dh caro-
lima that we have simply begun the WORK
of caring for the disabled veterans, who
have made the name and fame OF thelf
State resplendent for all time.
Let these facts be clearly made known
and repeated until their fun force IS
felt. | need not make an argument TO
prove what you know TO be true; GER
tainly not in this presence. applause
1ttIE STATES SACRED PROMISE.
THAT North Carolina. by Legislative ac-
ton. commanded her arms-bearing pop
ulation. to leave their productive pursuits
of whatever kind and rally for the mill
tary defense of the country, and the ful-
fillment of her obligations when she en-
tered the Southern CoqlEederacy.
That. not as a bride for the perform
ance to duty of the Ssatc of which they
were citizens but as Il mark of appre-
cation. for the sacrifice of homie and for
tune. the risk of life, and probabilities
of wounds disease, pr'iyaticnS, or cap
tivity. the State promised the care and
support of the disabled. and those DEEPEN
dent upon them.
That, such was the Obedience of the
citizens of her sovereignty and their faith
f1Ilness to duty i'll camp and in battle,
her quota of the entire Confederate Ar
my was not less than one-ffth and that
this State sent more men, and suffered
more loss in killed and wounded. by
great number, chat amy other of the
South.
That the loss by disease in camp was
likewise much greater than that of any
other. and included as many men III
military age. as the entire average pop
u1ation OF Il county men, women and
children. and greater than that at that
period.
That the devotion that cost so many
lives through disease and sickness, nee
esSariy implies Il very large number,
saved from immediate death. bur left
with shattered constitutions. intirmaties
of various kinds, reopening wounds, and
chronic affections. which in advanced
life after almost forty years since the
beginning o. that struggle, and about
thirty five years since its close. must be
daily increasing the number OF those who
are incapable of earning livelihood.
certainly by manual labor.
That the qualify of the duty perform
cd has won the admiration OF mankind.
and the grateful response by the State
should be in some measure sls generous
anil even self-sacriteing in return. (AP-
piause)
That the action of the State While
honorable TO those who have prompted
and maintained it. falls very far short
of the barest necessity. and the appro
ITiations which, to be proportional to the
need. should I've far greater than those of
any other Southern States, are not only
pruportionately less, but actually far less
than in the States of equal size; even
of some of much smaller magnitude, as
has been shown You in the Secretary s
report for the two years lsaSt, from the
official records Of the States.
A DUTY THAT MUST BE MET.
That this duty can be no longer post
poned to a more convenient season, with |
out the reproach of btfter ingratitude.
1t is manifest that after the lapse of a
the expectation of life among |
the survivors of the war for Southern ln- |,
dependence grows rapidly smaller. 1t IS
ITO act soon or 1T will be too
late. The best informed tell MS that |
the maximum number that will need help |
to the reviewed tables of DIS
ability and mortality will be reached in
1901. if not before; after which period |
it must diminish until the few survivors |
have passed away. Twenty years more
will leave but comparative handful.
is North Carolina to treat her splendid |
troops like the members of a tomtine IN
surance company, where only the sllrviy-
ing remnant is to receive the benefit of
the performance Of obligations? Cap |
Dlanse1
Let it be clearly perceived that the
present Soldiers Home has only the ac-
connmodations Of single cottage, in
comparison with the series that should
be erected to meet the needs of the vet |
Grams. The very least that should be
done at once, is the doubling of the pres
ent per capita of average residence III
the Home And, this brings us to the
final fact Of this array laid before you:
That for want of the means of support,
Of veterans are suffering ex-
IRENE pGivations. even after the mlnstra-
tons of the benevolent, and THAT others |
are at this time inmates of County |
Homes, suffering daily humiliation of
spirit. and in not a few cases, bearing |
the deprivation OF the kind of food need |
full to their sick and exhausted CONDITION, |
and the comforts of life once enjoyed, in
the hope that Almighty God will so en- |
tighten the conscience, and stir the heart |
OF the people, that they MAY come at
last to the rest of the Home, before |
they go hence and are no more.
That every proposition thus stated is
literally true, that it lies with the people |
to demand and enforce their Will to pro-
tect these helpless ONES and that it be
comes this Association of Confederate
Veterans ESQ blessed of Providence, per-
haps. as not to require this aid ourselves,
vet seeing the suffering of our brethren), |
to press this duty home upon all public
men. the press, and the people in their
various meetings, in season and out of
season until we put away this cruel re-
rroach: these things | challenge denial
of, from amy source.
/ trust / may be pardoned for dwelling
upon subject, which to my mind adj |
mits no other conclusion than action.
both prompt and liberal. 1t should DE
boldly announced once for all, that the
survivors of the troops of North Carolina |
i'm that struggle mean to see Justice done, |
and the obligation of the commonwealth |
fulfilled, at whatever cost. to their poor
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