The National tribune., 1900-09-06
and Comrades:

met with nearly reclpTocai iespohse
from the citizens of the Republic, the
President of the United States, and the
American Congress. One year ago we
came together, representing a restless and
divided membership with grave apprehen-
sions as to the result of the consideration
of a problem of burning and vital interest
to the ex-soIdier and the citizen. We sep
arated, to return to our homes, with at
least the one thought well settled in every
mind, that calm reflection and weil-con-
sidered action tend to the promotion of
peace and harmony within our own ranks,
and are potent factors IN winning Tor the
veterans of the civil war and their de
pendent ones a reawakened interest in the
complete fulfllment of the voluntary and
patriotic pledges of the sixties. An old
maxim runs, "A well beaten path is a
safe one" The story of pension effort OF
the last u months is only an added chap
ter to volume to US soon to be forever
closed. On its pages is recorded the en-.
during growth of a Nations gratitude to
the defenders of the Republic in the days
of greatest peril Throughout the annals
of practical interest in the men who, on
land and on sea, fought the battles OF
their country, runs the distinct, earnest
thought, of the complete and ultimate full
fillment of the solemn obligations devoiv,
ing upon the Government. Here and
there are glimpSeS of severe, rigid, ob-
structive rules swept away by the enact
ment of statutes designed to make PLAIN
to technical official minds the full purpose
of a generous and grateful people. The
pension laws of the United States were not
constructed on the line of algebraic equa-
tions The known services of the soldier
and sailor of 1S61-1S65 have not, up to
this time, entered into the problem under
the general laws. Earnest efforts, 1t Is
true, have been made to secure money re-
ward for definite service, thus far with
out avail, except in comparatively small
number of instances. The Congress has,
in so-called Exceptional cases" sought to
give generous expression of the Nation s
gratitude under circumstances which
seemed to warrant such action, under the
theory that the Pension Bureau could not
render the full measure of justice. There
is room for grave doubts as 10 the wisdom
of such legislative enactments. The ar
gument is freely advanced that II the duly
organized administrative department OF
the Government charged with the execu-
ton of the pension laws cannot be IN
duced to apply the rules of equity in the
adjudication of a given case, then the
influence of Federal officials high in au,
thority must be invoked and unusual
methods be resorted to in order that wor-
thy men and women who cannot comply
with regulations" harsh, exactinG and
MANY mag Nc'
suffer for the plainest necessaries of life. i;
Is NOT cREDITABLE.
To either the Government or the claim
ant, that the performance of a contract
only becomes possible after the passage of
statute framed to ht a particular case.
Especial legislation" is viewed with ex-
treme disfavor by the courts and people
alike. A republic is best governed under
code of laws which apply to the whole
people, the plain people, who found their
greatest exemplar in the Commander IN
Chief under whom we served in the days
when we wore the blue. The Grand Army
has nor IN the past, nor does it now, seck
al exact adjustment Of obligations in
CURED for service rendered. Patriotism
grows with us, in the shortening span of
life. We are proud of loyal service at the
lxont. and we glory in the unmatched
greatness of our Republic among the Ma
dons of the world. With modest pride we
venture to suggest that by our service
both in the time of war and the years
Of peace following, the unfolding and rx-
panding growth of this country became the
natural sequences of upholdins the right.
We ask now only the fair treatment of
our comrades and their dependent ones
and recognize with unspeakable apprecia-
ton the generally just attitude of the law
makers of the several States and the Ma
ton. The comrades of the Grand Army
may, dS d htll-NOH liSul, tOnlihut " ic-
mind the people of duty well performed
in the days of their service in the Deld,
before they respond to the last roll call,
and they may well insist that a. least
some part of that they so freely gave
to the common veal shall be returned to
them in the time of impaired yigor and
waning strength. The Congress has uni
formly recognized this paramount obliga-
tion. If injustice appeared, the
FAULT WAS OFTEN FOUND TO LIE IN AD-
suNIsTRATIoN
Rather than legislation, and the American
people are never lnsenslble to the plain
dictates of duty. Nor do they hesitate at
the correction of weldefined wrongs. The
former soldier or sailor who, by right,
wears the little bronze button and who
petulantly counts himself among those
who have no interest in the wondrous
growth of his country since the days he
wore the blue, has ali but surrendered his
birthright. He has failed in his duty to
comrades dead and living, and has ceased
to fairly honor the cause for which they
fought. IL he has only found time to
criticise and denounce; if the inclination TO
help rather than hinder the cause of jus-
tice to the pensioner has died within him:
if only the methods he approves are to
occasionally command his energies, then
this comrade has need to examine himself.
Once we commanded the approval of our
cOnSclenceS ana the favor or the people,
because of a united purpose. Under these
conditions, the mightiest rebellion in his
tory was conquered and in those days the
awful standard of heroic endurance was
established. To this unmatched standard
all the world now turns as the highest evi-
dence of what soldiers and sailors who
love God. country and home will offer as
their full measure of devotion to the right
Then, as now, the one inquiry was as to
the burden to be borne. The soldier and
sailor of the sixties, with fidelity never
approached on this earth, patiently, un
complainingly and heroically accepted the
fate of war, whether it led to the 'higt
tide of rebellion" at Gettysburg or the
dreaded stockade at Andersonvile. TheI
he was an integral part of a great hu
man machine. Within his own heart anG
body were the elements of true manhood
He wore the uniform of his Government
and had registered on high an oath to per
form his whole duty. He has not been
absolved from that oath, and he still
should esteem it a high privilege to veal
The blue. In the old days the guns of the
relieved pickets were sometimes discharged
on the line before returning 10 camp. II
was not then deemed necessary by our
commanders TO rush the whole army to
the front because of these sputtering fusi
ladies'. If the pickets now empty theiI
rides occasionally, need the custom Of the