The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-30
FOR CONFEDERATE WIDOWS.
An Appeal For Those Whom the Pension Laws
Do Not Reach.

To the Editor: There is a class OF
Confederate widows which our pension
laws do not reach that all patriotic North
Carolinians would much like to see pro-
vided for. l refer to the widows of Con-
federatc soldiers who died subsequent 10
the war The INDECENT and infrm veteran
may find refuge in the Soldiers Home.
The veterans widow. who is apt to be
more helpless than the veteran himself
would be if alone has no such recourse.
This IS so much at variance with that
consideration and regard for woman upon
which we plume ourselves that 1t ought
TO be remedied
True that the experience of the National
Government in pensioning soldiers widows
should make us wary in framing such
legislation. Young women marry aged
veterans solely to become charge upon
the Government after the death OF their
husbands. A few widows of soldiers of
the Revolutions war whose last gun
was fired one hundred and eighteen years
ago-yet draw pensions Then there are
yet with us a goodly number OF the
widows of 1872; while the Mexican War
veteran himself is yet game for those
with designs on Uncle Sans pocket.
i
be mulcted by widows of the war against
Southern Independence, no man can COM
pute The veterans themselves will hard
ly, all pass the manageable age-which,
in this case seems to end only with life
before 1880. Therefore it is safe to say
that the year 1000 will hardly see the
last of these Federal pensions paid.
But this abuse can be easily prevented
in our case by confirming the pensions to
the widows of veterans whom they
married previous to April 9th, 1865. This
would confine the pensions TO the real
mothers of the Qonfederacy--the women
whose toll ct home enabled the men TO
keep the field-tot that Spartan band from
which Confederate valor drew its inspir-
alton.
Then there are the one-legged veter-
ans Under Governor Worths admins
tration inJ 1856, the Safe furnished artifi-
cial LIMBS to such as could use them.
Now AFTER nurturing our patriotism and
bIa6zoning ii TO the world in high flown
phrase for thirty-four years we hardly
do as much for him. For a serviceable
| artificial limb costs from SIS to $780, be-
sides the expense in going to have it
fitted, and lasts only four or five years.
| The one legged veteran, according to the
present pension apportionment, | believe
hardly gets enough TO keep himself In
| legs to walk on. The State should see
/! that every INDECENT man who lost
| limb in the war and who is able to wear
an artificial limb. is duly provided with
| It. This should be independent of pen
| sions.
The cry of an empty treasury is no ex-
cuse for Sinking duties as sacred as
these If the treasury is poor the State
| is rich Never before has she been as
| prosperous, as able to meet her Just OBJ
| legations Moderate and equal taxes strict
| ly collected will more than meet them
all.
Need in her many forms will always
be with us; the Confederate widow and
the Confederate veteran, but for little
while LONGER. Let us not withhold the
pittance that would alleviate the burden
of age and poverty, till it is too late. Let
not North Carolina forswear herself for
getting the solemn VOWS to her sons, aye
and to her daughters, when she babe the
sword be drawn in 81.
What better way can there be OF signi-
flying the final overthrow of the last yes
tiges of that thralldom to which the war
unclaimed us than by extending adequate
aid TO those who stood so valiantly to
avert that thralldom. The future OF the
State is now safe in the hands OF her sons
Fortune favors her in all material things
She must be no nggard in dealing with
the representative of an era from which
all future generations must borrow honor
and inspiration. 0. w. BLACkNALL.
Kittrell. y. G.