The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1901-01-01
FOR CONFEDERATE WIDOWS.
An Appeal For Those Whom the Pension Laws
Do Not Reach.

To the Editor: There IS q class of
Confederate widows which our pension
laws do not reach that all patriotic North
CGrolinians would much like to see pro-
vided for. ] refer TO the widows of Con-
federatc solliers who died subsequent 10
the war. The INDECENT and inirm 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 II ought
to be reTnedied
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 a charge upon
the Government after the death OF their
husbands. A few widows of soldiers Of
the ReVOlution-a war whose last gun
was fired one hundred and eighteen years
ago-yet draw pensions. Then there are
yet with Us goodly number of the
widows Of 1872; while the Mexican War
veteran himself is yet game for those
with designs on Uncle Sans pocket
When the Federal Treasury will cease to
be mulcted by widows of the war against
Southern independence, no man can com
Tute The veterans themselves will hard
ly all pass the marriageable age-which,
in this case seems to end only with life
efOre 1880 Therefore it is safe to say
that the year COCO will hardly see the
last of these Federal pensions paid.
But this abuse can be easily prevented
in our case by combining the pensions &c
the widows of veterans whom they
tod rriJQ &c
would confine the pensions to the real
mothers of the Confederacy-the womer
whose toll 1T home ena bled the men to
keep the field-to that Spartan band from
which Confederate valor drew it's inspi1
alton.
Then there are the one-legged yeter-
ans. Under Governor Worth's admins
tration in 1866, the Safe furnished artfi
cial limbs to such could use them
Now after nurturing our patriotism and
blaZonng it to the world in high flown
phrase for thirtv-four years we hardly
do much for him. For a servicea BILE
artificial limb costs from $75 to $50. 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 welk 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 10 meet her Just OBJ
legations. Moderate and equal taxes strict
ly collected will more than meet them
Ell
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
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-
tying the final overthrow Of the last yes
tige5 Of that thralldom to which the war
unclaimed us than by extending adequate
aid to those who stood 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. N. c.