The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-07-25
Thr Nera1d and 81 r!c=1s Z
aPkEMIUM ON LACK OF THRIFT?
The Newberry Herald says:
:. 81. ilfLr., E-''0.''<

The NeWberry deralu Says.
"In the matter of the artificial arm
fund which was intended only for the
manned Confederates who are unable
to purchase the limbs, we notice COM
plant that several who are amply able
to buy artificial limbs have accepted
the small allowance. That is the trou-
bic with the pensions. Only those who
really need the help was the intention
of the law" :.
n our opinion the artificial limbs
should be given to every Confederate
soldier who lost limb. The State
should not offer premium for thrift
lessness, which the Herald seems to IN
dicate.
Viewing the matter from our stand
point, the whole pension law would re-
auire a brave and gallant old soldier to
eat lot of dirt before giving him
pension.
But when it comes to artificial limbs
every unfortunate should fare alike,
whether he has a dime or dollar to
his credit. it.-Abbeville Press and Banner.
According to our cotemporary the
proper course for the State to pursue
would be to give a pension to every
Confederate soldier regardless OF his
circumstances. To this we would sub
scribe if the State were able. But we
are not, and the next best thing we can
do is to give help to those who are IN
need of our help. And when this IS
done there is no desire or intention to
cause any one to ''eat dirt" Neither
is it meant to be premium on thrift
lessness." We are not all blessed with
riches, and some who are not may be
just as industrious and deserving as
those who are in better circumstances.
The poor man made just as good SOL
der in the cause as the rich man, and
sometimes better one. Honest pow
erty is no disgrace. 1t frequently hap
pens that as brave heart beats be-
meath a homespun shirt as beneath fine
linen. In fact true patriotism is more
frequently found in the humble cottage
of the poor than in the mansions of the
rich. The appropriations of this State
to Confederate soldiers were meant to
help those who really needed it rather
than to help those who were able to
help themselves, and in this it was not
intended to say or to intimate that the
more thrifty were not just as true and
as brave as the needy, and no true SOL
der will object to helping his less IA
vored brother who needs his help, and
in doing this he would not for a amoment
say anything to humiliate. 1t no doubt
happens that sometimes pensions are
drawn from the State by those who DO
not really need the help of the State,
but better this than that some brave
Confederate soldier should be forced to
take I'D his abode in the county home,
as has been the case in some OF our
counties. The same rule should apply
to the limb fund that applies to the
pension fund. A people who do not
have a reverence as it were for the
past, and desire to honor and care Tor
those who helped to make the history
can never achieve greatness. AS long
as there is a Confederate soldier VINO
needs the help of the State let it be
given, and no brave man who took part
in that struggle will raise his voice
against helping his needy brother be-
cause he has been more favored and
does not need that help.