The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-28

soldiers TO vo5e the Republican ticket,
claiming that they are the special friends
If the men who wore the gray.
At our request, Gen. Julian S. Carr,
president of the State Confederate Vet
Grams Association, has written the soi-
lowing article OH the record of the Demo-
cratic party of North Carolina as it re-
lates to the Confederate soldiers. Ills
article. which is full of interest and
value is as follows:
To the Editor: The declarations OF the
Republican party in convention assembled
al Greensboro, i'm behalf of Confederate
veterans. of education. and of the state
charities are coupled with denunciations
Of extravaganza by the Democratic party
in the State government.
Yet the increased appropriations hy
the Democrats are confined TO these very
objects, except such as were necessary
10 meet the debts of the disagreement
under Fusion rule. The natural demands
caused by increase of population ana de-
velopment along lines of modern progress
is amply met by increase of revenue ana
capital and earning power both steadily
advancing
The claim to pose as the special friends
of the gallant veterans OF the war be-
tween the States becomes absurd Wheh
the facts of our State action toward
Confederates are examined. In cohhec-
ton with this subject, as the writer mas
been intimately associated with the Varl-
Gus efforts for the honor and comfort
of the survivors of the lost cause, Tor
many years, it is but simple justice TO
declare that to the Democratic party. the
CID heroes of the war owe the recognition
of their just claims upon the State.
For a number of years after the close
of the great struggle for the rights OF the
South, and especially after the spollaton
of our funds and credit by the Republican
nisrule under reconstruction, great pow
erty prevailed, and much privation. me
state government and institutions, school
system, charities and all other interests
had TO recover from the paralysis after
the excuses of the dark day of the rule OF
the ignorant and the venal.
1t was by slow degrees that North
Carolina reached the condition that would
Justify liberal expenditures for many OBJ
Icets that were dear to her people. And
the proud independence that was birth
right of the Tar Heel prevented him from
appea ling for help, even though suffering
from wounds and disabled by disease.
But IS years went on, his necessities in
creased with advancing infirmity. and his
friends asked of the Democratic Legis-
Iature of 1885, that pension law should
be enacted On March 18th, 1885, the first
bill for pensions for veterans of the Civil
War passed into law, and it was thought
sufficient to appropriate $4,000.
But the need for larger funds and
systematic law resulted in the Act of
1889. which provided a tax of three cents
on the hundred dollars worth of prop
erty and instructed the Auditor to pro-
vide suitable records, and fixed the rates
at $4,000 for total disability, $1,000 for
loss of leg above the knee. or arm above
elbow. $4,000 for the same below knee or
elbow and $500 to widows and to veter-
ans with less disability than above. But
it was provided that no one should re-
ceive a pension, who owned $50000 worth
of property.
This was the work of a General Assem-
bly, OF Democrats.
Under this law. the pension fund in
creased with the tax returns until as high
as $120.000.00 or whereabouts was paid out
for pensions per annum.
the taxable values, being considerably
reduced with the shrinkage from which
the country suffered in the currency trou.
blcs ut the very period when the hare
times brought the Fusion element into
control for few years, once more, II
North Carolina.
1t was now thirty years since the enc
of the war. The brave old soldiers were
no longer able to plough as they had beer
many had reopened wounds-others hat
lost by death or removal the friends VINE
had been their staunch help and sup
port.
Steadily the numbers appealing for alt
increased, and the mistake was MADE o
granting special pensions by Legislative
act to persons whose influence was sur
ficient 20 secure the same, but the pay
ment coming from the general pension
fund. all the rest suffered the diminu
ton. And the hardship was that tn
regular. pensioner had been duly examined
by the pension board of his own county
the rejected applicant being usually th'
man seeking special act for his benefit
This urgent need was presented to thu
Legislature by committees from the Con
federate Veterans Association of Nortl
Carolina, of which the writer has th'
honor to be president, and in response
the best and most liberal pension Law
ever enacted was passed by the Legisla
ture OF 1901.
Under its provisions. the totally blind
or those with the loss of both hands o
feet. are to receive $4,000. and othe
classes are established, according to de
gree of disability, at s72. $50, $4S an
$50. respectively. And for the paymen
of the same. the tax is made four cent
on the 800, and in case the amount col
lected fails to pay the pensions awarded
a sum from the treasury is appropriate
sufficient to reach 100000.
This is nearly seven times the origina
amount in 1885, to meet the sorely in
creased burdens of sixteen years NOR
upon the bending forms and totterin
limbs of the old soldier of the Army c
Northern Virginia.
And this was done. cheerfully an
proudly. by the great Democratic Legis
lature Of 1901.
Moreover they nobly set aside all per
sonal schemes and favoritism, by abolish
ing all the pensions under special legls
lative act, and requiring all to be treat
ed alike. upon examination by their ow