The National tribune., 1903-10-15
THREE IiLLioN DOLLARS FOR 1ENsIoNS.

1
The newspapers are making great t.
do over Commissioners Wares statement
that since its foundation the Government
has paid $4,000, 0o0. 900 for pensions. None
of them stop to consider what immense re-
suits achieved for the Nation are repre-
sented by that sum. It Is not one-hali
what has been paid to the bond holders fol
interest, premium and principal since the
War of the Rebellion, and upon a loan
which was worth intrinsically not over q
billion and a half dollars. The aggregate
value of the loans made by the bond hold
ers during the War of the Rebellion was
not over $500 600, 900. Yet all the pay
, ments that have been made upon them
with the value of the bonds still held, will
aggregate nearly il not quite $4,000, OOO,-
600. Of course, there is no comparison
between what is due the men who in wal
time gave the country life, the strength
of youth. and years of endurance of hard
ship and danger with the mere lending of
money.
But, leaving this comparison aside for
Nation got in return for the money it paid
out for pensions.
According to Col. Ware It paid for pen
sions growing out Of the Revolutionary
War something like $70.O00.0O0, as much
as it will pay nowadays for few ships,
or for the arming of some sea coast ports
with heavy guns. The Secretary of the
Navy wants 500, 900 for the Navy De
artment for the coming year alone, or
nearly 80 per cent. more than the total
amount paid to the men who gained us our
independence and made US Nation. For
seven wears Of hard fighting, patient en-
durance, accomplishing submission to
harshest conditions, while Drawing the
mightiest military power in the world, the
Revolutionary soldiers and their widows
got S7O,00O,O0O, while the Nation gained
by their blood and valor grew up to be one
of the great powers of the earth.
The War of 1912 was necessary to es-
tablish our position among the Nations of
the world. The Revolution had left us
free and independent, 1t II true, but this
were many reasons for those 50 minded
to hope and to expect that the country
would lose its newly-gained Nationality
and merge once more into that of a Brit
ish colony. The War of 1872 dispelled for.
ever all thought of this kind. made us a
| real Nation and assured to US our west,
ern boundaries, particularly those along
the Great Lakes, and most particularly the
Louisiana Purchase, then but newly ac-
quired from France. 1t was in the Brit.
| ish plans to get possession of the Missis-
sippi Valley, but these were frustrated by
the battle of New Orleans. The pension
account for the War Of 1872 foots up S45,-
| 1876, 1921; to this should be added some
SS,OOO.O0O or $1O,OOO,O00 more, which have
been paid since the account was formally
| closed. Therefore, all that the Nation
paid to the men who won the battles OF
Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls, the Thames
and New Orleans, and who manned the
navy which won a wonderful series OF
naval battles and gave the United States
startling prestige on the sea, was only
So, 100000.
Truly the United States has bought
land, glory and commercial advantages
| very cheaply.
An equally good bargain was made will
the Mexican War veterans. The results
of their splendid fighting at Buena Vista
Monterey, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo
Chepultepec and the City of Mexico gave
us the whole of Arizona, New Mexico
California, Nevada, Colorado, and part Of
Kansas. increased the area of the country
fully % per cent. and expanded the Ma
ton from Ocean to Ocean. gave US natura
brought the limitless wealth of California
into the pockets Of our people. For all thi.
the Government has paid up to date bu
S33, 4SS,309.91 in pensions to the Mexican
War veterans and their widows.
For the numberless Indian wars, BY
which the. savages, who once peopied thi,
whole continent, were driven back step b,
step, and the land gained for peaceful set
tiers and civilization, the Nation has ONLY
paid in pensions Sc, 234, 414.55, a wonder
fully cheap price for subduing territor!
5000 miles long and 1900 miles wide ant
inhabited by vigorous, hardy and exces
sively war-like races.
Next comes the War of the Rebellion
The total pension payments up to date ar,
So, S62, 24O, 400.17. This represents the ser
vices of something like 100000 youn;
men who fought for four years the stub
bornest and bloodiest war in history The,
Fought in a war that had in it more san
culinary engagements, greater numbe
Of killed and wounded than the whole O
the Thirty Years War which desolate
Germany. 1t represents more hard fgh,
ing than has been done in all of Europ
since the close Of the Napoleonic Wars, s
years ago. The results Of all this battlin
!, was the consolidation Of the Nation int
its present magnificent proportions, III
. boundless opportunity gained for the full
!, est development Of our manufactures, az
riculture and commerce, and the swift
rise Of the United States to the creates
richest and most powerful country of tn
, earth. For all this wonderful result til
Nation has paid out to the men who wor
out their lives in its service, who wrecke
their young bodies in the hardshps of th
terrific struggle, less than $4,000, 900 ,OG(
This is little over three per cent of til
enormous National wealth which has a,
, crued from their services and sacrifices
| tIa Nnti hoe A. ell