The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-04-28
AGE PENSIONS.

An age pension, such as was contemplated
By the Service Pension Bill, and such as
is recognized as fitting and honorable by
Order No. 1S, has much more in it than
an allowance represented by the pecuniary
addition to the pensioners income. 1t
means the recognition. in the most formal
that the ppnsoner has served it honoraby
in its day of need Therefore, the pension
roll becomes a roll of honor, and a pen
sion certificate badge of distinction.
There is peculiar and high credit at
tached TO this such as can be derived from
no other source. Birth, learning, wealth,
social standing. all are in the last analysis
secondary to the great esteem given a man
who in war time has gone to the defense
of his country, and dared mortal chances
of his country, and dared mortal dangers
| form of society, and in every age it al
ways will be so-aIways should be so.
Greater virtue and honor there can not
be than this. that n man offers his life
for the benefit of his country and for the
people who dwell in it.
When the Government gives a man a
decided manner possible that when it's
need was great that man renowned every
thing that made life attractive TO him, and
took upon himself the dread duty of en-
| countering and overthrowing its enemies.
accepting to the fullest all the fearful
chances that it involved As the country
| becomes larger and the population in
| creases. the proportion of those who did
| this becomes smaller, and therefore the
defenders becomes greater. which honor
is transmitted to ones children, even to
the third and fourth generations.
| Consequently. it would seem that every
man who has the right to be OH the pen
sion roll should make an effort to have
| his name inscribed there on an enduring
scroll Of honor for himself and for his
sons and daughters.
| His name upon the pension roll is to
the American soldier what being inscribed
upon the roll Of Battle Abbey is to the
| English aristocrat, and similar inscriptions
! so carefully cherished by the nobility OF
Germany. France and other countries. II
il sufficient honor for them that their an
cestors were there enrolled as fighting
men at some great critical period of their
country's history.
1t has been so regarded in this country
ever since its history began, and great is
the qualification of the men and women
to-day who can show an ancestors name
on the pension roll of the Revolution, thu
War of 1872. the great Indian wars, OIL
the war with Mexico. Upon this evidence
fourishing societies of descendants hav.
been built up.
|, Men have always taken their small pen
sions, though they may not have needed
them, and Immediately given them ava,
, to others more needy, because, no matter
. what honors and riches they had attained
their highest pride was in the fact tina
| in their youth they had shown themselve
| true, patriotic men.
To-day a pension certificate is some
, thing to be priced as an heirloom to one
, descendants like
, '"rhe musket.
] Grandfather brought home from Concord
busted"
1t is something to go along with one
Grand Army badge, his old canteen, an,
haversack, and the certificate of member
ship in his regimental association.
The National Tribune knows that th
great mass of its readers feel just thi
way about pension certificate, and it ha
: matured a plan for helping them in th
particular as it has in many other highl,
} important things in the quarter of cen
fury of its service to them. 1t will under
take to present to the Pension Bureau an,
manage before it, the applications of al