West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-13
KNGWO0D PRESTON COUNTY JULY E 1905

ana the destruction OF the Union.
From the wrecks OF their fortune.
and the graves OF their dead the peo
pie OF the South unite with the peo
pie OF the North and stretch forth
their hands in thankfulness TO Al,
mighty God that the black curse oI
slavery is forever lifted from ouI
country, the free flag of our fore
fathers waves over us still, our peo-
pie are once more united and that
our armies are become armies OF
peace.
Immortality right were the men
who fought to preserve the flag as
the symbol of a great country. You
have builded a country Of loyalty,
charity and justice. Indeed these
are the principles which you be-
lieve and advocate and against
which the world cannot present q
reasonable or Just objection.
Sometimes we hear it said that
you have made too great demands
upon the munlhcenCe and charity of
the nation. This sentiment is born
of an immature or an unintelligent
thought, for this nation will never
ee able TO compensate the Union
soldier for his contribution to the
government, nor will the world be
able to repay him for his priceless
gift TO the freedom OF humanity.
True the government has paid you
over a billion dollars, but do not
believe that you have yet received
justice for what you have done for
us and the world. | believe that
before the ledger has been closed
there will have been as much dis
bursed to the surviving soldiers as
was expended in suppressing the re-
bellion. But after this is done il
will be no compensation for the in
estimable disappointments, heart
aches, suherings, crushed hopes,
wrecked families and priceless blood
you and your comrades and your
families laid upon the altar of your
country. There was time when
you could have had anything you
wanted. You held in your grasp
more than Caesar or Napoleon -
you held the sword and the purse Of
the nation, both Of which you turned
over to the country with an incom-
parable increase Of power and
wealth. Your unconquered army
which carried the flag from Gettys-
burg to the Gulf, conquered itself
by refusing to seize the property Of
the vanquished when within your
power, although entitled to il under
the rules of war, and by that act
covered yourselves with glory and
brought all the South and humanity
under lasting obligations to you in
your triumph for the brotherhood of
man. The Union soldiers claim on
this government is based on justice.
1t was part OF his service. He
fulfilled his contract and the govern
ment should do no less. The pri-
vate soldiers, and most of you were
privates, were paid SG3 to $40 a
month and were allowed $40 to $50
a year for clothing. Your rations
when you got any were worth $3.50
month. In all an able bodied sol
dier received directly or indirectly
about $500 tor SO months service,
and the government assumed to con
tribute TO his support IN case OF dis.
ability or TO his relatives IN case of
death. But he suffered financial
loss. At home he would have earn
ed at the rate of wages paid, 800 a
year or S2,Ioo for three years, and
thus each soldier who served three
years practically donated to the
cause $1,000. OF the three year
men there were about two and a
quarter million and to offset their
loss there is still due over billion
dollars. This is due them by Just
book keeping. II is an honest debt
and can only be avoided by repudi.
alton which we believe is unworthy
the honor and name of our govern
ment and repulsiye to the integrity
OF all good citizens. Justice will
not be done until all Union soldiers
are placed upon the pension rolls on
account OF service rendered and the
unjust and obnoxious word "invalid"
stricken from their pension papers.
When the stars and bars went
down and the Stars and Stripes went
up at Appomatcx, with the old vet.
eran the war closed. When the old
field marshal, "the silent man Of
destiny" u. S. Grant, said, 'let
them take their horses with them,
they will need them for spring plow-
ing" the men in the ranks said
"amen," and as brothers, tried.
poured the contents Of their hayer.
sacks into the laps OF the men who
had been their enemies on a hum
dred hard fought battle fields, free.
dom was crowned with glory. Their
magnanimity was a healing balm to
the nations wounds. What mighty
things have come 70 pass since that
day. the mightiest being that the
North and South can and do 20 to-
gcther and shake hands over the
grave OF buried rebellion.
You love 20 meet in these annual
reunions 70 recount the incidents Of
the war. IL is a blessed privilege
to you. You love TO attend these
reunions because they warm your
hearts. II is our privilege to enter
tain you this year at Terra Alta.
You like to come here and we like
to have you come. We want 20 see
you enjoy yourselves to the utmost
and We Lnn-r H. ...-..-. -...-.-..-I 1