The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-01-26

forever.
We appropriate thousands of dollars
every year to build monuments to the
great men who have gone before us.
Marble dome, granite pillar, bronze
statue, magnificent in artistic taste, re-
plete with all that human ingenuity can
give of beauty, costly and representing
the generous outlay of money, time and
talent, all of these arise each year in
every corner of this land; but l say
with the deepest conviction that 1t is
a fer nobler use for money to give aid
and comfort to the living; it is better
and a sounder way to honor heroism
and patriotism to succor and cherish
them while they are alive than to me-
morialize them when they are gone.
| Tender care of the living is far better
than monuments TO the dead.
Speech of Hon. John J. Mitchell.
Hon. John j. Mitchell. of Massachu-
sets, said, in part:
| Mr. Speaker: welcome this the first
opportunity which L have had during a
short membership in this great body to
present some views with reference to
the consideration of the pension bill
now pending before this House. l
would be reluctant at this early stage
of my membership here to participate
in debate did not feel that the nature
of the legislation asked for the most
worthy, and the sentiment of my dis
trict and the great Commonwealth
which | in part represent here is over
whelmingly in favor of this benefcent,
meritorious and needful measure.
Neither do / feel deferred from taking
such a course by the fact that eminent
members of this body are arrayed in
opposition to the legislation. An eX
perience of some years in another leg
isiative body and an examination of the
course pursued by some of the mem
bers of that body convinces me that
frequently, / may say almost invariably,
those who protest and vote against leg
islation for the relief of the old soldier
proclaim in the same breath their adj
miration, their love and devotion to him
and his achievements. They tell about
what a grateful country has done for
him, and point out the benefits that he
is now receiving under its salutary laws,
but that this specific measure for his
present and future relief is going too
far and should not be enacted into law.
have stated that l have found ii to
be true that these same gentlemen,
when past legislation was pending, now
the law of the land. that upon such
occasions they also cried out with equal
righteousness and vigor against that
legislation; in fact. they have been con-
sistent and persistent opponents of
legislation for the relief of the old SOL
diers
On the other hand. have found that
those who have always favored rational,
needful and beneficial legislation for the
Union soldier as age advances upon
them and as learning and experience
enlightens, broadens and widens their
minds that a fuller and a deeper sig
nificance is attached to the services
rendered by these brave soldiers now
ravaged by disease, decrepit and help
less, and in many instances feebly tot
tering to .honored graves; and those
who have always favored legislation for
this now fast disappearing army, look
back with genuine satisfaction upon the
action which they took in legislative
halls in their earlier days and find an
added pleasure and a keener JOY in
working and voting for new and nee
essary legislation.
ANY member of this body, who daily
has submitted to him case after case,
from the veterans of the civil war, urg-
ing the enactment of special pension
bills, granting necessary and needful
increases-and ] am reliably informed
that a flood of such requests are con-
stantly pouring in upon the members of
this body and hundreds of measures of
this character are being passed-has
not far to look for substantial grounds
for the insistent need and urgent nee
essity of this legislation.
1t will be a boon and blessing to
thousands in this great land; IL will en-
velope the declining days of the veteran
soldiers with happiness; it will bring
comfort and relief to those whom the
people of the Nation has enshri,:ed in
their hearts; il will show the gratitude
and greatness of this country; ii will
be an incentive and inspiration to the
development of a patriotic spirit in the
minds of all the people, and IL will be
tribute to this Congress.
l am glad to have the opportunity of
supporting and voting for this bill
/ come from a State that has delight
ed to honor and to aid her soldiers as
they have brought luster and glory to
her fair fame. | represent a district
that has within its confines Concord
and Lexington The same pride of
country and of State to-day puIsates in
the veins of the Massachusetts citizens
that animated the minds and the hearts
of the citizens in those early days. The
same continuity of patriotism, of loyal
ty, and of devotion which has main
tanned from the beginning, thru all the
crises of the country. was exempliiled
and exhibited again in the days of the
civil war in degree that no State can
surpass, and that few can equal, and
again in 1893, and / am sure that / am
in accord with the sentiments OF OF:
citizens when l vote for this bill.
81
Speech of Hon. Edward l.. Taylor, Jr.
Hon. Edward l.. Taylor, Jr., OF Ohio,
said:
Mr.. Speaker: I fully believe not only
that this bin should pass, but that il
viii pass this House by the vote of a
large majority IFS membership |
make no criticism of those who are OPP