The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-01
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER /. 1911.
A CRYING SHAME.

Upon the heels OF the fact. 10 which The
many of our old Civil War veterans are passing
their las; days in poor houses throughout the
State comes the information that the meagre
pensions OF the old soldiers must be reduced
ten per cent because there is not enough money
In the State treasury to pay the full amount
The situation is enough to make Virginians
hang their heads in shame It is situation
that must find remedy so soon the General
Assembly shall meet.
We have been making rapid advances along
the path OF progress in recent years. Now Of
fees have been created and tn esaIaries Of
present ineumb ents have been increased. Large
appropriations have been made for education.
good roads and other worthy causes. So swiftly
have We followed the path of spending the
States money and great have our appropria-
tions become that it is we'll known fact that
the States income has been exhausted and the
states credit has been strained almost to the
breaking point to meet the expenditures.
But nothing generous has been devised for
the old soldier. the hero OF the those dark years
In the sixties who shouldered his musket ana
left his home to fight for his country's honor
and rights They have been fed on promises
but they have not fattened thereby. They have
been lauded upon a hundred stumps and praised
In many speeches but they have not been able
to negotiate these encomiums in the market
place They needy. many OF them. Some
OF them are hungry and ragged. Some of them
are dying in houses, where the companions 81
their last hours are the paupers OF the COM
munity 1t must not longer be so
We believe in progress We stand shoulder to
shoulder with the who would push Viz
ginia into the foremost of the Nations great
est States But do not believe IN purcnas
Ing progress al the expense OF duty. We would
not strange sentiment and lift commercialism
to the throne We would not build roads over
which we must drive our pauperized Confed-
crate veterans to the poorhouse, We would
not have them die believing that the Viz
ginians of this generation have forgotten their
valor and their patriotism. We would not have
the world stand by and derde us because we
have no care for the men who gave themselves
and their all in our defense.
The average age OF the CobIeueIate veteran
Is over seventy. They will not tarry with us
long A few more years and the thinning ranks
that totter to the cemeteries on Memorial Days
to pay their tributes to the memory OF tceir
comrades In arms will he more in the
faded gray Progress can be halted just bit
n necessary that these men may receive their
Just need and appreciation and gratitude, Re
trenchment can be made at points where re-
trenchment will not hurt that funds may be
; Increased to at least bring comfort to tina old
veteran fdpa few more months The strong
can afford to wait year two longer for his
liberal increase In salary that these feeble old
men may have dollar two foy the
necessities of ife.-The- creation OF new Of
fees be held UP for little while until we
bury the last old soldier with appropriate hon
ers and with the consciousness that we have
oweetened and soothed hts last hours by the
expression OF that. which is the last treasure
and Joy he possesses. bis States appreciation
and esteem.
Let's turn all this talk about the old veteran
into something tangible, something that WIFI
prove our sincerity and minister to his COM
fort Let the next General Assembly have
greater care for the old colder than the pre-
eeedng ones.
AMERICAN CARDINALS