The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-05-02
THE pE.VSZOlV LAW
3 Sharp Arraignment Of Laws
and Politicians by an Old
Soldier.
Mr.. Editor:

Soldier.
Mr.. Editor:
Will YOU allow and Old Con-
federate soldier space enough to
express himself in regard to
the manner in which our State
has treated ber Old soldiers who
fought her battles nearly fifty
Years a 20. 1t is there that
every man ought to stand by
his State at all cost for her pro
lection. Watch the man that
did not do his duty and you will
See one WHO has never done
much towards helping to build
up his country; and if South
Carolina is anything to-day it is
through the industry and pro-
lection of her old Confederate
soldiers and their generation,
for after the war was over we
had reconstruction days, which
makes our blood warm now to
even think Of them. But we
pulled through, thank God, and
there are a few Of the old boys
alive yet. but their steps are
feeble and they have to so slow.
They have made q record that
any state ought to be proud OF
in time Of war and in time Of
peace. With all the disasters Of
war, reconstruction and depre-
dations, we can justly claim one
of if not the wealthiest state
thai was in the Confederacy.
Is this not so now! With all
the wealth that is bestowed
upon our State what is she do
ing for her old soldiers! She is
giving the poor pitiful sum Of
two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, and only a certain class
afa allowed to have any Of this.
Who ever. heard ot a state using
partiality with old soldiers ex
cept South Carolina? Shame on
the man who would pretend to
represent bis State as a states
man and advocate such a law.
This is net ali nor the worst OF
it either for the pension law says
that any man or his wife or
both who make seventy five
dollars gross income will be de.
barred from drawing a pension:
So vol! see it is hard for g man
and his wife 10 live on seventy
five dollars a year. You may
see the nigarly principal Of such
a law, and the worst of it is
that a great many rerlGre
themselves to get what little
they DO get, Shame on such a
law that requires an old soldier
to take such an oath after serv-
ing his country as faithfully as
he did. It is a shame on any
State legislator to pass or advo-
cate such a law. The most Of
the men who did the fighting
have lived cut their allotted
time; the Lord gave them three
score years and ten. They are
getting very feeble and cannot
work much longer, bat 700 proud
to beg and 30 not want to sep
arate from their families and
friends. 50 what will be t G cut
come:
Now, Mr.. Editor. has South
Carolina no statesmen who love
and honors her and her old
soldiers for what they did in
trying to protect her and her
rights! If not, woe be unto her.
Yes we have plenty Of two by
four politicians, we are over
stocked with them. i looks
like no capable man will allow
his name to be used to represent
his State for he cannot afford to
put himself I'D as targret to be
viIiaed by the ro5ton politicians
of South Carolina. 1t was once
in our Stat. that oifiIe sought
the ulan and not man the office.
This is rot 50 now. One man
saws | am going 20 be governor,
again another man says, / viii
leave my lofty position and 80
down into the dirty politics, and
| will show him whether he will
be governor or not. You see
neither Of them have been chos-
en- by the people, but they say
they are going to be governor
whether the people say 50 Or
not.
Now, old comrades, a few,
words to YOU and tnen [ am
done. l!ia anr State of South
Ca o:ia5; not fire the first gun
that was fred in the wal, and
did We not 90 cur duty as South
Carolina troops; from beginning
10 lie close OF the war; Was
not the South Carolina boys as
mich relied upon as any troops
in the Confederate army! Was
not the right and left TANKS and
centcrs considered safe when
the South Carolina boys We're
holding that position! II Hamp
ton. Butler, ary, Anderson.
Jones, hershaw, Aihen.j Jenkins,
" alker and q great many oth-
ers that could be mentioned
couiG answer they would say
yes. And as oju- ranks We're
thinned the younger and older