The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-05-31
Speeches Of
SENATOR BRADLEY
In the Senate of the United
States.
Senator Speaks in Behalf Of
Soldiers Who Foughtto
Preserve Union.

- and April 2:
CThe Senate, as in Commhtce of the
Whole, resumed the consideration of the
bill dI. II. u granting service pensions
10 certain defined veterans Of the CIV
II War and the War with MexicoD
Mr. President: do not desire az this
late hour to unnecessarily take up the
time OF the senate. and speak only In
behalf of the soldiers. If l remember
correctly, however. the soldiers never
complained about the taking up OF their
time by the country in its hour or peril.
No bill can be lyissed here that will
please everybody. For that reason
was deeply Interested in hearing the
members Of the Grand Army of the
Republic before our committee. Rcpre-
sonting. as they do, the only organizatio
Of Union soldiers in this country. i was
very anxious to know their opinion.
They opposed the Sherwood bill because
II was founded alone upon service.
They were in favor OF the age and ser
vice standard proposed In the Burnham
bill. They did not ask for the bill that
carried the most money because II was
estimated that the Sherwood bill would
carry s75,cc,eo. They only asked for
proposition -. which is embraced in the
bill introduced by the Senator from New
Hampshire. They said that with that
for this only as matter OF justice.
and quite agree with the Senator
from New HAMPSHIRE. that they are en-
titled to that Justice.
We hear much said now about living
within our income. We did not talk in
that way when these men We're asked to
carry the flag. There WAS nothing then
said about not being able 10 pay them.
but all sorts OF fair promises We're made
In order to induce hem TO volunteer to
save the Union. do not think we
should talk that way now. They are
and not as IA matter of charity. We owe
them "a debt that We can never Jay. be-
cause they saved the country; and hut
for them we would have no Union or
Constitution bu, for them we would not
enjoy the liberty nor have the wealth
and power that We have to-day.
Mr.. President. ] think that when these
old soldiers come and tell US what they
want and put themselves within the lin
an outrage TO refuse to give II to
them.
II has been a long while since the war.
and some here do not know anything
about II. some who have heard but little
about IT. l saw something of it. ] saw
something OF the blood and the tears
and the sorrow OF th.a period.
heard ahe cries of weeping widows AMI
orphan children. saw the brave boys
ms they marched to the battle field.
under the flag. 10 the music OF the
drum and fife, in all their young man
spon the battle field. saw them
Wrought home, not with their shields.
but uyon them. j heard the olods that
fell upon their collins. ] saw the dark
cloud of woe and anguish that over
hung this country. All, we must not
forget these things. These men are old
now. They have not the step that
they ha then. Their ranks have been
decimated, and they have become ase'l
and feeble. Comparatively few o. them
are left. The large majority have passed
over the river and are now resting
under the shade of the trees.
Mr.. President, shall we fail to do
them justice? Shall we refuse TO give
them what they are willing to take, not
us charity, but as right under the
duty that we owe them for the grand
service that they performed?
voted in the committee against re-
porting the Sherwood measure because l
did not believe IT would pass the Sem
ate. and the Grand Army opposed it be-
cause they wanted an age and service
bill combined ] voted in favor Of re-
porting the Burnham BILL now being
considered. ] am in favor Of II to-
day. i beg and plead with the Senate
to give these men this measure OF JUS
tice. To my friends across the way some
Of whom were gallant soldiers oa the
other side. ! make a special plea. ~
there Is any man who should love the
soldier. 1t is the soldier who met him
upon the battle field and struggled with
him for supremacy. ] appeal TO the ex-
ConfederateS in the Senate TO do what
Is right toward these old. men wins were
foemen worthy OF their steel.
A short time ago in Kentucky bill
was introduced In the Legislature to
ueusion the Confederate soldiers. and