The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-09
VOX POPULI
THE PENSION MATTER
Is AGAIN DISCUSSED

Editor Pensacola Journal.
think 1t was Blackstone who said,
Allegiance and protection are recip-
rocal duties. Allegiance respects mill
tary service not only, but also jury
service, payment of taxes, etc. Ac-
cording to this dictum all forms Of
service entering into the idea of allie
glance, entitle the citizen to the pro-
lection of his ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
protection and protection of property.
But the dictum says nothing about
support of the citizen: only protection.
One Of your correspondents insists
that every loyal Confederate has
right to a pension, irrespective of cir
cumstances, such as disability, need,
etc 1t is not clear to me that he has
made out his point, although I do not
care to discuss 1t at length. 1t Is GER
tainly true that the United States
government has on more occasion than
one granted pensions in such a way
as did not recognize his principle, in
asmuch as 1t Disseminated in favor
of the disabled and the needy. Flor
ida is doing the same in the matter
of pensions to Confederate veterans.
Another consideration: Union vet
Grams get pensions from the federal
government under whose flag they
fought. When, owing to tremendous
! odds against us, our flag was furled
in defeat, the Confederate government
became defunct, and left no assets to
pay pensions. I think of no instance
| in history where an unsuccessful at
tempt to break away from an estab-
| lished government was followed by
payment of pensions to the defeated
| party. The Beers Of South Africa
made a similar attempt and failed. l
have never heard OF any pensions for
! them. AS q veteran myself, / did not
| expect q pension and was agreeably
! surprised when the southern states as
sumed the burden. AS far as my in
vestigation extends, Florida stands
! high in the matter of liberality to vet
Grams. Let 1t be considered that she
! is forced to contribute to pensions Of
! Union soldiers and also that our state
and county taxes are very high.
If 1t be desired to give to veterans
who are not needy a token of appre-
! citation or a badge of honor, let it be
! kept and handed down as an heirloom.
! Such a token is given by the q. D. c.
to all veterans of the Lost Cause. But
on the score of sentiment and SYM
pathy, suffering and need make their
own distinct appeal. / remember that
the rumor. after Gen. Hoods death,
/ that his daughters were in sore need
awole a sympathetic thrill. Not that
! he was more honored than Gen. Lee,
but deprived Of their natural provider.
| they were in need. Is there not a
genuine touch OF nature" in this?
Before I close, I call attention to
Z Il Zoo INF IN
| justice m the distribution of the sum
i which our legislature has provided for
| pensions I can present 1t best by an
! illustration covering a fact within my
| personal knowledge. Our pension act
conditions a pension upon ones coming
to the state prior to 1895. The vet
eran I refer to came a little later,
about 1896. According to the law, al
though he has continuously resided
here about 16 years, he cannot get
pension and never can If he lives to
the age of Methuselah, whereas one
who came in 1894 can get pension
after a much shorter residence. OF
course the remedy is TO name a def
mite period of residences i've years
residence-instead Of a particular date
Of coming. I wrote to our senator In
the last legislature, who replied he
would do what he could. do not
know that any blame Justly attaches
to him. but do know that the matter
was not remedied.
1 I hope the legislature which meets
in Auril will recognize the injustice
and remove It.
The increased expense Will probably
be very little. The veteran to whom
refer enlisted in Alabama when he
was but 10 years of age. He was an
eager Confederate then, and is now a
worthy citizen Of Florida.
r. Q. BAKER.
[ peFuniak Springs. Feb. g.