The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-01
Continued on Page TwoO
PENSION REBELS
Suggestion Made by Head OF
Confederate Veterans.
Is Not Sure, However, That
Southerners Would Accept.

Gettysburg July General Ben
| nett H. Young, commander-fn-chtef OF
| the United Confederate veterans, in an
! address today at the Gettysburg re-
ernment pensions for the soldiers still
alive who fought under the stars and
bars.
''It NAV be-" he said, 'that the sug-
gestion lately put into form, to give
Confederate soldiers the same privi-
leges in national soldiers homes as
Federal soldiers may lead to the es-
tablishing of this right, or that peace
in its demand for the obliteration of
all the bitterness of the past, may de-
mand national pensions for surviving
Confederates.
Might Not Accept.
'T do not even suggest, or in the
name of my people, say that it would
be accepted. but this republic is a
great destroyer of the cherished Ideals
way of complete justice. For nearly
so years the people of the south,
without complaint have contributed
millions for the pensions of Federal
soldiers. a nations gratitude has been
meted out through enormous grants to
provide for the Federal soldiers, their
wives and children. No murmur has
ever come from the men of the Con-
federate army at this vast outlay and
there are some who predict that the
hour may arrive IN national me When
the few infirm remaining men who
fOa gft under the Confederate stand
ards with admittedly unsurpassed
courage should have in the evening
time the comforts and conveniences
that their intrepidity merits.
William Mckinley Praised.
'sWilliam Mckinley reached the SUBJ
iimest heights of craftsmanship when
he allowed a little daughter of the
south to pin confederate badge on his
breast, and when gifted as few men
with the power of forecasting political
events, he urged that the graves of the
Confederates who had died in northern
prisons should have at the cost of their
nations treasury stone to tell who
they were. whence they came and
where they died. No greater triumph
of generosity was ever witnessed than
when the United States put markers
over the sepulchres of southern soldiers
and carved upon them those inspiring
words, Confederate soldier and thus
declared to the world that the men
who fought for the life of the con-
federacy should have over their dust
these magic words that touch the ten
derest sentiments of southern heart
and proclaim highest distinction
amongst those who love them because
they died for the southland.
1.-The splendor and Importance Of this
occasion is immeasurably enhanced by
the fact that no explanations are
sought or expected. The men who come
from the south come as confederates.
True in broader sense they are Amer
leans but for this particular occasion
they are distinctly confederates.
The scenes at Gettysburg today are
the completest evidence of the great
ness as well of perpetuity of the
American republic. No man who loves
his country can fail to read in the
circumstances surrounding this cele-
alton, the stimulating and uplifting
power of peoples government.
Confederate Heart Still Loyal.
It's the breadth of thought, action
and speech at this celebration that
makes it so supremely great. If any
southern man who comes here, clad in
the gray uniform SO dear to him and
those of his blood, believed he would be
expected even in thought, to question
the memories connected with the heroic
past, he would go out from these tents
and march quickly away. When the
confederate comes here he comes with
his heart still loyal to the south and
those who made the four years of the
confederate nations life resplendent
with heroism and glory and noble sac
y;fi