The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-06-18

The dismissal of union veterans of
the Civil War from the Washington
City Post Once has brought q storm
of criticism on the Wilson admins
tration. Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress have taken up the
Veterans fight and thorough inves-
tigation is promised The Honorable
julius Kahn, Representative from Cal
ifornia. in a recent speech, paid the
following beautiful tribute to the liv-
ing veterans of the Civil War
1T is well to remember the dead,
but let us not forget our duty to the
living. And especially to those living
soldiers and sailors who, in the years
of their youth. were ready to sacrifice
their lives, II need be, upon the altar
of united country. Their number is
diminishing rapidly. Most of them
have lived far beyond mans allotted
period of three score years and ten.
Comparatively few of them have been
able to draw substantial prizes in the
lottery of life. This is especially true
of the rank and file Many of them
were mere boys when they enlisted.
But they had the hearts of men within
their breasts. They were ready to per-
form and often did perform the val
orous deeds of bearded men. Their
age was not deemed an obstacle 10 the
faithful and honest performance of
duty to their country. Their services
were welcomed gladly by great and
Grateful Government. Some of these
after they had grown to mans estate
after they had laid aside the imple-
ments Of war, after they had been hon
orably discharged from the military
service. decided to serve their coun-
try still In its civil service. Just as
they had performed their duty faith
fully and honestly on the tented field,
so they performed their duty faith
fully and honestly in the eecutive de-
partments of this Government.
True, they have grown weary and
old in that service. Is that fault?
Has old age grown to be crime?
Some men clothed with a little brief
authority would make 1t so. But their
actions will be resented as 1t should
be by the citizens of this government.
The proverbial ingratitude of Repub-
lies must not apply to these men. The
compensation they received while in
the very hey-dey of their lives, while
in the fullest vigor of their faculties,
was not princely fortune Many of
them had families to rear. Many of
them have not been able to save much
from their meagre compensation for
the almost inevitable rainy day Some
OF them have become superannuated.
To my mind it is disgrace to our
country that they have been thus
thrust out, at an advanced age. on the
very threshold of the grave, to fight
the battle Of live in competition with
their fellow men. At best, their years
will be few. Even IL they were total
ly incapacitated, which they are not,
it would be fitting recognition of
their past services to continue them in
the public service until they peace
fully close their eyes in death.
"The few dollars that will be saved
from the result of the discharge of
these aged men will be squandered
probably in some less deserving cause.
But how can you assuage to sorrow,
the grief. the pain, that must come to
these old veterans when they are told
that this great American Common
wealth which they helped to save must
throw them adrift in their declining
days in order to make room for young
er men"