The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-07-02
THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION AND
The VETERANS.
A California C0ngressman's Tribute to the
Veterans of the Civil War.

A California Congressman's Tribute to the
Veterans of the Civil War.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1914. The dis
missal of union veterans of the CivilWar
from the Washington City postoffice has
brought storm of criticism on the Will
son administration. Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress have taken up
the veterans fight and thorough inves-
tigation is promised. The Honorable
Julius Kahn, Representative from Cal.
ifornia, in recent speech, paid the fol-
lowing tribute to the living veterans of
the Civil War:
'lt 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,
if need be, upon the altar Of united
country. Their number is diminishing
rapidly. Most of them have lived far be.
yond 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 es
pecially true of the rank and file. Many
of them were mere boys when they en-
listed. But they had>the hearts of men
within their breasts. They were ready
to perform and often did perform the
valorous deeds of bearded men. Their
age was not deemed an obstacle to 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 implements of
war, after they had been honorably dis
charged from the military service, de-
cided to serve their country still in it's
civil service. Just as they had performed
their duty faithfully and honestly on the
tented field, so they performed their
duty faithfully and honestly in the exec
utive departments 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 little brief authority
would make it so. But their actions will
be resented as it should be by the citi-
zens of this Government. The proverb-
ial ingratitude of Republics must not ap-
ply to these men. The compensation
they received while In the very heyday
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 meager compen-
sation for the almost inevitable rainy
day. Some of them have become super
annuated. 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
battles of ilfe in competition with their
fellow men. At best, their years will
be few. Even if they were totally inca
pacitated, which they are not, it would
be fitting recognition of their past
services to continue them in the public
service until they peacefully close their
eyes in death,
1.-The few dollars that will be saved as
the result of the discharge of these aged
men will be squandered probably in some
less deserving cause. But how can you
assuage the sorrow, the grief, the pain,
that must come to these old veterans
when they are told that this great Amer
lean Commonwealth which they helped
to save must throw them adrift in their
declining days in order to make room for
younger men.