Oxford eagle., 1919-02-06
COMPENSATION OF DISCHARGED
SOLDIERS.
Speech of Senator James h. Narda-
man In the United States Senate,
Jan. 13. 1919.

Mr.. Aardaman. MI. fitSintHt,
send to the Secretary's desk a bill
which ! ask to have read and referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
| am going to ask the indulgence of
1.-THE Senate for few minutes TO sub
NIT some observations on the subject
treated in this bill.
The bill Is. 5322) for the relief of
discharged soldiers, was read the first
time BY its title. the second time at
length. and referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs, as follows:
Be it enacted. etc. That there shall
be- paid to each hOnorably discharged
enlisted man and officer of the Army
who served with the American Expedi
tionary Forces abroad. who may have
served not less than so days between
April g. 1917. and January !, 1919, the
total sum of S2l6. in siN equal month
~ payments as a gratuity. and thai
there shall be paid to each honorably
discharged enlisted man and officer of
the Army who served in the United
States. who may have served not less
than 50 days between April 6. 1917.
and January l. 1919. the total sum of
$50. in six equal monthly payments
as a gratuity. the first of such pay
menis to be made at the time of his
discharge. or within 80 days after the
approxa al of this act where such enlist
ed man or officer has been heretofore
discharged. payments to be made un-
der the direction of the Secretary of
War: Provided. That total of not
exceeding S2Ie and $50 respectively.
shall be paid TO any discharged SOL
der. irrespective Of the number of
times discharged.
Mr. Nardaman Mr.. President. |
have often said that the only light
which We have TO guide our uncertain
footsteps through the darkness Of the
future shines out from the experiences
and trials Of the past; but prese 1t
conditions are 30 unlike and dissirnilzl
from conditions that ever existed be
fore 70 the worlds history that | am
lunZillingly driven TO the conclusion
that What has happened in the immedi-
ate past furnishes no reliable guide or
suggestion as TO what may happen in
lthe immediate future The world is
mad. crazed with a blood lust and
c'eed for gain. kind Of Caesaeran
mania seems 10 have taken possession
of the brains Of some men ambitious
for world power. and taking il all in
all. the moral viewpoint seems 10 have
changed and national and inteInationa
sense OF justice altogether distorted
. Thee i much truth in the sugges
tion made by a writer. whose name
cannot now recall. that "Nineteentl
I century civilization has broken down
There is a collapse Of human mora
, energy. a revival Of the primitiv
barbara instincts and the fierce en-
9 deavor to have ones little private wi
!. by force = Through all this seeth
@ ing chaos run evil currents of intrigu
Q after intrigue. monarchial. bolshevist
4 financial, imperialstic, pa-ticularisti'
r clerical. atheist. Up through the Eu
@ ropean chaos is surely creeping III
o menace not of socialism, but of Bo
: shevism. which is the revengefl
a shadow of reckless and modern ma
> terialism."
% Having sown to the wind. the wori
ID Is now reaping the horrible harvest (
the whirlwind. The people of Russi
le after generations of oppression, pr
,e famed and disinherited," are no
OF drunken with their suddenly aequir'
ut freedom and independence. The i
- norance which is the rich few fore
d. upon the unfortunate many. taint'
We with the spirit of hatred and revene
1t. unbridled and unrestrained. is now e
at emplifying the biblical injunctic
ng "Whatsoever We sow. that shall
he also reap"
let The peasants of Russia for gener
it, tions have borne the weight of tax
ed tion. toiled without ceasing, and
aid silent suffering leaned upon the h
and gav"1 upon the ground, the emp
of neas Of ages in their faces and on ths
-ou back the burden of the world. T
; a mastrrr. lords. and rulers Of tho
lands are now called upon TO reck
SIX With these men. to answer the sbru
my question in the hour when whirlwin
Die. of rebellion shake the world"
my The cruel grasping greed and I
ask CONSCIOUSNESS reign Of the rich a
out responsible for the crimes of the vi,
not Gus ignorant Bolshevists. whose mi
ny taks excite emotions of commiserati
are in my breast rather than feelings
hat hate. Whatever exceSses they m;
NOT hnua -