Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-24
FRIDAY, DECEMBER "a. 1920.
The South and Pensions

\ FTER nfty-live years the Federal pension
list OF the War Between the States is
showing an appreciable decrease. During
the next twelve months the Federal gov
eminent will pay out to the Union surviy-
ors of that war S25l612,192, the total
pension list for all wars being SECS, 500, 900
The figures are Sl4,00O,0 600 under the total
for the current year and it may be assumed
that the decrease almost in its entirety has
been brought about by death among the
Civil War soldiers.
The South does not begrudge one cent
the government pays out in pensions To the
soldiers who followed Grant. Without com
planning it has borne it's share Of the flnan-
clal load that the heavy pension list has inn
Poseu upon IL. IL has not whined even when
II knew that the list was loaded with thou
sands OF names that should not have been
there; that pension legislation had been the
source OF untold corruption countless of
millions OF dollars wasted and horde of
pett! politicians kent alive with pensions as
their sole stock in trade No politician
could hope for prcfermcnt without the an
proval of the G. a. r. and the c. A. r. and
its affiliated organizations stood for nen-
sions without limit and all too often with
out reason. All this the South has known
ana borne. the while not only contrihutiro
us taxes 10 the pension list OF the North but
IN It's poverty cndeavoring TO maintain i'm
uecehcE us own soldiers and their widows
VINO. because they tollswed their flag TO de-
feat instead of victonF, were left in want and
distress.
On former occasions The Times Dispatch
has suggested that nothing could be done
that would more firmly and forever cemon,
the Nortn and the South in eternal unity
IMAM Tor the Fedora! government TO admit
the solulers who followed Lee TO the pen
sioh iis'. lhe suggestion has found favor
generally throughout the South. and with
out lowering Of its pride since il pays it's
share OF the pension bills, but il apnarar,ly
mas fallen on barron ears in the North
That suggestion here and now l.
renewed The Republican party is in
undisputed control. Through its Pres
ldent-eIect and many OF its ab,est
leaders II has protested symnathv
Tor The South and desire TO wine
OUT thc last remaining bit Of sectional feel,
ing. They nov have the Opportunity ,o
demonstrate that their professions are from
the heart and not from the lips merely for
pohtIcal effect. The expense would NOT he
nee'!' Inc gray survivors are pitfully
lew soon the last one will be gone from
among us Hut before they have answered
the mai roll cali. ii would be q pr,c.frI
thing If Congress were TO do ,hc,n ,.rI.
justice ana let the world know tina, :,
united country which fought under Per.
shihg at last had placed the fathers who
wore me gray on level with the fathers
VINO wore the blue, and that their sons who
"oic Tue khaKi never would know that n
MASON ana Dixon line ever existed
me South asks no charity. !, wants no,s.
anu "ouiu nave none. 1t asks only justice
20 us veterans justice that can be served
~ ie.u,ni"s TO me south few OF The dol
lars 1t has paid TO sustain The vo,.r,, -.
the North VI