Year: 1879

Equalization of Bounties in a Political Platform



Among the resolutions adopted by the State Con
vention Of the National or Greenback party, held at
ST Paul Mimi, June 10, we find the following


EleventlWe in favor Of the equalization Of the
soldiers bounties


Now, what phase political affairs may assume
within the next twelve months, He alone who know
eth all things can determine There two lead
ing parties in the country, the Republican and Dem
ocratc; but there is an unknown factor in the shape
of the National or Greenback party whose strength
may ere long exhibit itself power TO be dreaded
both by those who pull the wires Of the Republican
and Democratic organizations The men who com
pose this party made up of those who neither
present relief nor future prosperity in the course
pursued by the two old parties and hope for bet
ter things in this fresh organization How far the
soldiers Of the country may see fit to cut aoof from
their former political affiliations and ally themselves
with this new party we know not, but from constant
correspondence with them in all parts of the coun-
try one thing we are sure Of and that is there is
rapidly growing disgust and indignation felt by them
toward their pretended friends Of both parties who
are con stantly delaying the passage of bill they all
demand-the Equalization Bounty Bill Who are
responsible for the failure to pass this bill in the
Senate at its last session 1t had already gone
through the House of Representatives and been re-
ported by General Logan in the Senate The mat
ter has been discussed thoroughly in previous Con-
crosses and the Justice of the debt has never been
denied In FIVE minutes it could have been disposed
of if the will TO pass it had existed Are the Sena-
tors from the States lately in rebellion responsible
for its failure We trow not for it must be said to
their credit as honorable gentlemen that never have
they thrown stumbng-blocks in the way of recog-
nizng the debts due Union soldiers But for them
that most scandalous and disgraceful of all bills
ever introduced in Congress- the Sixty Surgeon
bill, would have passed. and the United States
would have become huge rQbber p.underng from
her manned and broken-down children. Now, the
National or Greenhack party already polls q tre
mendous vote and with the addition of the solid
soldiers vote the election Of 1880 would surely be
thrown into the House of Representatives. the
National and soldiers vote cast woulC
carry Maine Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio
and probably View York and some other States. If
then the resolution referred to should be incorpor


ated in the platform of the atonal Convention o
g the National Greenback party, and the Republi


can and Democratic leaders continue to ignore th


claims of the soldiers by postponng and delaying
the passage oI lHiS I-queIHdlioH Aouity VII, tl


soldiers will ere long break off from their forme
political affiliations. Men governed probably IL
a majority of their actions by the dictates of thei
:. pockets, but in this the soldiers would be in
!. huenced both by policy and principle. ltnow real
!, locks if both the old parties were debauched b.
!, the money power, which has no sympathy with tn


brave, poor soldier Soldiers, we advise you to fol


sake no party, to join no party-but if your forme


professed friends desert you and refuse to acknow
g edge your rights, you free intelligent citizens


and will decide within yourselves what should b
e, your action If we were to intimate anything, W
e. would say, give the old parties one more chance
IS Congress this winter