Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1884 — A True Friend of the Soldier. [ARTICLE]

A True Friend of the Soldier.

What the Hon. W.J ». Owen Believes should be done for OurCountrys Defenders. ; g The Hon. W. D. Owen has lately addressed the following letter to the Goodland Post, G. A. 8., under date of Sept. 24th, 1884. We commend it ,to the careful attention - of every Soldier and of every true patriot. Gentlemen:

In reply to your letter of enquiry, I have to say: Ido not agree with Jeff Davis when he brands the pensioning of Union Soldiers “Oificial favoritism.” 1 believe in pensioning the Union Soldier. I believe in pensioning him to the limit of embarrassment to the National Exchequer. The Nation can afford to be both just and generous to the men whose valor saved her -life.

I am in favor of the equalization of soldiers’ bounties -and pensions. I assure youT will not introduce a bill to that effect, and, after making a pretentious fight for it, never bring it to a vote in the House. The Soldiers’ widows and children areTfie wards of the Nation, and as such, are deserving of whatever care was extended to the husband and father.

The law, which says that a soldier, applying after a given date, can only draw his pension from the date of Application, ought to be abolished. If he is entitled at all, he is entitled to draw his pension from the date of his discharge. The law which requires the applicant for,,a pension to establish the state of his health at the time of enlistment, is a crime. The government accepted the enlister on ’ the recommendation of her own J ■examining lates all the laws of contracts and of honor in now seekin" to go back of the records. The said requirement must be stiickeu from the pension law. . - - The Soldiers’ homestead act ought to be’amended. It now says the'soldier can have a ftbmestOad by locating theTeoii. Anyone can get a homestead tor a small P' i y- ■ inent ’above this. The “locating clause” should lift stricken out, raid, ■ on proof -of honorable discharge, rrpguthe" service, give the soldier his homestead by a straight-out■ warranty deed. ", j The government has given millions of acres of land to enable railroads--..t0 develope West. 1 will not complain, for the. grant paid well, a wilderness has been turned into an empire of civilization, but we want no more rail road subsidies. A new want, however, and just as patriotic, has sprung up in another direction. Tw’enty years —have passed since the war, the veteran is feeling the hand of time, his hairs are growing grey. In twenty years more the ranks will be wonderfully thinned, veterans will then be like solitary monuments in the land. He saved the land that it might be developed, and preserved the life of the Nation. Let the Nation give him a home, and cheer his declining path with the realization that our people remember the old soldier, and : gratefully shelter his last years with earth’s dearest boon —a home of his own. I am your obedient servant, W. D. Owen

P. S. In regard to two matters not referrd to in the letter of enquiry, to which the above is a reply, I desire to say a word concerning. ——. 1 cannot agree with Grover Cleveland where he says, in the veto message concerning the pensioning of Mexican soldiers in the New York State, “that enough has already been done for them.” I am in favor of pensioning the loyal Mexican soldier. A bill, I believe, was introduced into the last Congress, and failed, providing for special pensions to our soldiers who suffered in the prisons of the South. That measure will-receive my active support. Truly yours

W. D. OWEN.