Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-18
RADICAL SHAMS.

The Chicago Times denounces the
efforts made by certain Radical politicians
to get up reputation for economy under
the pretence of reducing the army, as q
villainous sham. The act with reference
to retired officers is that 'Fno retired officer
of the army shall hereafter be assigned to
duty of any kind, or be entitled to receive
more than the pay and allowances provid-
ed by law for retired officers of his grade;
and all such assignments heretofore made
shall terminate within thirty days from
the passage of this act" The Times de-
clares that many of these retired officers
have been able to exc out their scanty
allowance by acting as professors in col
leges, and in doing other light work.
These men are now summarily
kicked out of their positions and re-
duced to starvation wages-and by
whoml By the '1oyar' souls of Con
gres, who can never do too much for the
negro; who permit the disabled veterans
of the rank and file to subsist by grinding
hand-organs; and who hold economy in
pence and lavishness in pounds to be such
service as the country demands and as
their oaths and consciences direct This
frand upon the men who remain to the
country from the war of 1912, the Semi
mole campaigns, and the bloody conflict
with Mexico, must be made to feel the
effects Of this shameless Radical pretext
Of economy. The enormous subsidies to
fictitious railways are not disturbed; the
vast and useless expenditures involved in
the present method of collecting the reye-
nue. are not done away with; the truths
uttered by Dawes are met with de-
NAL, or passed by with Indifference;
bondholders are paid their pound
of flesh; everywhere in legislation
layishness runs rot; and the only
thing which Congress does is to kick a
few daughters and widows of soldiers
from some of the clerical departments,
discharge few mechanics from the navy
yards in the middle of winter, and cut
down the pittances of the veterans who,
from wounds or age, have been retired
from active service. To keep up the
millions and to keep down the pennies is
what the loyal Congress is doing, while
the Radical press and orators jubilantly
announce that the work of economy, re-
form, and retrenchment is in full and
satisfactory progress. Logan's bill is
another economical humbug. It's advo-
Gates say that there are some 600 officers
who are under pay, and who are detached
from the army. Here they stop and
leave the impression that these 600 officers
are doing nothing, and that to cut them off
will be master-stroke in saving. They
do not inform the country that of these
600 or more detached officers, all save
about $50 are doing duty in surveys, In
dian departments, military academies,
and in scores of other affairs which they
could as well perform as, or better than,
else. The real motive under
lying Logan's bill is not economy, but
desire to make positions for loyalists who
are out Of Office, and famine-stricken for
want Of government pap. The Radicals
claim to be the soldiers friend. Where
in have they shown itl What acts testify
to their love for the men in blue2 How
many soldiers have been kicked out, since
Grant came in, to make room for loyal
civiliansl