The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-04
The Republicans Robbing the Soldiers
and their Families.

llDertles OF a Tree people.
The Republicans Robbing the Soldiers
and their Families.
Little Mr.. HALE of Maine, and many
Republican leaders of more importance
than little Mr.. HALE, are in the habit OF
desoauting largely about election times
upon the alleged beneyolence of the
GRANT party toward the soldiers of the
republic. Now Col. MASH, u Democratic
representative from Pennsylvania was
himself II soldier, aud was twice shot down
at the front, while politicians like little
Mr.. HALE OF Maine, and the greater Mr..
KAssoS of Iowa, were looking up the
spells Of office in the rear. Col. MASH,
therefore, IL any body, has right TO speak
for the soldiers; and in recent speech in
the House he does so in "A way that will
probably open the eyes Of the soldiers
themselves 10 the duplicty of their
Wanted Republican friends.
Col. MASH carefully collates and reviews
the legislation of Republican Congresses
regarding pensions, and shows conclusve-
ly that both the Legislative aud executive
treatment OF our multitude of pensioners
has been little less than continuous
swinde. We had supposed that, in point
of extreme infamy, the robbery Of the
emancipated slaves, by means Of the
Freedmans Bank, would stand forever
singular and unnpproached among the
achievements of tho GRANT party. But
since the perusal of this speech our faith is
shaken. and we are not sure but that the
systematic injustice of Congress toward
the pensioners of the nation. and the arbi-
trary conduct aud shameless corruptious
OF the pension officials, are quite rs bad.
OF the i've or SIX different pension laws
enacted since the beginning of the war,
every one went upon the theory that the
pension was the gift or bounty OF the Gov
eminent, which might be given or taken
away at Will, and not debt due under
solemn contract with the soldier. The Re-
| publican majority in Congress seem 10
| have legislated with II steady view to the
diIninution Of the number of pensioners,
and to the creation of difficulties and bars
IN the way OF the disabled veteran, or his
surviving relatives, seeking the fulhlment
of the public contract with him But lot
us give 1t in the language OF Col. MASH:
"A remarkable fact IN these laws that pension
eTs rsh was Eade TO depend upon The time con uined
IL ne aLlon OF We lam II = novel prnei-
Ing TRANCE That III ehpsrment wa MAZE upon our
ior nes 'tins ruuciua, TO supply he evidencc Dc
named bv tnv Pension once Ihis nardiy posri0
for viii LOT o. prctenqea tat cunlnts, To gct
thrir per nj would delay inili.hhg he 'yid.lre.
srenenI but shcl y, remember har ne osa, we
Law 80 ues ser Jus apeet 10 thosc whose nights are
9TH has been the bane Of the Pension otHcc Tor
many years. Cams allowed to suinber there
from nyr TO ten y, srs and even longer, before bang
hll~Cd
lac gsety snd gro.s lrresuartes, not to Crimes
were suncr IN 10 management, and were tn primer
Iltausts q the evils cAistng IN uf1ce. luNesuga
q Wien hstS !. as is VA. 10 ss gary mo-
ID tie cains hen air adv pending IN tNe Pension OF.
cSmae uSnn June isa hcy s' resched tc easf
hSuT nsSe q Cov{ c qsf ntss e,rGu.t1 nee,
ar orger much e's eompleted Within The nve years
But the Pension Office not only was and
Is immensely in arrears with it's work /;
10 was aud is grossly and generally corrupt
from top TO bottom. The clerks engaged
in it have been employed TO run Republic
can campaigns, while suffering soldiers,
and soldiers widows and orphans, were
plning for the mite the Government owed
them. How many thousands have thus
been oppressed and swindled, and ulti-
mately defeated in the attainment Of their
rights. by this corrupt and cruel neglect OF
department officials.
Two Commissioners of Pensions appeared
before the Committee on Invalid Pensions,
and swore, with no apparent shame, that it
was the constant practice to detach clerks
to serve partisan campaign committees,
and that these clerks never appeared ut the
Pension Office except TO draw their pay.
At this Col. MASH exclaims, with uplifted
hands; THAT 1t should not he considered
improper TO use the money OF the Govern
ment to pay persons for party services, is
an amazing proposition; that the embez-
element should be perpetrated upon the
fund Of our pensioners, Is gross outrage"
Most men, whether citizens or soldiers,
VIII regard this commentary as very mid
indeed.