Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-27
A Few Pacts.


From ihs Washington Post.
When the Republican party had full
sway in the Capitol nearly all the off.
ces OF any considerable importance were
given TO men who stood at the rear.
Most OF the "colonels" and "captainst
on the pay rolls of both Senate and
House got their titles in the home
guard service or as honorary members of
the stats Of state executives. A few
crippled soldiers we're employed al mes.
sengers, and the fact Of their employ.
ment was noisily proclaimed 70 the
country as indicative OF Republican
gratitude 10 the notions brave defend.
ers. But the valuable and honorable
positions were, almost without excep-
tions, bestowed upon men who had seen
no service and who had made the four
years OF war the harvest time Of their
lives.
As ii was at the Capitol 50 IL was in
the departments and 70 was it in the
customs, internal revenue, postal and
Indian branches Of the public service.
Here and there soldier was given some
trivial position, and his appointment
was advertised as an example Of Repub.
lican gratitude, while the Offices OF hon.
or and profit were layished on men who
not only had been excused from sacri-
ticing anything for their country, but
had accumulated q competency through
the facilities for money. making that the
war afforded TO the thrifty and the
speculative.
Perhaps the best illustration Of this
may be found in the case of Morton.
wbO was honored with the title Of sol.
diers' friend" and who really was as
consIderate Of the soldiers' interest As
any leader OF his party. In the list of
Morton's appOintees, in his state and in
this city. there were numerous military
titles. 4 few OF the owners Of these
titles had earned them at the front.
But tbe great mass OF the recipients of
the immense patronage that Morton
dispensed were bogus military designa-
tom. i general two or three colo.
nels, brace OF 'msjofs' and squad
Of "captains,' who danced attendance
on Gov. Morton at indianapolis during
the uupleasaniness, were quartered in
the best places at his disposal. and some
Of them hold those places 10 this day.
A collcctonhip worth 500 year
WAS given 10. and - still retained by.
man who refused TO take an honorable
fighting command. but applied for and
received an inferior staff appointment
at the rear And this man is 10y no
means al exception 10 the rule.
Now that the Democratic party has
control OF Congress and the official po-
sitIons pertaining 10 both houses, the
Republican papers are raising a howl
about the wrongs OF the poor soldiers
and are falsely accusing the Democrats
OF discriminating against the men who
fought under the stars and stripes.
We undertake TO say that, in it, solic-
itude for the soldiers, the Democratic
party can safely defy comparison OF it,
record with that Of any other party that
ever held power in this country. There
is no interest of the soldier that the
Democratic party has not uniformly de-
Tended, no Just claim Of the soldier to
which it has ever turned 3 deaf ear.
Al the Capitol, and wherever else the
Democracy has had patronage 10 be-
stow, power 10 vote pensions, bounties
or adjustment of any fair demands, il
has uniformly been the firm aud faith
ful friend OF the soldiers. Such has
been its record in the past Such are
It's acts to-day. Snch will be its couree
ia time to come. The Democratic party
Is the party OF the people, and as such
II is bound by every tie OF interest and
sympathy 10 be true 10 the citiEen-sol-
diers Of the Republic.