Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-09
The Grant Bill.

Senator Logan's revival OF his bill to
place Gen. Grant on the army retired
list has brought out one memorable fact,
namely that Grant himself as apparent
ly prompting this measure. In that
case, Gen. Logan sends Ulysses 5. Grant
down to history not only as one OF the
sturdiest soldiers but as one of the most
inveterate beggars in human annals.
Senator Butler had declared his sin.
cere belief that Gen. Grant never could
have asked for this charity; for the
rank would give him new honors, while
il is notorious that he does not need the
pay. But Logan quickly replied that
Gen. Grant through his friends has
asked this" thus claiming to speak as
Grants mouthpiece in the matter.
rhis, then, is the one new contribution
TO the debate.
II Gen. Grant is not now General Of
the Army, the fault is his own. lIeleft his
post to accept the still more exalted and
remunerative office of President Of the
United States, the salary of which was
doubled for his benefit. During the eight
years that he enjoyed its large income,
presents were showered on him. Then
he went about the world, collecting
valuable gifts of all sorts. and on his re.
turn received an independeet fortune
in cash from the contributions OF
wealthy men. With his children all
provided for by rich marriages, and
while. in addition to his country seats
and city houses and his cash reserve OF
hundreds OF thousands of dollars. he is
salaried heavily by corporations and
capitalists who pay for his name and
fame, yet the country finds him, accord.
ing to the ayowal Of Gen. Logan, i'm.
portuning Congress for that old salary
as General which he had to give up in
order to get the enormously greater
gains he has since secured, but whose
loss he has none the less continued to
bemoan
IL has been hardly worth while for the
Senate to beat about the bush in quail
| fying what, II Gen. Logan Statement is
correct, is so obviously an act OF disrepu
table mendicancy. The cited cases ot
Col. Lee and Col. Haller, restored to the
army aud then retired by Congress, as
the result Of undoing the work Of courts
martial which were thought To be un.
| Just, can have no bearing on Gen,
Grants voluntary withdrawal from the
army; nor can the cases OF Gen. Ord
and Gen. Meigs, who. being already in
the army. were retired on a higher than
| their active rank, in order TO secure
them more pay. Even were Gen. Grant
a proper object Of charity. the army re.
/ tired list is no place for him. Entrance
upon that list Is limited 10y law to actu
al army officers. and he is a civilian.
Even were he now on the active list, he
would not have reached the discretion.
arY retiring age OF siEty.two; nor could
he claim forty five years service. tic
might be retired II he were the prey oi
disease contracted in the service, but
he il IN robust health. To comply with
his begging request in the form presen.
ted by his friend Logan would he TO set
aside the statutes, and to trample on
[ the customs OF the service. ltwould be
better to pension him on the civil list
Z outright.
But Gen. Grant needs no pension
| lie Is rich man. and ought To prevent
his friends from persistently clarmoring
TO have public aims bestowed upon him.
" J.. Sun.