Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-08-31
BenplsaliitI INafiRusst'
How the United states Pension De
nartment is Prostltuted for Political
ParpOses-PensIOn Blanks as Elec
tionesring Documents.
IEf6BLIdAE ETBlcks."
LEABANoS, ONO, August IS, 1889.

LEABANoN, OHIO, August IS, 1889.
The manner in which the Republicans
have prostituted the Pension Depart
ment for political purposes is one OF the
most diseraceful and, we might say In
famous. acts OF their many prostitutions'
Of public trusts for political ends. IL
was adopted two year ago, but not used
with any effect here until the campaignl
of last year. The Bl0dils operandt is as
The National Republican Committee re-
aaested that the State Committees send
Them full and complete list Of all DEM
ocratic soldiers not already on the pen.
sion list. whether subject for pension or
not. This list was procured by the State'
Committee from the several counties.
The list of Democratic soldiers was then
Forwarded to the National Republican
Committee, who furnished it to the PEN
sion Department, or ia some one with
the liberty of using the blanks and
names of the officers of the Department.
Then each one OF these Democratic SOL
diers received from the Department., m
closed in Department envelopes, u blank
application for pension and probably a
circular accompanying it intimating that
their cases were before the Department,
and would be properly dealt with. This,
of course, made the Ieslpient believe that
there was pension in store for him, and
caused him 10 inquire about the matter
of some Government officer or prominent
Republican politician who knew all about
the matter, and who had a list or the
names sent in from his county. He would
inform the would d-bepensioner that there
was no doubt but that he would get "a
pension, and direct him TO the proper
person. or the regularly agreed upon at.
torney for this infamous business. The
Democrats soldier would thus be led
along by degrees until he was finally
convinced that in order to secure the
pension he should vote the Republican
ticket, as many Of them did. Not one in
ten OF the persons receiving these pen
sion blanks is entitled to pension, and, oi
course. will never Get il; but, OF course
if they can be led TO believe that they
can get pension and their vote secured
e the object of the Repu blican rascaisis OBJ
tanned. Quite anumber Of such blanks
were sent to Democratic soldiers OF thii
vicinity, and, although none ofthem have
as yet received a pension, they still be
lieve the day is not far distant when they
will be enabled to live in ease and luxury
by quarterly contributions OF none,
from the Government. One. recipien
here on the receipt of the blanks con
suited prominent Republican politician
relative to the meaning of it and as Il
the value of the papers. He was In
formed, with more honesty than is usua
on'such occasions, that the blanks sen
him were only electioneering documents
and that they were OF no consequence
These blanks are always sent just on th
eve of an important election. Thi
scheme has been SO boldly carried q
here that it is we'll understood, and tn
parties from whom these facts were gath
n cred can be seen any day.on our streets
II is one of the most infamous scheme
to bribe voters that the present corrup
and rotten Republican party ever resorte
to, and should call downlupon the head
of any party guilty Of it the severest cor
demnation of all classes of honorabl
men. It is even more infamous thai
Brady's rape of the Post.office Depart
ment. Worse than buying votes atreg
ular bargain and sale. Itis bribery Q
the basest character.