Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-08-16

debt the country can never pay Is
the debt il owes its soldiers" 10
their patriotism and loyalty; to their
courage and valor; to their sacrifices
and heart aches, the country is To-
day indebted for its tranquility and
peace, its prosperity and wealth, It's
resources and possibilities, Let us,
then, like honest men-like a peo-
pie worthy of such heroic and
boundless sacrifices manifest our
gratitude in becoming deeds OF rec
IGNITION. Let us have no more by
pocrisy; let as say what we mean,
and do what we say!
Chtppe,oa HeraId., So far as Gen.
Harnden is concerned, he personal
ly can have no ground Of complaint.
He has held the office for over
twelve years, and had the districts
not been consolidated, would prob
ably never have been disturbed. He
has been sharply criticized from the
fact that out of his deputies in the
district, hardly one had been in the
army, but the excuse offered is that
he made these appointments upon
the recommendations of the Con
gressmen representing the territory
where the Deputies resided. Wheth-
er he ought to have oj05ated the tao
himself, by consenting to this dicta-
ton, is another matter, and one that
will be apt to take away some sym
patty from him. Without applying
the remarks to his case, The Herald
is decidedly of the opinion that the
custom is too much observed of in
sisting that parties prominent in the
late war shall have "fat takes" while
those who occupied humber posi-
tons are ignored for the smaller
places by tie Gerry men who secure
the best offices on the strength of
their war experience. The man who
carried a gun or knapsack may be
no Drawer than he who led battalions,
divisions, or corps, but he is more
entitled to the recognition of gov
eminent The position of the latter
to certain extent brought fame and
gratitied ambition The gallantry
of brigade or a division generally
covered the commanders with glory,
and personal recognition and reward
followed, which the veterans in the
ranks could not receive.
The man who secures a position
as a reward for service in the rebel
lion, should appoint subordinates on
the same prineiple-no matter
whether congressman or Senators
want some citizen partisan TO occupy
the places. There should be consis-
tency about the matter.
Gen. Harnden rendered excellent
service to his country during the
dark days of the war. He periled
his life frequently, and several
wounds attest his gallantry. As
Collector of the Madison district, he
made an excellent record. If his
friends feel hurt that a civilian dis
places him, Republicans cannot
wonder for it was the Republican
party that first placed in its platform
the resolution that the soldier should
have the preference over the civilian,
provided he was competent. If the
rule is unjust--if too much stress is
laid upon the services of men who
offered their lives that the nation
might be saved-why, then, let the
laws on the subject be repealed-let
the resolution that has been inserted
in every platform adopted at Con
ventions since 1865, be withdrawn.
But while they are both in force,
it is unwise and unjust for Repub
lican administration, or federal
Office holder, to openly and wilfully
violate them.