The National tribune., 1884-07-24

hearted, true American. But IL was NOT OF
these questions of craftsmanship that we pro-
posed to speak, but Of his noble declaration in
regard to the rights of our ex-soldiers and sail
ors, and the duty of the Government towards
them. In regard to the civil service of the
Government, he says:
The growth of the country has continually and
necessarily enlarged the civil service until now 1t
includes vast body of officers. Rules and methods
of appointment which prevailed when the number
was smaller have been found insufficient and i'm
practicable, and earnest effort has been made to
separate the great mass of ministerial officers from
partisan influence and personal control. Imparti-
atty In the mode Of appointment to be based
qualification, and security of tenure to be based
on faithful discharge of duty, the two ends to
be accomplished The public business viii be aided
by separating the legislative branch of the Govern
ment from ali control OF appointments, and the
Executive Department viii be relieved by subject
ing appointments to fixed rules and thus removing
them from the caprice of favoritisni, But there
should be rigid observance of the law which gives
IN sll cases of equal competency the preference to
the soldiers who rised their lives In defense Of the
Union.
It viii be observed that Mr.. Blaine goes even
further than section 1854 of the Revised Stat
utes which merely provides that persons hon
orally discharged from The military nasal serrice
By reason of disability resulting from mounds or
sickness incurred ia the I;ae of daty, shall be pre-
ferred in appointments to civil Offices, provided
they are found to possess the business capacity
necessary for the proper discharge of the duties
of such Offices. This section Of the statute, as
it stands to-day, denies its benefits to every
ex-soldier and sailor whose disability incurred
in the service has made itself manifest since
his discharge, as well as every ex-prisoner,
whose term Of enlistment having expired dur
ing his confinement in Confederate prison
physical condition being certified to before his
release and exchange. This statute should be
amended, and we are confident it viii be by
the next Congress, SO as to conform to Mr.
Blaine's views and those which we believe ev-
cry patriotic citizen in this country holds as TO
| the duty of the Government towards the men
! who saved it from destruction.
Nor is Mr.. Blaine less emphatic or explicit
in the expression of his opinion as to the obi
CATION which rests upon the Government to
devote such portion Of its surplus revenues as
may be necessary to pay all the just claims ofour
ex-soldiers and sailors. He says, on this point:
Our opponents find fault THAT our revenue sys-
| tenn produces surplus. But they should not for
get that the law has given specific purpose to
which ali OF the surplus Is protabiy and honorably
appIied-the reduction Of the public debt and the
| consequent relief of the burden of taxation. No
dollar has been wasted and the only extravaganza
with which the party stands charged is the gener-
Gus pensioning of soldiers, sailors and their farni
iies-an extravaganza which embodies the highest
form of justice in the recognition and payment of
a sacred debt. When reduction Of taxation is to be
| made the Republican party be trusted to ac-
compish it in such form as viii most effectively
aid the industries Of The Nation.
The fact of the matter is that the only Gov
eminent bonds that can be paid prior to the
year 1891 - seven years hence = are those
which are known as option bonds, payable at
the pleasure of the Government and amount
ing TO only $224,6l2, 15o The surplus revenues
of the Government during these seven years
win, at the present rate, reach total of ST. l20,
oO0,o00 and after paying the 1924 612, $50, the
Government will still have left 1886, 3S7, $50.
Deducting s255, 100000 additional of d per
cent United States bonds, which will fall due
Sept. /, 1891, there yet remains a net surplus
of $G45, 1897 $780, so that there is no financial or
other reason, save the desire to repudiate its
debts, why this Government should not pay the
just claims of our veterans at once.
In order that our readers may see how closely
the sentiments of Mr.. Blaine agree with those
expressed in the National Republican plat
form and those embodied in tie address Of
Gen. r. B. Beath, Commander-in-Chief of the
Grand Army, before the 18th National En-
carnpment at Minneapolis yesterday, we print
the latter two below in parallel columns:
Grx BEArH REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM.
til my own Judgment The grateful thanks o.
that the influence of the the American people are
Grand Amy should bedue to the Union soldiers
exerted as unit to secureof the late war, and the
the fuIiIllnent by Con- Republican party stand:
eress of the actual CON pledged to suitable pen
tract obligations Of thes ions to all who dis
Government 10 It's sol abed. and for the orphans
diers and sailors 20 wit: aGld widows of those whe
lst Their right to aided in the war. The Re
pension from date of hon publican party pledges
orRbe discharge because itself to the repeal of the
Of disability without limitation contained 4,
gard to the time Of flingthe act of 1879 &
claims that ell invalid soldier
ID Their right TO such shall share alike, anC
| proportions of bounty their pensions shall begir
promised by the Govern with the date of disabiit,
naent as the length ofor discharge and not will
their service entitledthe date Of The applica
G them TO receive whention.
a honorably discharged for
disability before the expi-
ration Of service.
z 3D. Their right qlaving
'borne the battle and re-
ccived an honorable dis
> charged iopension if they
g are now or shall hereafter
become disabled from any
= cause not the result of
G their own gross careless
: ness, disreputable con-
duct or vicious habits
and are dependent en- !.
d their labor for sup
= port. together with ade-
quate provision for wild
2, ows and orphans and de-
$. pendent parents as we'll
: as the adjustment Of the
: rule requiring proof Of
J. physical soundness at en-
, listrnent.
h In I96n the year before the oufbreal, nj ri,