The National tribune., 1884-06-05
being just as well as public-spirited man,
viii do well to put a stop TO this exhibition
of monumental ignorance and malice.
A Strange Memorial Day Spectacle.


as generally observed this year as ever be-
fere, and, except In one or two instances, no
unseemly disturbance marred the solemnity
of the celebration. 1t must have been
rather surprising to our jamestown IN. Y.)
comrades to find severe snow storm pre-
vailing on the morning of Memorial Day,
but they did not, on that account, abandon
their programme, and later in the day the
sun broke through the clouds and lent its
cheerful presence to the scene. In some of
the larger cities-and particularly New
York and Broolzlyn-the local militia Joined
with our veterans in the celebration of the
day, and President Arthur, with several
members of his Cabinet, and Generals Grant,
Sheridan and Butler were among those who
participated in the ceremonies. It is not
however, 10y the magnifcence of the pageant
or the distinguished character of the COM
pany that the character of the Observance is
to be measured. A spectacle equally touch
ing was TO be witnessed in thousands of
towns and villages all over the country
where emily handful of veterans could be
assembled to pay the soldiers tribute to the
memory of his dead comrades. 1t is in the
country rather than the city that the spirit
of Memorial Day finds fullest expression, and
there were, doubtless, many celebrations,
Of which no record viii be made, that were
infinitely more soulful and heartfelt than
those chronicled in the metropolitan news
papers.
The only unpleasant incident of the OBJ
servance that has yet been brought to our
attention is that which occurred at Wilkes
Barre, Pa, where the orator of the day, Mr..
A. Z. Mcclure, the editor Of the Philadel-
phia Times, while protesting to honor the
memory of the dead, took occasion to Bit
terly assal the reputation of the living. We
have not as yet received a verbatim report
of his remarks, and his own journal contains
but synopsis of his address, but 1t is suf1i-
GENTLY clear from the reports transmitted
By the Associated Press, that, as on similar
occasion last year-at Bradford, Pa.-he
went out of his way TO SANDER and traduce
the Nations pensioners. Says the Associated
Press dispatch in question:
During the exercises Colonel Mcclure created a
/ u,ent pensioners who are now drawing pay from
the Government without being entitled TO It. He
said that unless the Grand Army Posts of the
country exposed these frauds the name of the SOL
der would be drawn into disrepute and the name
Of the Republic into dishonOr. The politicians, he
said, would not expose this great wrong. II re-
manned for the soldiers Of the Grand Army Posts Of
the country TO take the matter in hand.
Now, the Grand Army has never required,
and it does not at this time require, any
such admonition as Mr. Mcclure saw fit to
administer as TO its duty in this matter,
and it is an impertinence on his part to as
sumo that it does The fact is that long
ago it pledged itself to maintain, as far as
lay within its power, the integrity of the
pension roll, and it has faithfully observed
its promise. At this late day TO threaten ii
with dishonor if it fails to expose frauds
within its knowledge, is to assume that it
has been hitherto faithless, and in behalf oil
the Order we take the responsibility of de-
nouncing this assumption as false and mali
cious.
But Mr.. McClure's insinuation that the
Grand Army has failed in the discharge OF
Its duty is of little moment-for it is moi
within his power to discredit the Order with
the American people-compared with his
infamous assault upon the character of the
pension list Upon what authority does he
make this sweeping charge as to @fraudu.
lent pensioners who are Row drawing pay
from the Government without being entitled
to itn? Where are the figures to sustain
it? Certainly it is not warranted By an,
statement of the Pension Office, for tn.
maximum fraud ever alleged by that ofic,
is but ene-tenth Of one per cent, and thu
| Commissioner himself has publicly acknowl
edged that the publication of the pension
list, ordered by the last Congress, has utterl,
f failed, although widely reproduced by tn
t local press of the country, to disclos
; any considerable number Of pensioners VIII
are not legally entitled to the pensions the,
are receiving But if this allegation is no
, based on official statements, whence does b
derive his information? From actual PEI
? sOnal investigation If so, he has concealea
the fact with the greatest care, for neithe
' by word Of mouth or through the column
! Of his newspaper, has he exposed q singl
d fraud as a result Of any inquiry of his ow
: into the integrity of the pension list.
' The truth is that his charge is withou
J, other support than mere newspaper rumo
= the basis of which he has never taken tn
trouble to inquire into, and 10 stronge
0 evidence could be demanded of his res
+ antipathy to the soldier than this READINGS
u to repeat q Islander against our veteran