Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-07
WAsHrseToS, d. c., Nay s, 1884.
Pension MKAsuREs.

wAsnserox, d. c., Nay s, 1884.
PENSION MKAsuREs.
The committee on invalid pensions hai
reported favorably bill repealing the limita
ton to the arrears of the pension act This is
bill that will benefit thousands of soldiers
and is matter of interest to every soldier il
our land. IT gives every soldier Who has beer
pensiened since June 30. 1880, or who will b.
pensioned, his monthly payments since thu
date of bis discharge. or for such time sinct
the date Of his discharge, a. he has been dis
abled, BY reason of a wound, injury or disease
incurred while in the service and line of duty
1t will also reopen all claims for invalid per
son. filed in the pension office since June 30
1880. that have been rejected on the ground
OF no disability Under the present law 4
mans pension commences at the date his
claim for one reaches the pension office. II
subsequent to June 30, 1880. Mr.. A. filed
his claim for pension for disease in August
1880, and furnishes abundant proof that he
incurred his disability while in the service
and suffered from the same continuously tc
1875. when his disability ceased. Under the
pre.ert Law he would not be entitled to any
pension, as he has not been disabled since
August, 1880, when his claim was filed, al
which date his pension would commence. II
allowed IL his claim bad been filed before
June 30, 1880, he would have been allowed a
pension for the time he was disabled A law
that discriminates against a worthy soldier
because ne failed to apply for pension before
June 80, 1880, is msnifestly unjust. Another
bill has been favorably reported from the
committee, giving every man q pension who
bel ha M anch
pension to be governed by the length Of time
the soldier was prisoner of war.
The republicans on this committee have
had hard time to get these bills favorabiy
reported, as the democrats, as whole. are
opposed TO giving pensions to Union soldiers,
and were il not for their fear Of losing votes
the soldiers would not receive many favors
at their hands.
FoRr WASHINGTON GOING UNDER.
All of your readers who have enJ Dyed sail
down the Potomac river to Mt. Vernon, have
doubtless noticed with much interest Fort
Washington, which stands guard over the
approach by water to the capital city of this
country, from its heights on the Maryland
shore. This interesting pile will soon be only
a memory, as the government has already
begun to assist Father Time IN his work OF
destruction. This work is being done, as the
brick and the stone walls would soon orumble
before the assaults of modern artillery.
The rirer makes a turn at this point,
and the guns OF the Fort commanded
fully FIVE miles of the river below,
and would have made short work OF
the old wooden line of battle ships had they
attempted the passage The fort is at present
garrsoned by one man. Serg't r. F. Joyce,
who, with his family. occupies the house
where once lived the commanding officer OF
the fort The work of constructing Fort
Washington was commenced in 1908, from
plans prepared bv one of Gen. Lafayette s
engineer staff officers, under the personal
supervision of Gen. Washington. 1t was not
completed until after the war of 1912. The
engineer planned many ingenious ways for
preventing surprises by shore parties. The
declivities from the parapets to the water $
edge are covered by stone crested rifle pits
and adroitly concealed srnall cannon for firing
grape and canister. and at the time of its
completion this fort was considered one of the
most impregnable defences in the world
Gen. LAFAYETTE remarked after an inspection
of the fort This is the Gibraltar of America. =
1t is estimated that 10000, 200 bricks were
used in its construction, and as fast as they
are taken out they are broken into fine pieces
stone will be used in constructing Other
defsnces at this strategetic point, consisting
of formidable earthw orks extending arount
the river shore. Several of these batteries
are already completed and mounted will
guns. and Washington is once more guarded
by modern defences.
Why THE DEMOCRACY OPPOSE THE EDUcA
TIoNAL BILL.
The discussion of the Blair educationa
bill in the Senate developed the real animu'
of the opposition by the democrats. 1t wa.
not so much that it was unconstitutional q,
their fear that if the democratic masses be-
come educated they will change their politics
which is highly complimentary to the repub
lican party. Another source of danger to the
democracy which would result from education
is the fact that the colored population in the
South would not be so easily deprived of the
franchise. Leaders would spring up among
the young men who would be backed by an
intelligent constituency that would not sub.
nit to being terrorized and counted
out and allow the majority to rule.
There is no doubt that if the mass.
es were to become educated thev would
leave the party that advocates free rum, that
great curse of our countryside party OF
free trade. which policy strikes a blow at the
welfare of every laboring man in the country
the party whose representatives in Congress
will vote almost to a man against any propo-
sition offered TO eradicate mormonisn, tha,
great moral cancer upon our body polite,
the party that by its action in Con.
gress seems opposed to everything that will
elevate the human race. The republican
party. we are happy to say. occupies advsnc-
ed ground on all these questions, in direct
opposition to the democracy. and in my opin-
ion will control the affairs of the government
as long as it proves itself worthy, by advo-
eating principles that if carried out will in
sure the permanence of this Republic. In
the near future the great issues will be TEN.
perance and the destruction of the power of
the Mormon church. and the cause of educa
ton is of the highest Importance in view OF
this fact. The Mormon church draws it.
converts almost wholly from the ranks of the
ignorant. and our penitentiaries are largely
filled with those who never had the benefit,
of education. The criminals as we'll as the
rulers of the future are the children of to
day, and hence the importance of their prop
er education. ALIAS.