The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-10-18

EDITORS FREE TRADER--ln an article in
the Ottawa Republican of Sept oath entitled
"Cleyeland unfriendly to Soldiers" | find
many statements to show that Cleveland is
unfriendly to soldiers, but nothing to show
that Mr.. Blaine is any better. 1t should be
the office of a newspaper to give informa
ton on both sides of. question, but while
such is the case with Harpers Weekly and
The Nation, tits not so with the Republican,
Tribune or ter.Ocean.
Suppose Cleveland did send substitute
to tue army: did not Blaine do the same.
How was the expending of $4,000 of the
peoples money for a soldiers monument
by the Supervisors of .Chautauqua county
to benefit the soldiersS Gov. Cleveland was
right. The board of aldermen, supervisors,
county commissioners, &c, had no right to
use the peoples money In that way Taxes
are not levied to build monuments and cut
inscriptions on corner stones If the PEG
pie OF Chautauqua county want soldiers
monument they are wealthy enough TO
"chip in" the money TO build it, The same
reasoning applies TO the $500 for Decora-
ton Day. If the people desire such things
the money can he raised by voluntary con
tributon, when each one who gives knows
what it is for. The money is not taken
from him under false pretences.
The Republican, asserts that Cleveland re-
fused to signs bill appropriating money to
provide certificates to veteran soldiers be-
cause they would have been issued bya Re
publican. Gov. Cleveland's veto message
gives very different and aconclusive rea.
son, which it would have been but common
honesty to quote.
The same remark applies to the veto
of the Grand Army badge bill Why that
badge should be any more protected than
the badge of any other society is what Gov,
Cleveland it appears could not understand,
and he gives other very good reasons for his
veto which the Republican, is careful not 20
mention In this respect the Democratic
and Independent papers certainly set a bet
ter example When they charge Blaine
with some crooked doings they always pub
lish his letters or extracts from his speech
es to prove their assertions 1t is the only
fair method, but is ignored by the Republi,
can papers in their treatment of Cleveland.
Perhaps IL will be said the writer was not
soldier and therefore has no sympathy for
soldiers That is an error. lie was In the
service of the United States and narrowly
escaped with his life from disease contract
ed while at Nashville, Tenn, but never got
pension or sought one. So | have no
quarrel with the soldiers, though have of
late been tempted to think 1t is about time
for some one to advocate the claims of those
who staid at home An army without a ma
ton back Of 1t would not be worth much and
with nobody at home there would soon be
no army The soldiers have been paid and
well paid -paid as no other soldiers in mo-
dem times have been paid, while those who
were permanently injured are. generously
provided for Why then should man be
elected president for being the especial
friend of the soldiers? ! hold that should
rather be reason against his election He
should know only the nation, not class, a
section, party or society. Such man
appears 10 be Gov. Cleveland. .
In another article copied approvingly by
the Republicda from the National Ameri
can, which it sdys is prohibition paper,
we temperance men are exhorted TO "vote
as We pray" That is good advice. But when
we are told that :" to vote for Blaine Is to
vote for prohibition" must be- leave to de-
muir. Is Blaine prohibitionist? Dare the
Republican say he isH The Republican
party, il is true, because II must do 20 ordie
did assist In getting prohibitory law in
Iowa, and. thus, as the InterIOcedn express
lively put L. satisfied the public consci-
ence.n That IL prohibition with a ven
geance! Make law and let il be trampled