The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-05-06

mocrscy 10 II that recommends and ur-
yes the appointment of q Republican !
Il It Standard Oil Democracy The
Democrats OF Monroe county take no
stock 10 Democracy OF that character,
and Mr.. n. will be sails6ed Of that fact
before be- is many years older.
The Mexican Pension Bill As Ex.
planned by Hon. A. j. Warner.
This bill 10 now pending In the Senate,
having passed the House some time ago
BY large affirmative vote. Among the
few who voted against the bill was Hon.
A. J. WARHER; and. as he has received
some criticism in certain quarters for bis
action, We now publish the following
letter, received from bin some weeks
ago, In answer to IN inquiry made 10
reference to the bill and the ground OF
bic opposition 20 Il. He says:
"The Mexican pension bill ought not
to have come up - It did, under suspen
sion OF the rules, with bat thirty minutes
for. discussion and without chance to
amend it. Ia the shape II was in there
was no way for me but to vote against
| It and be consistent. The bill grants Q
pension Of %. . month to every man
Whose name 10 borne on the Muster rolls
Of that war, whether he ever left his
place OF enlistment or not. Actual sef-
vice In Mexico is not necessary to enti.
tie one to life pension. Now, half OF
the pensioners Of the late war get less
than eS--snd very many, less than "a.
q month, for disability and no one who
served in the late wsr can draw PEN
sion except for disability; bat, under the
bill thst passed the House. any oae who
served so days, any where during the
Mexican War, whether Disabled or not,
or whether 10 need or not, gets pension
Of % . month.
Tike smother feature OF the bill-A
man who served so days In the Mexican
War, and then fought on the Confeder-
ate side during the Rebellion sill get
pension the same as though he fought
on the Union side.
But the worst thing shout the bill Is
this: Any body. whether disabled or
not. whether rich or poor. and whether
be ever cred Q gun or not, only that his
name wan borne on the muster roll for
so days. 10 allowed the pension. As On
illustration, take two men, one OF whom
served. sav, go days in the Mexican war,
enlistine In lS46 II % years Of age-he
10 now so wears old ;-the other enlist
ling ia the war Of the Rebellion in 1861,
when 81 years Of age, serving three
years and perhaps .enlisting-he is
now 90 years old, too;-the one for go
days service 10 the Mexican war gets q
pension, the other for three years in the
late war does not. would like 10 hon.
or the veteran who actually fought in
Mexico, but I cannot vote to give one
man Q pension for few days service in
that war.-and that, too, whether he was
lever 10 Mexico or not-snd deny it to .
veteran of the late war who served to
the end and went through dozen bat
ties. No, ] can not say by vote Of
mine, that 60 days, or any other period,
10 that war shall entitle one 10 service
pension. b1t that three years in the late
war and dozen battles shall not.
The present laws limit pensions to
disability incurred 10 the service, and.
for Disability. Mexican soldier is enti-
tied to . pension and has been ever since
that war. In short, ell the provisions
Of the pension laws apply as we'll to
Mexican soldiers as to soldiers Of the
Rehellion. But il this rule ID 10 be de
parted from, and pensions are % be
Igranted fos service alone. regardless Of
disability OF need, then ] insis. that the
soldiers Of the late war, for longer ser.
vice, shall be admitted to the same right.
and especially on attaining the sane age.
i Again, It must be remembered that
besides being paid in gold. oil Mexican
soldiers--even il they we're in the SER
vice bat IA dsys-have each had land
warrant for 100 acres OF land.
4 Far these reasons voted % ] did,
and Levsr felt better justified In casting
= vote than for casting my vote as ] did
on that question and now large num-
Der on both sides OF the House express
themselves ~ agreeing with me.
4 What 10 most wanted 10 such Q modi.
5casios Of the pension laws as will en-
able soldier who wss sound when be
went In the service. and . mo,s disablcd
lin sDy ,vay--and not the result Of his
own vices-to get pension immsdiately
and without the necessity OF going all
over the country 10 get impossible evi
dence to show just exactly when disa-
bility began. 1t is notorious fact that
many of those who did the most service
and the best fighting, and who are now
90 disabled - not to be able to earn q
living, can not get their pensions be.
cause they can not get the evidence oi
absent or dead officers and surgeons. ]
!, hope to see such modification Of the
laws this session Is will let this class &c,
their pensions, and in this class would
be included Mexican soldiers in any way
disabled.
Il propose, instead OF pension. to
tgivs-sll Mexican soldiers, who served in
Mexico, further bounty OF land. and !
think there would be Gtness In taking
from Railroads, which have not earned
iit. land which Mexican soldiers won by
their valor, and give some OF it, or the
lproceeds OF II - sold, to the veterans
sshose poler gained us she territory
There would be more honor in that, q
!, hundred times over, than giving . life
tpension regardless Of time or manner ol
/ seryico or Of disability. Every Mexican
|. soldier ! have talked with fayors shia
tplaA, and, u the bill which passed the
House fails 10 the Senate, I propose to
move such . recognition Of tSe value oil
/ the services OF the Mexican Soldier"
:. THE Bellairs Daily Independent haa
) entered upon the fifth year OF lite sx.
tistenos. II Ia 4 bright. nevev ,,aner and