The National tribune., 1884-03-20
The Soldier at Chicago.

In reply to our suggestion that this is
soldiers year, and that in the coming politi-
cal struggle our veterans, no matter what the
political party to which they belong, ought
to name soldiers candidate, an esteemed
subscriber observes that the experience of
our ex-soldiers with soldier Presidents has
been rather disappointing in the past, and
many of them have lost confidence in their
utility. There is, perhaps, some truth in
this, but if our soldier Presidents have not
turned out well, our correspondent must
admit that it is the fault of our veterans
themselves. They did not elect the right
sort of soldier, but took the one picked out
for them by the politicians, without stopping
to inquire whether he had anything more
than his rank to commend him. Of course,
if our ex-soldiers are going to let themselves
be taken in again in that style, this year, they
may as well stay away from the primaries
and conventions and let the politicians run
the machine.
What we proposed was very different
thing. We took it for granted that having
by this time acquired pretty definite notions
as to just who their real friends were, on
the one hand, and, on the other, as to just
who were merely masqnersding as such
Insx hi, 10
show that they entertained any special
regard for their comrades our yeter-
ans were pretty generally competent to
take hand at the machine themselves,
and numerous enough to manage it as
they chose. Indeed, il occurred to US that
considering the evenly balanced condition
of the two great political parties, it would
be capital thing to have a large soldier
representation in both Presidential nomi-
mating conventions strong enough to cast
! the deciding vote, and compel recognition
in the platform of soldiers rights?
And why should this not be brought
about? What is there to prevent it, unless
it be the habitual apathy of our soldiers
! themselves? If our veterans are really sin
cere in their resolve to punish the ingrati-
tude of public officials at the polls, this is
certainly good time to begin, for every
body knows that the surest way to prevent
the election of unworthy men to office is to
prevent their nomination, and that is only
to be accomplished by turning out at the
primaries and electing the right sort of dele
gates. And wouldn't that be a sight worth
seeing-a million and half of soldiers
smashing the politicians states and substi-
tuting delegates of their own! Just think
of the CONSERVATION that would prevail al
Chicago at both nominating conventions
i Why, there wouldn't be anything too good
for the soldier then, and it would be tel
chances to one that each party would put
soldier-and its best man-forward!
And there is just one way to do it, veter
ans! Let us have done with idle talk, ant
proceed to call the roll! There's hardly
town or a voting precinct in the North ant
West where we cant muster soldiers con
tingent, and if we are early on the field AM
stand TO our guns, it will be strange, indeed
if we do not come off with flying colors. 1
soldier representation in the Chicago con
ventions may mean more to the cause 0
soldiers rights than the votes of all our vet
Grams put together next November.