The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-21
THE PARrIEs AND THE soLpIERs.


forms adopted this year none, perhaps, is more
marked than the sentiment relating to the
Nations duty to the federal soldier. In 1864
the Democratic party, in national convention
assembled, extended its sympathy to the sol
diery of our army and sailors of our navy,
who are and have been in the field and on the
sea under the flag Of our country" Without
Analysing the sincerity of this sentiment let
it be recorded as having been uttered by the
Democratic party at the very time they de-
clared, with the same breath, that the war in
which these soldiers were engaged was a
failure.
In 1868 the Democracy resolved chat our
soldiers and sailors who carried the flag of
our country to victory against a most gallant
and determined foe must ever be gratefully
remembered"
In 1872 the Democratic party Remembered
with gratitude the heroism and sacrifices Of
the soldiers and sailors of the republic"
In 1876 the same expression Of gratitude
was put forth.
In 1880 the party omitted all mention of the
soldiers and their claims
Last month, in the city of Indianapolis,
the Democracy of Indiana expressed itself
Gin favor Of the granting of pensions to all
soldiers suffering from disability incurred
during service in the army; of granting pen
sions to soldiers Of the Mexican war; of equal
izing pensions and bounties to soldiers and
pensioners without limitation as to time, and
of providing for the widows of all soldiers.
Following this utterance the Democratic ma
tional convention of last week advocated the
application Of the internal revenue to make
"a fund to defray the expense Of the care and
comfort Of worthy soldiers disabled in the
line of duty in the wars of the republic"
The Journal has no wish to attempt to de-
velvop shark where there is none, but in
this connection calls attention to the peculiar
manner in which the Democratic party has
handled the soldier question The Demo
cratic resolution of 1864 was then known to
be hypocritical and direct misrepresenta-
ton of the sentiment of the party in the
same platform. The resolutions of sympathy
passed since that time have been for the
sole purpose of enlisting the soldier vote.
But the wording has been very judiciously
done, until now it is impossible to say whether
only the Union soldiers are recommended for
pensions and bounties, or, as the Indiana
platform has it, call soldiers suffer-
ing from disabilities incurred during
service in the army" In no national Demo
cratic platform since 1868 is the kind Of sol
der so designated as to admit of no doubt that
it is the Union soldier only. The Republican
utterances on this point have on the contrary,
been unequivocally outspoken in favor Of the
Union soldier, in distinction from those who
fought to destroy the Nation. The Indiana
Republican platform of last month ''recog-
nized with gratitude the services of the Union
soldiers in defending the government against
armed rebellion, and favored a just equalza-
ton and adjustment of bounties and pensions,
and a liberal construction and application Of
all laws granting pensions to honorably dis
charged soldiers of the Union army This
resolution, it will be observed, says just what
it means, and in such manner that no one
need misunderstood its import.
In view of the fact that it would have re-
quired no special effort to insert the word
Union" or federal in the Democratic SOL
der resolution in the various platforms of that
party, it is fair to assume that it was omitted
purposely, and in Difference to sentiment
stil hostile to the war for the Union It can
not be truthfully denied that the soldiers of
the South would like to be pensioned
by the federal government. It is a
matter Of universal knowledge, too,
that Of those who went into
rebellion many still believe and maintain that
they were right in principle and only concede
the Union because Of necessity. It is the
most natural thing in the world for all such to
argue among themselves: 1--WE were right in
attempting to secede; now, being compelled
to remain in the Union, it is no more than
justice that the government, to which we pay
taxes the same as do federal soldiers, should
pension US in exactly the same manner >
Catering to this sentiment, and dependent for
success upon the votes Of those who entertain
it, the Democratic party deliberately resolves
in favor of granting pensions ITO all soldiers
suffering from disability incurred during serv-
ice in the army" leaving the public in doubt
when one word Of five letters would have
made it plain, had the trainers Of the platform