Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-01

MttA lltc OtQ DaLk Clnllll lOI VIC HEIcl0u
which he has refused to assert for twen-
ty years. Sir, twenty years would give
absolute title to the possession of land
in almost every State In the Union.
Twenty years obliterates all the evi-
dence by which these claims can be re-
sisted. Twenty years would cut Off the
payment of bond or note, or even Of
judgement. BY the laws Of all States
even judgement is presumed to be
paid after the lapse of fifteen years.
Every debt yields to time, and time
must cut off the claims of the soldier.
The soldier who did not assist his claim
within the time fixed by the law loses
not only his legal obligation, but be
loses his moral obligation to demand It
after that time.n
Mr.. Sherman's propositionwas vigor-
ously controverted by Mr.. Ingalls, of
Kansas, who as an earnest an advocate
as Mr.. Sherman was an active oppo-
nent of the proposition now endorsed
by the Ohio State platform. Mr.. In
gals quoted the National Republican
platform against MIR. Sherman, where
upon Mr.. Sherman proceeded to make
light not merely against the National
Republican platform of last year, but all
State and National platforms. He
would never surrender his influence
and vote to such a platform; not he, not
he! John Sherman. the legislator, John
Sherman, the Senator, whose term has
two years to run, would never surren-
der; but John Sherman, the candidate,
John Sherman before the people who
are to elect the Legislature with whom
his fate depends. Isl very different kind
of person. John Sherman, the Sena-
tor, stood upon his dignity and despised
and rejected the platform. John Sher-
man, the candidate, notonly kneels but
crawls in the dust before the platform
now! Witness the following passage
from Senator Sherman's reply to Mr..
Ingalls, reference to the National plat
form:
"But that is not all. My friend from
Kansas now, think for the first time
in the Senate Il have never known it
before, introduces party platform as a
guide for us in our legislative duties
here as sworn Senators representing
States. Ifthat has ever been done be-
fore do not remember 1t. He not only
quotes he national platform but he
quotes the platform OF State conven-
tions as our guide. When / remember
how those platforms are framed, and I
have participated in framing some of
them; when remember how even the
national platform of our great party
was framed recently at Chicago by
some forty two men meeting in swelt-
ering heat for three or four hours, men
some of whom had never seen each
other before, who were suddenly called
upon to frame platform embracing ev-
cry desire of the Republican party, and
put it in set phrase in fonr hours, to be
reported on the spur of the moment
to call that the guide Of Senators and
to influence Senators In deliberate ac-
ton on their public duty here, think
is extraordinary.
Sir, have as much respect for the
opinions of my associates and my party
as anybody else, or as anybody ought to-
have; but / assume that it is the Con-
gress of the United States, chosen ac-
cording to the Constitution, which must
prescribe the laws Of this country, and
while the party platforms may indicate
the general tendency and policy of O
party, believe this is the first time in
the American Senate when party creeds
haye been read to us to influence our
acti0n.n
John Sherman was not content, how
ever, with his reply to Ingalls, on the
ground of the worthless character Of
the platform and of platforms in gem
eral. He came back at it fighting on
the merits and denying the merits
of the soldiers claims. I quote the
following passage from his arguments:
ssThere are 136, 900 claims filed which
are entitled to the benefit Of this meas
ure; and ifthey draw from the Treasury
anything like the amount that is esti-
mated by the Commissioner Of Pensions
twill make burden upon the people
of the United States. "A burden for
what? For q debt which each individ-
ual has allowed to lie for nineteen years
ignoring and refusing to present the
claim.
II say there Is no justice and no equi-
ty in it. should not be afraid to go
before crowd of any ofthe Union sol
of the United States, most of them
have received their pensions who are
entitled to them, and to present the
arguments have made to-day. / be-
lie,e would receive their verdict that
ulaier the circumstances there ought to
t,run end to these claims for pensions
twenty years ago. Pensions now APP
i, led for should be given literally ac-
cording to the necessities Of the time,
but the back pensions of those who
would not apply for them when the
Government presented them to their
consideration ought to be waived for
ever. believe that would be Judgment
of prudent, sensible, candid, and fair
soldiers. believe provision such as
! have mentioned, giving to those who
are In need on account of their disabili-l
ty If it arose probably from the war, or
arose under circumstances that probab-
ly originated In the war, would give
bounteous relief 1t would 90 Just
where the shoe pinches to relieve the
men who are needy and not to relieve
those who have lain twenty Eyears for
their rights. 1t would bring food to
the poor; it would give homes to the
homeless. Itwould bring relief to men
who are sore In need, and not give ST.
600. $S, 900, $4,000, even 81, 900 to those
who for twenty years refused to even
ask for what the law gave them.n
think q man has no right, moral
or legal or equitable, to make the as
sertion Of a claim now running clear
back to the war when he refused time
and time again for eigteen years to pre-
sent his claim under the existing law,
In view of this astonishing record,
what faith can the soldiers Of this State
have In the atnad dfastf1nua NJ I0ht1 Ghor