Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-23
and for him all believers in it may vote
without fear of the party lash or party os-
tracism.
New York Tribune.
Union Soldiers Not Favored.

The Law giving preference to Union sol
diers in appointments to civil Offices has been
persistently violated by the present admins
tration. In defending its action Mr.. Towns
bend recently declared in the House that az
many democratic soldiers had been appointed
as there bad been republican soldiers re-
moved, and he added that the aggregate of
soldiers appointed under the present admins
tration equalled the aggregate number re-
moved. As was pointed out at the time. the
trouble with this apparently fair proposition
is that SHE republican soldiers" fought on
the 81 lie of the Union, while "the democratic
soldiers" 10 whom Mr.. Tswnshend referred
were largely ON the other side. In DO other
way could his statement as 10 the equality in
the aggregate number removed and appointed
be understood as being even approximately
true.
An illustration Of this fact is found in the
annual address of the Department Command
er Of the Grand Army Of the Republic in
Virginia. He stated that there we're only
seven Grand Army men at that time in the
employ Of the Government in the Department
Of Virginia, North and South Carolina OF
thirty nine comrades at work 10 the Norfolk
Navy Yard, thirty-four were removed and
their places filed principally by ex-Confed-
crate soldiers. A one armed Union soldier
was removed without cause and an ex- Con-
federate soldier given the place. An engine
tender Of sixteen years experience, who was
a Union soldier long confined in Libby Prison,
was removed and the place given to man
who deserted the Union Navy to Join the
Confederate cause. This sort OF thing has
been going on all through the South State
a.. t... -
ell, of Illinois; Mr. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and
others TO show tnat Union soldiers were being
oustrd in the North in similar manner to
make places for democratic workers who did
not 60 90 the war.
This, as the Grand Army officers complain,
is a direct violation of the spirit of the law,
which provides that preference shall be given
to honorably discharged soldiers and sailors
Complaint is not made because ex-COnteder
ates are appointed to Office. That is ex-
pected. Their preponderance in the ranks of
the democratic party on the floors of Con
gress, and the fact tina. the administration
owes its existence to their domination in the
South, makes their appointment to Cabinet
and diplomatic offices and other places, almost
to the exclusion of Union soldiers. a matter
OF course. But when Union soldiers are
turned out to make places for ex-Confeder-
war. then it must be conceded that the com
plant of the Grand Army men is just and rea-
sonable. 1t must also be plain that the law
is violated. Although the Presidents alten-
ton has been frequently called to this mat
ter, he has as vet taken no notice of these
comp aints When committee of the
Grand Army called on Mr.. Morrison the 9TH
er day, the democratic leader IN the House
declined to listen to what they had to say,
and fairly insuted them. The house has
passed a bill giving pension to every man
who enlisted in the Mexican war. whether or
not he was ever within 1000 miles of the
front. That bill passed because it would
furnish pensions to thousands of men who
served in the Confederate army. But the
House has refused to consider bill passed
by the Senate to INDECENT exUnion soldiers
and sailors, of whom there are about 10000
now receiving support from charitable organ
izatons That the Union soldier has fallen
! IN disfavor is self-evident.