Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-27

President Cleveland was the first to
recognize the private soldier by appoint.
ment to pension agency in Michigan.
On this subject the Kalamazoo Gazette
Of the 9Th says:
1t is some time since the democratic
administration hOnored itself in Michi-
gan by placing a private soldier in the
pension office. This place for over
decade has been filled by republican
ivilian politician, who whined at Zach
Chambers heels in return for the fat
fees, which have amounted to $13. 900 q
year. Gradually the income from the
office has been lowered until now
about $4,000 is the sum that Private
Bob McKinstry receives. The republi-
cans have loved to talk of the poor sol.
iier-when a little cheap sympathy for
dim would win their votes but hale
and hearty, fat and sleek politicians
nave held the offices at their disposal.
A one legged private soldier is now
lispensin pensions to the boys in blue,
IN effective refutstIon TO the malicious
SANDERS that have been circulated of
the democratic party's attitude. Such
arguments are unaDswerable. They are
living and effective facts.
A political campaign is at hand in
which, OF course, the soldier is men,
tioned as usual. There il not so much
bloody shirt balderdash, because the
people are disgusted with it. But the
merits OF the union soldier are as promi.
nent as ever and no party makes them
more so, or would reward them higher
han the progressive and revived democ-
-scy today. The democratic party is on
L 81.
old soldier with them. The democratic
party stands for the masses and so for
The private soldier; ii stands for the
greatest good for the greatest number
and equal rights for all.
In other columns of todays Gazette
are printed pertinent facts concerning
he private soldiers recognition by the
democracy at large. But while the de-
nocracy glories in these facts, il has,
nearer home, in this district and Ksla-
naZoo, more of democratic effective
work. Upon the pension board OF this
district are three private soldiers. There
are DIR j. A. Partridge, the drummer
boy" of Kalamazoo; DR.. l.. s. Putney, OF
5turgis, and DR.. M. w. Slocum. of Blu.
;hanan. No epaulettes adorned their
shoulders, but the two first mentioned
carried muskets. The other would have
lone 80 IL he could. The old soldiers
who have been before this board since
the last republican disturbing element
vas removed, are loud in their praises
| for the expert and comfortable treat.
| ment that has been accorded them. The
| work of the board has been carried on
with greater efficiency than any pension
hoard that has been in existence for
years.
lne old soldiers cannot fail TO see the
benefits and the recognition that de-
mocracy has brought them. They see
that there is good elsewhere than in re-
| publicanism. They see. too. the ten
| denotes of democracy toward popular
rights. The old soldiers will show their
appreciation of all this when they cast
their ballots in this district and state
this fall
Geo. w. Peck, the we'll known hum
orist OF the Milwaukee sun, who was a
private soldier, declares the appoint
ment OF Private McKinstry as follows:
An incident occurred some time ago
in Michigan that would have attracted
wide spread attention, but for the fact
that other things seemingly more i'm.
portsnt tended TO oversnadow it. The
war in Europe, the boom in stocks, the
death of the king of Spain and Vice
President Hendricks, and the coming
meeting OF congress have all combined
to cause the public to forget the incl
dent or IL they did hear Of 1t, the i'm
portance OF the matter did not occur to
them. The item announcing the afore-
said incident was short, and appeared in
an obscure place in the dispatches:
Here it is
Robert McKinstry Of Jackson, Mich
gan. who served as private IN the armv
of the Potomac. and is one of the lead
ers Of the G. A r., OF Michigan, has
been appointed pension agent at De-
troit."
This is important If true. The APP
pointment is not only recognition
from high authority Of the alleged fact
that there was private soldier in the
late war. but IL points out that private
soldier to public that has been skepti.
Cal on the subject, and places him in
position of prominence. where he can
be seen by all who have doubted that
such person existed during the war,
and the appointment gives him a salary
that amounts to something instead OF
causing him TO worry along for twenty
years trying TO get pension of eight
dollars month. The Sun has main
tanned for many years that there were
actually private soldiers in the late
war. and has tried TO prove it. 1t has
thought Of advertising TO pay reward
for private soldier who could prove
himself such. 1t has looked over the
list Of appointments OF soldiers TO pay.
ing positions under the government, to
find a private soldier who ever got
smell of anything with q salary at
tached 1t. A private soldier with gov.
eminent Office Is a spectacle that we
never expected to witness, and trip
will be made TO Detroit at an early day
to meet and shake hands with the pri-
vate soldier. Railroads that will ad.