The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-14

of the Presidents veto of the bill to increase the
pension of John w. Farris, of Lebanon, Mo.
The claimant is an active Democrat. and an in
huential supporter of Cockrell and Bland. He
has been twice elected to the State Senate of
Missouri, and is candidate for denomination to
that Office. He enlisted in 1861, at the age ef
fifteen, and served Through the war with credit.
Ever since the war he has suffered from a chronic
disease contracted in the military service, and
which has resulted, as four eminent physicians
and distinguished oculist have certified In
partial blindness. He has lost the sight
Of one eye, and, it is said, will soon become
totally blind In 1881 he was granted pension
of SO month. Last year he applied for an In
crease, which was denied upon the report of the
medical referee of the Pension Office that stha
disease of the eyes cannot be admitted to be
result OF chronic diarrhea." This conclusion Is
quoted by the President in his veto message,
which also contains the following:
The ingenuity developed in the constant and
persistent attacks upon the public Treasury by
| those claiming pensions, and the increase OF
those already granted is exhibited in bold relief
by this attempt to include sore eyes among the
results OF diarrhea. On all grounds, it seems
to me that this claimant should be contented
with the pension which has already been allowed
him.
the nomination is using the veto message as
weapon to defeat him. and this has elected from
Dir. Farris caustic letter, in which he says:
Ordinarily. it is enough to be victim of dig
ease and conscious of approaching permanent dis
ability, or early dissolution, but when this Is ac
companied with the brutal ex parte judgment of
President whom the sufferer had aided in elect
ing, the withdrawal of personal and political
sympathies, and the rude and vulgar taunts OF
the press it only family illustrates the extraor-
dinary dilemma In which | am placed If had
by persistent lobbying and personal aud political
influences secured the passage OF bill for my
benefit, there might have been soinc excuse for
the severe language used by the President in his
wynfN Is1A u. A-f-&
the facts admitted that the bin was not in
tioduced al my solicitation, or even with NV
personal knowledge or consent, / ara at
q loss to know how a conservative public can
justify the brutality displayed by the chief ex-
ecutive of government to which
gave four years Of active military service, haz-
arding life. importing health and making myself
prematurely old. And yet. such seems the re-
suit. One OF my competitors. Mr. j. B. Rack
liff possessed of about the same degree of patri-
otism that induced Grover Cleveland to hire
substitute rather than fight his countrys battles,
ruled by the same brutal instincts which i'm.
PEELED the President TO assault me so unjustly In
his message, has gone over the district and coy
ertly-yea, in a cowardly manner-used this
veto message to manufacture sentiment against
me, and build for himself that character and
reputation which he had not been able to attain
save through the misfortune of Others / am
content with the defeat which will probably
come to me- but am not content co remain 81
lent and be branded by President-ever
Democratic Presdent--with having de-
vised ingenious plan to attack the
public treasury No man who knows me
would write such sentiment but sent forth as
the utterances of Democratic President, aud
at a time when partisan blindness is so apparent
unrefuted, it would hand my name down to my
children as that of an impostor and fraud l
am proud of the record | made as soldier. |
left the army at the end of four years service,
when only twenty years old. bearing two COM
missions won by meritorious service in battle.
Though in impaired health as the result of that
service, ] am not too feeble to resist the crit
iclsms and denounce the reflections of Presi-
dents and senatorial candidates who seek to cast
aspersons on my character or impute dishonesty
to my motives"
The St. Louis Republican, in somo editorial
comments on the matter says: I'VE recognize
this an exceptional case in which he 1.-THE Pres
identl has been led to confound gallant soldier.
honorable gentleman and loyal Democrat with
the rabble of camp Followers in whose interest
the majority of special pension bills are passed"
Probably if the President had been advised
beforehand that Mr.. Farris is 'loyal Demo
cret" and an influential friend and supporter Of
Messrs. Bland and Coekrell, he would not have
vetoed the bill and cast slur upon the claimant