The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-10
Of Interest to Soldiers.

Va 4hbOA Oou W
CALDwELL,O., March 3O,-A month
or so ago Private Dalzell wrote as
follows to that huoyant and bellie-
erent Congressman Ben Butterworth:
CALDWELL, o., Fubruary l6,
DEAR BEN AS an old college,
mate and friend beg to say briefly
to you that the soldiers whom | see
are in bad humOr over the treatment
accorded them by Congress. l look
for them to raise SheOl in the next
election unless some of the promises
made to US by you chaps are redeem
ed, notably the passage of the bills to
equalize bountieS and give us arrears
of pensions. / should not wonder if
that fails if the boys would catch up
both the Democratic and republican
candidates when they come hunting
around for the soldier vote, tie them
both neck and heels together and
pitch both into the river as boys
drown worthless kittens of bad
habits.
Yours truly,
PRIVATE DALZELL
Mr.. Butterworth replied as fol-
lows:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, !
WASHINGTON. d. c., March q. !
Hon. j. L. Dalzeli, CaJda0elI, Ohio.
MY DEAR SIR:-I have your card
and note what you say about h-lbe-
ing raised in case bounties are not
eQualized, arrears of pensions granted
and other things done which you sug-
gest. l am not clear but you are
right. l find there is a general dis,
position to raise hi everywhere, at
all times and on all occasions in ref
erence to every public and private
matter. | don't know why the pro.
cession should not be enlarged and
strengthened in the manner you sug-
gest. suppose you organize little
sheOl up in your neighborhOod and
with the aid of Monroe county you
ought to he able to let your light
so shine as that men seeing your good
and great work would be constrained
to flee the impending wrath. | will
hand your card to L. Fevre so that
he may not have another sound
nights sleep until after his next elec-
tiOn. | will also hand it to Grover,
that he may fear and tremble and flee
the wrath which is so plainly visible
in the heavens of Dent up Indignation
which you describe.
| think an effort will be made to
grant, at least in measure, the relief
you seek and remove the inequalities
suggested. But we are compelled to
depend upon a Democratic commit
tee to get it before the House.
Truly yours,
BENZ. BUTTERWORTH.
To this Mr.. Dalzell replied;
CALDWELL, O., March 80.
Hon Benjamin Bettteraoorth, House OF
Representatives. Washington, ID. G.
DEAR SIR:-Your facetious letter
of the 9th is received. You will be
astonished, after making all due al
lowance for my dullness, when 1 in
form you that it failed to make me
laugh. understand perfectly that
all the promises and pledges made to
the soldiers were made in the same
broad and playful PickwickIan spirit
that dictates your playful! and buoy
ant note-rather good joke on the
foolish soldiers, so to speak,
1t was the original cracking of this
joke that made the downfall of the
Republican party and the political
death of Grant inevitable. After
Grant vetoed the Equalization bill he
took disease much in advance of and
much deadlier than the cancer. The
small politicians wondered why it
was so easy to down Grant at Chicago,
when, in fact. a million of his betray-
ed comrades had long decreed it.
So much for his joke. The soldiers
could not appreciate the joke. Starv.
ing men swear some. but don't laugh
much. When the soldiers who don't
.go to conventions or hold any office
and whose voices are not heard any.
where, fell off from the Republican
party Democratic House first he.
came possible, disputed count in.
evitable, Democratic President Ger.
tain. And thus our party fell by
breaking its promises to the name.
less millions who made it, and man.
ufactured the reputation of all its
leaders from Grant to Garfield-the
end.
l believe it could redeem itself by
concerted action in favor of soldier:
in this Congress yet-a sort of elev.
enth hour or death.b bed repentance, il
you vi could stop laughing at you
jokes long enough to remember anC
redeem your promises to your friends
j. NJ. DALZELL.
A Hanpv Man at Mount Jov. pa