St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-07

branches of the government applications
clearly not within the law. and plainly devoid
of merit, but so surrounded by sentiment
and patriotic feeling that they are hard to
resist. l suppose it will not be denied that
many claims for pensions are made without
merit, and that many have been allowed upon
fraudulent representations. Tlis has been
declared from the pension bureau, not only
in this but in previous administrations. The
usefulness and the
JUSTICE OF ANY SYSTEM
for the distribution of pensions depends upon
the equality and uniformity of its operation.
1t will be seen from the report of the com
missioner that there are now paid by the
government l3I different rates of pensions
Estimates from the best information
he can obtain shows that 5000
of those who have served in the army
and navy Of the United States are
now supported, in whole or in part from
public funds, or by organized charities eX
elusive of those in the soldiers home under
the direction and control of the govcrnm ent.
Only Is per cent. of these are pensioners,
while of the number of men furnished for
the late war something like 20 per cent, in
Guiding their widows and relatives, have been
or now are in the receipt of pensions. The
American pc )pe, with patriotic AMI CRATE.
full regard for our eX-sold erS, too broad and
too sacred to be memoriZed by any special adj
vocate, are not only willing. but anxious that
equal an exact justice should be done to all
honest claimants for pensions. In their sight
the rriendless and destitute soldier. dependent
on pubic CHARITY or otherwise entitled, has
pr C SeIy tue same righC TO share in the pro-
vision made for those who fou rht their coun-
try's bait e as those better able. throug I'll
friends anu influence. TO push their claims.
Every pension that is granted under our
present plan upon any other grounds than
actual service, injury or disease,
INCURRED IN SUCH SERVICE
and every instance of the man. in which
pensions are increased on other grounds than
the merits OF the claim, work an injustice to
the brave and crippled, but poor and friend
less soldier, VINO is entirely neglected o. who
must be content with the smallest sum al
lowed under the general laws. There are far
too man, neighoorhOods in which are found
glaring cases of inequality of treatment in the
matter Of pensions, and they are largely due
10 yielding in the pension bureau TO i'm
portuHity OH the part OF those other thHn the
pensioners who are especially inte eSted, or
they arise from special acts passed for the
benefit OF individuals. Tne men who fought
side 10y side should stand side by siie when
Uhey participate in a grateful nations kind
remembrance. Every consideration OF fair
ness and justice to our ex-solders and the
protection of the patriotic instincts of our
citizens from perversiOn and violence point
to the adoption OF a pension system broad and
com ,rehensive enough TO cover every con-
tingenc and when shall
MAKE UNNECESSARY
an Objectionable volume of special legisla-
ton. As long as we adhere to the principle
of granting pensions for service and disabil-
ity as the result OF the service the allowance
of pensions should be restricted TO cases pre-
sentinT these features. Every patriot heart
responds to d tender consideration for those
who, having served their country long and
well. are reduced to restitution and depend
ence, not as incident of their service, but
with advancing are or through sickness or
misfortune. We are ali tempted by eontem-
plation of such condition to supply relief
and are often impatient of the limitations of
pubEc duty. Yielding TO no one in the desire
to indulge this feeling Of consideration. ] can
not rid myself of the conviction that if these
ex-soders are to be relieved they and their
cause are entitled To tbs benefit of an enact
ment under which relief be claimed rs right,
and that such relief should be granted under
the sanction of the law, not in evasion; nor
should such worthy objects of care, al
equally entitled, be RENTED to the unequal
operation of sympathy or the tender mrrcies
of social political influence with their unjust
discrimination. The discharged soldiers and
sailors of the country are cur feNow-citiZenS
and interested with US in the faithful eXecu-
ton of wholesome law. They cannot be
swerved from their duty or citizenship by art
ful appeals to their spirit of brotherhood
born of common peril and suffering. nor will
they exact as Il test of devotion to their wei
fare willingness to neglect public duty in
their behalf.