Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-10
8be ca,aastrr 1nteliiaeufs,
s.Axc AsrER. NOVEMBER 10, 1855.
To an Old Soldier.

# We print elsewhere a commune cation
xcom an anonymous person, who says that
~ b Democrat and was soldier in the
civil war. He is in favor of the granting
q pension TO every soldier, and wants the
Democratic party to advocate this policy.
He says that it was b5aten in the last cleo
ti0n because it has not done so, and that
10 knows of several Democratic ex-soldiers
who would not vote because of their dis
content with the position of the party on
the question of voting every man pension,
and he knows of other Democratic ex-sol-
diers who voted for Beaver from the same
cause of discomfort. Our correspondent
advises the party to come promptly to the
holdiers of the civil war with promise Of a
pension for all.
We do not doubt that there are great
many people who would like to have the
government support them. This weak
ness Is testified to by the rabid hunt for
Cfaoe. And it has been abundantly shown
in the grant by Congress of the back pen.
sion to the soldiers which was made by
4 both parties because neither had the
courage to make itself unpopular with the
soldier element.
But 1t seems from what our correspond
ent says that the Republican party has the
credit OF willingness TO vote
pension to every soldier, and that
i gets the votes of Democratic
soldiers thereby. We do not know that
this is 30. We hardly think that the Re-
publican leaders would care TO proclaim
3 very openly to the country that, if they had
the president and the majority in Congress,
they would pension every one who had
Deem soldier. They would be likely to
lose more citizen votes that they would
make soldier votes. No doubt they try to
create the impression among the soldier
element that they are their friends and
would do more for them than the Demo-
Gratis. ard they seem 10 have succeeded.
Quite possibly the claim is correct. We
think that we should advise all able-bodied
s)ldiers who want pension to vote for Re-
publican congressman. They may have a
chance for 1t with that party; they have
none at all with the Democratic party.
1t Is not sound Democratic doctrine that
the able-bodied citizen should be supported
BY the government. All the manned and
lnfrm who are unable TO care for them
selves are the proper care of the govern.
ment. All soldiers who were so injured as
70 be disabled, are justly entitled to ask for
pension according to their disability. To
all such itshould be given but TO no Others.
The able bodied ey-soldier who demands a
pension from the government is not Dem
Ocrat, whatever he may call himself. He
may be a Republican, We do not think,
therefore, that our correspondent is correct
IN saying that Black lost number of
Democratic votes that Beaver got becauSe
Of the Democratic unwillingness to pen-
SION every soldier. There were no such
D0mocratic votes for Black to lose. We
would not be happy to think that the party
narbored any such mercenaries. A man
who asks pension as the price of his vote
~ citizen of the same quality as he who
sells his ballot at the polls for money.
only the one is higher. priced merceuary
than the other. We suggest 10 our CORES
p0ndent that this is not good COMPANY In
be In, and that it would be we'll for him To
reconsider his position and to repent him.
nelf OF his sin. We assure him that SO
long as he feels that he ought TO have a
pansion for voting Lhe Democratic ticket.
just 80 long is he ineligible to mem bership
In the Democratic party.