The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
LOGAN TO THE SOLDIERS
The Patriot Is Treated with Ingratitude,
While an Arch-Traitor Is Rewarded.


Ottawa tKan.l Special.
Grand Army day was celebrated yesterday by
the Western Chautauqua Assembly, and it is es-
timated that so 900 people were gathered at For
est Park The orator of the occasion was Sena-
tor John A. Logan His speech related mainly
to the history Of Kansas, but it contained s di-
gression concerning President Cleveland's We
toes Of pension bills On this subject the Sena-
tor said:
So then, my comrades and friends, the war
is at last ended. peace has spread her white
wings over this great country, and 1t Is now for
US, as patriots as soldiers ana citizens, to live
and develop with the growth of the United States
OF America in intelligence and morals, and in
everything that makes people great and
good And to you, my old comrades,
let me say one word. L dislike very
much TO have to say it, but after what the gov.
eminent has done necessity has been laid upon
me to say it. You have in your ranks men who
are unfortunate They cripples blind and
poor, and totter the streets objects of charity
You, my comrades, know the wants of these
once stalwart fellows, who gave the best days OF
their lives to save the Union You must see
that posts are organized all over this great
country, so that every disabled soldier, every
poor conrade, may be taken care of: and If.
perchance, he may not be able to show the exact
whether it was from a friend or an enemy. You
know that his government owes him care. being
unfortunate, poor, and unable to help himself.
But with snch organization as have referred to
you will yourselves be prepared TO take care OF
Your comrade when some misguided President
shall veto his BILL
ut has been said of me all over this country,
Logans business is to look after the soldier
do pay attention to other matters of national i'm
portance, but so help me God if can only say
fhat I hove faif u1 md n
watch over the interests of the patriot who saved
this country. so that it became my house and
your house-if have taken care of that poor
man. and helped him in his suffering and dis
tress-I am satisfied God will take care of me-
"There is great deal said. my comrades,
about the frauds perpetrated by unjusti6ab bic
claims made in order to secure pensions. One
word in reference to them. do not make the
sweeping assertion that all pensions that have
been granted have been right, for l do not
know; but l do know, for certainty, that
there is not a man who served through the
war, who had slept amid snow and ice, wind and
RAIN; by sunlight and starlight; In dampness and
darkness, that came out of that service with his
life prolonged. / DO not believe that there is
man who went through the service, no matter
what some people say, who vas. after it, as
physically competent as he would have beer had
he not seen the service.
II know hundreds of men who oughtto have
pensions who have not got them because of their
government; but, my countrymen, l would
rather have a few frauds ocalled-although
they amount to little-than to have hundreds
denied pensions who are justly entitled to them.
l would take the chances of making slight mis-
take in that respect l would a thousand times
rather that any soldier who had bill for pen
sion of sos a year, who bad served his country.
whether he could prove it exactly or not, should
have it signed by the President than that an ar
rant KAYE and arch traitor should have 81, 900 q
year.
MY fellow citizens when | get to talking to
my old comrades, and there are many of You
here who served under me, and under my COM
mand while we were in that servce-and claim
nothing for myself-the men who carried the
muskets were the mon who fought the battles;
but while you were tramping day and night
around Vicksburg and Shiloh, and freezing 10
the storms around Dorelson, and marching at
the word of command from one end of the conn
try to the other, young and strong, you did not
believe then that the time would ever come that
any man, no matter what his political affiliations
were, would ever complain OF little pension
granted to a soldier; and there is not man
within sound of my voice in this vast audience
who in the army himself but who knows
and must confess that during the war, when it
was doubtful as to which would be successful,
when these boys returned home they would not
want for gratitude.
''Why should rich men who fattened on the
blood of three hundred thousand men now com.
plain If men are pensioned because of their
services. May God forget me If ever forget.
There is one thing we can say to the Govern
ment-practice what injustice towards the old
soldiers. faithful servants of the Union, you
may-the time will rot be long until they are
past Your reach. A few more years and there
will be no Grand Army of the Republic. In a
few more years we will have to go to the GENE
teries the hillsides. the brooks, the marshes,
and rivers to ascertain the history wants of
the soldier. The evidence of decay is upon US
TO day. If / have shown weakness in your
presence to day, hope that in the light of our
past struggles you will forgive me. While
may have other state matters that require a
share of my attention, your cause and just
rights will never be forgotten. The battle for
justice may be hard one but it cannot now be
a long one; and after We have finished our labors
here we shall join the great silent army who
shall not muster again until the last roll-call
shall have been sounded