St. Landry democrat., 1886-01-30
THE SOLDIER ELEMENT.

President Cieveiana's Correspondence with
q Member o! the Grand Army of the Re-
public.
Elsewhere appears an interesting
rr2Spoudencc between the President
and General Ross, an officer OF the
Grand Army and the publisher of the
Maryland Te!trna, Q journal which
zea!ous]y looks after the rights and
needs =, +hc old soleiicrs General
Ross heliD,c;l that injustice had
been done ia the dropping of a men,
Der of the Grand Army in the cOurs, of
retronchmtnt and lessenng the force
in the Baltimore Custom House. He.
accordingly, very properly addressed
the President on the matter We
wonder that Mr.. Cleveland's predeces-
sors We're not similarly admonished by
the beads OF the Grand Army, for we
notice in General Ross second letter
complaint that 1.-THE statutes made and
provided in our interests have been so
long disregarded that our soldiers
homes are filled with competent, ettls
cient and honorable mon, who have
been driven there because their phys
ical disabilities are Of a character that
prevents them from battling with the
world in business competition with
those who were well housed and fed
during four years Of what was to us
exposure and priyations. -
This could scarcely be the case if Mr..
Cleveland's $ Republican predecessors
had been careful to do what the laws
required and what their party so con-
tinuously promised to do for the vete-
rams of the Union. These will read
with pleasure General Ross statement
that Mr.. Cleveland has given "patient
hearing to every petition sent him, and
prompt action in many deserving
cases..
Il have adopted the theory Mr..
Cleveland writes, ''that the spirit of
the law requires that the same prefer
ence should be applied to the retention
OF soldiers when q reduction is neces-
sary as to their appointment. And
he adds: cit is well that associations
should exist such as you represent, or
ganized for the purpose of protecting
and enforcing. the right thus guaran-
teed by law, The statute is based upon
justice and a proper and generous APP
probation of the services of those who
rsked their lives for the safety of their
country in her time of need. The let
ter and spirit of its provisions should
be fairly and in good faith observed"
But the soldiers will not complain
when the President adds that fitness for
duties must also be considered; for the
law made for their protection and in
their interest by Il Republican Con-
gress declares this in explicit words.
It reads: 'Persons honorably dis
charged from the Military or Naval
Service by reason of disability resulting
from wounds or sickness incurred i'll
the line Of duty shall be preferred for
appointments to civil offices, provided
they are found to possess the business
capacity necessary for the proper dis
charge of the duties Of such offices.
Hence the President adds: 81 do
not suppose you claim that this prefer
ence should be carried so far as to re-
tain those who are unworthy or in
efficient The law which you quote
was not expected in its operation to inn
pair the public service, but to secure
the recognition in public employment,
by preference in selections, of such OF
the discharged soldiers and sailors men,
toned in the statute as could and
would furnish faithful and efficient
work. That, it seems to us, every
honorable veteran will agree to.-N. I.
Herald.
n4rsf 1lrHcrsfonH Him