The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-23
TRHATMFNT OF SOLDIERS

TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS
The Democratic party SO far as it dares, is
disposed to stand by the Presidents brutal
and fiippant vetoes Of bills for the relief of
disabled soldiers and those dependent upon
them, and at Wabash, few days ago. when
the Hon. Stanton J. Peelle dared to criticise
Mr.. Cleveland in this thing, there was an at
tempt made to make it appear that the Demo
cratic soldiers present disapproved of the crit
icism and stood by the President. No one be-
lieves that any Union soldier approves of the
heartless and cold-blooded manner in which
the President disposed of the claims Of men
who had seen service in the army of his coun-
try. There was no occasion for the chief ex-
ecutiye of the United States to slap the veter
ans in the face when they sought to get some
recognition Of their services. If they were not
entitled to relief by the government, according
to the opinion of this man who knows nothing
was no occasion to insult the men who hon
estly believed they were deserving of assist
ance from the rich government they did so
much to save, and whose claims had been
pronounced good by Congress. Mr.. Cleve-
land made his vetoes of pension bills the text
for CHASTITY humor at the expense Of men who
endangered their lives and ruined their con-
stitutions in their countrys service. IF the
Democratic party of Indiana wishes it to be
understood that it is opposed to granting pen
sions, or that it approves of hooking men who
have passed examination before congressional
committees and had their claims allowed, let
it go on record, and let the campaign proceed
with that understanding. This is the offense
Of Mr.. Peelle. He believed that the Presi-
dent was wrong in brutally insulting these
veterans, and doubtless will stand by his
position. The people have not yet forgotten
the services and sacrifices of the Union
volunteers, nor are they ready to spit in
their faces, as was done by the first Demo
cratic President the country has had since
the war. That the President was not simply
thoughtless in the action he took hostile to
the Union soldier is demonstrated by the fact
that he has not recognized the Union veteran
to any advantage since he assumed the high
office he occupies. Hundreds of tried sol
diers have been ruthlessly turned out of
positions they have filled with remarkable
fidelity and efficiency, to make room for men
who served in the confederate army or were
the enemies of the Union cause during the
war. There have been no favors shown the
Union soldier by Grover Cleveland, and
now that Union soldier dseces criti-
else this man, it is attempted by
Grand Army of the Republic because a mem
Der of that organization presumed to complain
that other deserving members had been
wantonly insulted and abused by man that
should be to them champion and defender.
The day will not soon come when the people
of the Union can afford to ignore the heroic
services of the Union volunteer. But for
him the Republic would not now be the
wealthiest in the world. There would be dis
union and civil conflict on the slightest provo
cation, and human slavery would be the
cornerstone Of nation set up in what is now
the bounds of free and united country. It
is not possible that even Indiana Democracy
will dare assume the position that the Union
soldier is unworthy of decent treatment by
Democratic President.