New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-21
UNION SOLDIERS NOT FAVORED.


The law giving preference to Union soldiers
in appointments to civil. offices has been persls-
tently violated by the present Administrations.
In defending ts action Mr. Townshenh re-
cenly declared in the House that as many
Democratic soldiers had been appointed as
there had been Republican soldiers removed,
and he added that the aggregate OF soldiers ap-
pointed under the present Administration
equalled the aggregate number removed. As
was pointed out at the time, the trouble with
this apparently fair proposition Is that "the
Republican soldiers fought on the side OF the
Union, while "the Democratic soldiers" to
whom Mr.. TOwDshcnd referred were largely on
the other side. In 70 other way could his state
ment as to the equality in the aggregate num-
Der removed and appointed be understood as
being even approximately true.
An illustration of this fact is found in the an
nual address of the Department Commander OF
the Grand Army of the Republic in Virginia.
lie stated that there were only seven Grand
Army men at that time in the employ OF the Gov
eminent in the Department OF virginia, North
and South Carolina. OF thirty-nine comrades
at work in the Norfolk Navy Yard thlrty-fonr
were remoy ed and their places filled principally
by ex-Confedprate soldiers. A one-armcd
Union soldier was removed without cause and
an ex Confederate soldier given the place. An
engine tender Of sixteen years experience, who
was a Union soldier long confined in Libby
Prison, was removed and the place given TO a
man who deserted the Union Navy TO join the
Confederate cause THIS sort of thing has been
going on all through the South. Statements
were made in the House by Mr.. Rowell of IL
linois Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and Others to
show that Union soldiers were being ousted in
the North in a similar manner to make places
for Democratic workers who did not 90 to the
war.
This, as the Grand Army officers complain. is
direct yiolaton of the spirit of the law, which
provides that preference shall be given to hon
orably discharged soldiers and sailors Com
plant is not made because cx-Gonlederates
are appointed to Office. That is expected
Their prcponderance in the ranks Of the Dem
ocratic party on the floors Of Congress, and the
fact that the Administration owes its existence
to their domination in he South, makes their
appointment to Cabinet and diplomatic Offices
and other places almost to the exclusion Of
Union soldiers. a IN utter of course. But when
Union soldiers are turned out to make places
for ex- Confedelates and for those who did not
serve in the war; then it must be conceded that
the complaint of the Grand Army men is just
and reasonable. 1t must also be plain thai the
law is violated. Although the Presidents at
tention has been frequently called to this mat
ter, he has as yet taken no notice of these com
plants. When a committee of the Grand Army
called on Mr. Morrison the other day, the Dem
ocritic leader in the lIousc declined to listen to
what they bad to say, and fairly insuted them.
The nouse has passed a bill giving pension
to every man who enlisted in the Mexican war,
whether or not he was ever within 1000 miles
of the front. That bill passed because it would
furnish pensions to thousands of men who
serS ed in the Confederate army But the House
ha refused 10 consider bill passed by the Sen
ate to pension INDECENT cx-Union soldiers and
sailors, of whom there are about 10000 now
receiving support from charitable Organiza-
TONS That the Union soldier has fallen into
disfavOr is self-evident