The Washington critic., 1886-07-12
KING vEro's VICTIMS.

Mr.. J. w. Farris Of Lebanon, Mo,
who, by-the-way, is State Senator
and candidate for reelection; also, a
citizen of great rospectabllity and
prominence, was during the war n
soldier and won two commissions by
gallantry of service besides perma
nently impairlng his health. 1t SO
happened that without knowledge or
solicitation on bis part, Mr. Bland in.
trodueed bill In Congress last March
for the relief Of Mr.. Farris, and in due
course of time the bill was passed. So
also in due course of time 1t was vetoed
by the President on the ground that 1t
involved "an ingenious plan to attack
the public Treasury" and now Mr.
Farris, who is an honorable man, rises
TO resent this implication upon his per-
sonal character in terms that are at
least plain to be understood. He says:
doubt the expediency OF the system Of
special legislation on this subject and think
that the general pension laws should be
made broad enough, II possible, to cover all
cases that might arise. But as the bill had
Dteu lDITOuuCeu was lUCllOeu 10 COlsluer
IL as spontaneous outburst OF public sym
pathy and felt complmented by the thought
that had friends in Congress who could
remember me In the hours of adversely
Ordinarily, 1t is enough 10 be n victim of
disease and conscious of approaching per-
manent disability or early dissolution, but
when this is accompanied with the brutal
exparte judgment Of President whom the
sufferer had aided In electing, the with
lruxxnl pf nprennal and nplitiaul
thies and the rude and vulgar taunts
OF the press, IL only family
illustrates the extraordinary dilemma in
which am placed. IL had by persistent
q lobby and personal and political Influences
secured the passage OF bill for my benefit,
there might have been some excuse for the
severe language used by the President In
his veto message. But when the truth is
told and the facts admitted, that the bill
was not introduced at my solicitation, or
even with my personal knowledge or con
sent, ! am at loss to know how conser-
vative public can justify the brutality dis
played by the Chief Executive of Govern
ment to which gave four years of active
military service, hazarding life, imperilng
health, and making myself prcmaturey old.
And yet, such seems the result.
The st. Louis Republican, through
which Mr.. Farris enters his protest
against the veto, says:
Thoroughly indorsing Mr.. Cleveland's
general policy in this respect, we rccog-
nize this as an exceptional case In which
he has been led 10 confOund a gallant sol
dier, honorable gentleman and loyal Dem
ocrat with the rabble Of camp followers In
whose interest the majority Of special pen
sion bills are passed. Senator Farris feels
some bitterness natural enough under the
circumstances, and though the expression
of 1t might better have been omitted, we
publish his protest as being mainly just
Is II not much to be doubted, how
ever, whether general policy"
which renders possible so cruel an in
justice to good citizen and deserving
soldier, is altogether the policy which
the safe administration of public af,
fairs demands? Is it really worth the
Presidents while, or consistent with
the duty of wise aud just magistrate,
TO take so many chances of wrcnging
meritorious claimants for the sake OF
detecting some poor devil now and then
in the act of robbing the till Of the
Treasury Of handful of small changei
1t were far better that every bill
which the President has disapproved
should have become law than that
even one honest mans name should be
besmirched by veto message.