The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-30
DIsHONoRING THE SOLDIERS.

DISHONURlNG THE SULDlEkS.
The ruling of Commissioner Black in the
case of the colored mans mother, who asked
for pension on the ground that the death OF
her son while in the service of the United
States entitled her to one, would be astound-
ing only that there have been so many SIM
liar rulings under this administration. That
a soldier like General Black could rule that a
black mother was not entitled to a pension
when her son lost his life in the discharge OF
his duty as a soldier of the Union, because at
the time Of his enlistment she was slave
and not dependent upon him, is one of those
inexplicable things that cannot be understood,
except that they are the manifestations of that
undying prejudice that is felt for colored men
by Democrats Under Republican admins
tration point would have been strained
to make possible the pensioning of this woman.
try that such ruling can obtain for mo-
ment. The black mother of the brave colored
man, who gave up his life that the country
might live may not receive a pension for the
reason that she was slave. This is begging
the question of deserts in manner that can
be denominated only as thoroughly contempt
IDLE and dishonest. 1t may be that there is
popular demand that no more soldiers or
those dependent upon them, shall be
pensioned, but we do not believe that the
services of the brave boys in blue have yet
been SO completely forgotten as that. The
President seems to act on the principle that
there is an organized attempt to plumber the
government for the benefit of the Union SOL
der, and those under him, taking cue from
him, act on the same plan, and refuse when
ever possible, to consider the claims
of the men who did so much for the country
that now owes them somewhat We do not
believe the President is justified in taking
such pains to intercept the tribute grateful
people would pay their citizen soldiery. There
are thousands Of patriotic men who have done
valiant service to their country who are not
able to show straight record to the satisfac-
ton of their ancient enemies, who are quick
to take advantage of every technical flaw in
the record to rob them of their Dues It is
not wise nor patriotic to step in between these
deserving men and the small compensation
they ask. Surely the government, generous
r. ~ M n
unexampled manner it has, could not be mean
enough to dishonor the men who never dis
put him back into the enjoyment of the hon
ors he flung away in moment of spite or
worse, the unfaltering veterans Of this Repub-
lie should not be made the victims of Demo.
cratic spleen. tits disgraceful that the admin
istration should attempt to build up cheap
fame on this narrow and unpatriotic ground.
This colored woman, bowed under the weight
of years and of unrequited servitude, is sent
away by the Commissioner Of Pensions be-
cause she had inyoluntauly been a slave. Her
son, who died that the country might be per-
petuated and all the people be free from the
curse and blight of human slavery, was not
slave when he bore musket in the Union
army, and was not slave when he was laid
away in soldiers grave. The President and
his friends are swimming in the shame they
have brought, not only upon themselves but
upon all the people. Honest men are COM
PEELED to bow their heads in silence while
these outrages continue, powerless to have an
end put to them. This act Of General Black
is the crowning infamy of the present admin
stration, ard that is saying about as bad of it
as is possible.