The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-30

Has its honor or its credit beon lifted
proud that we are AmericansP Has our
diplomacy gained US increased respect? Has
patriotism and loyalty been recrowned? No,
my countrymen. The flag has dropped TO half
mast i'm honor OF a man who was not only dis
gracefully unfaithful TO a civil trust before the
war, and rebel during the war but who. from
"A safe haven in Canada. sought by his hired
emissaries 20 give our peaceful cities TO the
flames. An unrestored rebel was named 10 rep
resent this country at the court OF st. Peters
burg, unmindful of the fact that the Car was
on our side during the rebellion. The courts OF
Europe are canvassed TO find place for a man
who had declared the Government he was to
represent IA bloody usurpation." Our fisher
men are badgered I'm Canadian waters while
the peaceful retaliatory powers conhded by law
to the President are unused. SO general has
been the condemnation OF our diplomatic deal
ngs with Mexico that our distinguished Secre-
tary OF state is said to believe that the whole
country has entered into a conspiracy against
him, while the Jocky Club in Mexico has de-
bauched his special envoy. The dying appeal OF
Mr.. Tilden was not enough 20 arouse the patriot
ism OF u Democratic majority in the House to
make an appropriation for our coast defenses.
The modest bill for new war ships-carying
$500 0O-was, by decree OF the Democratic
steering committed reduced TO S3,500,OO), under
a threat that il should not otherwise have con-
sideration Wounded and deserving soldiers
have been expelled from public Office upon
secret charges. and their appeals tc know the
character of the charges have been treated by
an arrogant head of department with contempt
uous silence.
Civil service, reform inaugurated under a
Republican administration, was confided by the
votes of its special champions to Democratic
care IL has not thrived. The law has in many
OF the public offices been shamefuly evaded
and set at naught. The reform is in the rapids.
Its great danger Is that those who claim to have
its destiny in charge will stamp genuine the
article which this administration has put before
the country. III the system OF removal upon
secret charges Is ciVil-service reform, then the
country will have none Of it. Governor Gray
speaks of this policy as n mistake-it was a
lima a hon frrl aff hat nrNr
State our civil-seryice friends still know the
genuine article and have the courage TO expose
this base imitation. The reform can be saved
II its special champions are not more anxious to
justify their choice in 1884 than they are to
save il.
Mr. Cleveland has won great eminence-I will
not say fame-by his extraordinary exercise OF
the veto power. He has vetoed more bills than
all OF his predecessors, from Washington down.
must defer TO another time discussion OF this
feature OF his administration. But as we have
been challenged to examine his vetoes of pri-
vate pension bills, will refer to one.
Sallie Ann Bradley was the widow of Thomas
j. Bradley, who served as n private in Company
d. Twenty fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteers,
from June b. 1861, to Oct. 10, 1866. He was pen
stoned on account of a shell wound in the back,
received at Murfreesbore, Tenn, Jan. 2, 1862,
and died Oct. II, 1882. The Commissioner of
Pensions decided that his death was not
entirely attributable to his military service,
and that his widow could not secure
IA pension under existing law. She was
seventy years OF age, as helpless as an
infant, without means of support. or friends
able to assist her. Four of her sons followed
their father TO the war. Two Of them were
killed upon the battlefield, and the other two
| returned, one with the loss Of an eye, the other
OF an arm. The bill gave her a widows pen
sion, SD month. In his veto of this bill Mr..
Cleveland said mo cause is given of the sol
diers death, but it is not claimed that ii re-
suited from his military service, her pension
being asked for entirely because of her needs
and the faithful service of her husband and her
sons This presents the question whether a
In Ia faf
money appropriated for the purpose of paying
pensions. The passage Of this law would in
my opinion, establish n precedent so far-reach-
ing, and open the door To such vast multitude
of claims not on principle within our present
pension laws, that l am constrained 10 disap-
prove the bill under consideration
Does this need any comment? Would
the question have been raised in any other
mind whether what the President was pleased
to call a gift was proper IN such case? gift
OF SO per month and in exchange for WHAT
What Gift had she made to her country? Two
sons that she had nursed at her breast lying in
unknown graves upon distant bsttle-heds.
Two more, her only ones, came baot from the
war manned in limb and crippled in their
ability TO maintain the mother that bore them.
husband upon whom she had leaned for sup
port returned to her no longer the stalwart
helper and defender he had been and is called
before her to the grave. She is alone. Cannot
n great, rich Government like ours take care of
this patriotic woman? Must she go to the
poor-house or die Of want? May not IA nation
do out of its great resources what an individual,
not lost to Il sense OF justice, would do under
like circum stances?
Our President seems TO think that only po-
liceman's club or IA fire engine stands related to
the public safety and the substantial welfare OF
the people Those finer spiritual influences pat
rotism courage, heroism, he would probably
call sentimental and not substantial.
Patriotism saved this country from n revolt
that the policeman's club could not quell it eX
tinguished in blood flame that water could not
quench and the nation can afford 10 honor it,
and relieve the burdens it brought upon its he
roes and their families.