The true northerner., 1886-07-15
LOGAN TO THE SOLDIERS.
He Denounces the Policy of the Gov
ernment in Neglecting the
States Defenders.
The Patriot Is Treated with Ingrati-
tude, While an Arch-Traitor Is
Rewarded.

At Ottawa, Kas., on the Sd of July
the Western Chautauqua Assembly cele-
brated Grand Army day. Gen. John A.
Logan was the orator of the occasion. and
in the course of his address he took occa-
sion to criticse Cleveland's vetoes of pen
sion bills. On this subject he said
So, then my comrades and friends, the
war is at last ended, peace has spread her
white wings over this great country, and it
is now for us, as patriots, as soldiers, and
citizens. to live and develop with the growth
of the United States of America in intelli-
gence and morals and in everything that
makes people great and good And to
YOU, nv old comrades, let me say one
word l dislike very much to have to say
1t, but after what the government has done
necessity has been laid upon me to say it.
You have in your ranks men who are unfor-
tunate. They are cripples. blind, and
poor, and totter on the streets objects of
charity; you, my comrades, know the wants
of these once stalwart fellows, who gave
the best DAYS of their lives to save the
Union. You must see that posts are or
ganiZed all over this great country so that
every disabled soldier, every poor comrade,
may be taken care of; and if, perchance, he
may not be able to show the exact spot
where he got his wound, he could show
whether it was from friend or from an
enemy. You know that his government
owes him care, being unfortunate, poor, and
unable to help himself. But with such or
ganizations as have referred To you will
yourselves be prepared to take care of your
comrade when some misguided President
shall veto his bill.
1t has been said of me all over this coun-
try: "Logan's business is TO look after the
soldier" l do pay attention to other matters
of national importance but, so help me
God, if | can only say that | have been
faithful and true enough TO watch over the
interests Of the patriot who saved this
country, so that it became my house and
your house-if l have taken care of that
poor man and helped him in his suffering
and dlstIess-I am satisfied God will take
care of me.
There is a great deal said, my comrades.
about the frauds perpetrated by unluStita-
BILE claims made in order to secure pensions.
One word in reference TO them. l do not
make the sweeping assertion that all pen
sions that have been granted have been
right, for | do not know: but l do know,
for a certainty, that there is not man who
served through the war, who had slept
amid snow and ice, wind and rain, by sun
light and starlight in dampneSs and dark
ness. that came out of that service with his
life prolonged. | do not believe that there
is a man who went through the service. no
matter what some people say, who was,
after it, as physically competent as he
would have been had he not seen the
service.
know hundreds of men who ought to
have pensions who have not got them be-
cause of their pride, and who now cry out
fraud against the Government; but my coun-
tY.v man / woul1 rather hoVa faw frou1 :
o-called-although they amount to little
than to have hundreds denied pensions
who are Justly entitled to them. | would
take the chances of making a slight mis-
take in that respect. | would a thousand
times rather that any soldier who had a bill
for pension OF $685. year, who had served
his country, whether he could prove it ex-
actly or not, should have it signed by the
President than that an arrant knave and
arch traitor should have n, 900 year.
Ny fellow citizens when | get to talking
to my old comrades, and there are many
of YOU here who served under me and
under my command while We were in that
service-and claim nothing for myself
the men who carried the muskets were the
men who fought the battles; but while you
were tramping day and night around Vicks-
burg and Shilo, and freezing in the storms
around Donelson, and marching at the
word of command from one end OF the
country to the other, young and strong, YOU
did not believe then that the time would ever
come that any man, no matter what
his political affiliations were, would
ever complain of little pension granted to
n soldier: and there is not n man within
sound of my voice in this vast audience
who was in the army himself but who
knows and must confess that during the war.
when il was doubtful as 10 which would be
successful, when these boys returned home
they would not want for gratitude.
Why should rich men who fattened on
the blood of 300, 600 men now complain If
men are pensioned because of their SER
vices? May God forgive me if L ever for
get there is one thing We can say to the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS what injustice toward
the old soldiers, faithful servants of the
| Union, you may-the time will not be long
until they are past your reach. A few more
wears and there will be no Grand Army of
the Republic. In few more years we will
| have to 90 TO the cemeteries, the hillsides,
| the brooks. the marshes, and rivers, to as
| certain the history or wants of the soldier.
! The evidence of decay is upon us to-day.
| If | have shown weakness in your presence
! to-day | hope that. in the light of our past
struggles, you will forgive me. While /
may have other state matters that require a
share of my attention, your cause and just
rights will never be forgotten. The battle
for justice may be hard one, but it cannot
now be a long one, and after we have
! finished our labors here we shall join the
| great silent army who shall not muster
again until the last roll-call shall have been
sounded