The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
"LEr Us REASON TOGETHER"

political ties.
We have continually said in Reunions
and other soldier gatherings that partisan
ship must be strictly subordinated to deyo-
ton to the interests of the veterans. We
have expressed this sentiment ourselves
with the utmost emphasis, and enthusiast
ically applauded its expression by others.
We have urged it in articles to news
papers over our own signatures, with our
companies and regiments attached, that all
men might know what right we had earned
TO hold such belief
We have repeatedly pledged one another
in the most sincere manner that, without
regard TO party, we would reward with
our votes the politicians who befriended
us, and punish those who opposed and
injured us.
Now, if ever, seems to be the time for
carrying these professions into practice.
Now, if ever, is the time for making
those pledges good by deeds in accordance
with them.
In all our history no two politicians
have done us, and those in whom we have
keen interest, such bitter injuries as
Grover Cleveland and CORTLAND C. Matson.
No man has ever maligned and insulted
the great Body of veterans as Grover
Cleveland has; no one has ever gone SO
far out of his way to strike malignant
blows at us as a class and as individuals
no one has ever said so much in depreciation
of the character and services of the men
who saved the Union.
No politician has ever betrayed the veter-
ans and their dependent ones SO shamelessly
as C. C. Matson.
In the past we have had just grievances
against politicians in offiee-against Repub-
licans as well as Democrats, but great as
these seemed at the time,-and undoubtedly
were,-they were as molehills compared to
the mountainous offenses against us OF
Grover Cleveland and CORTLAND c. Matson.
These men hold the positions they now
occupy, and which they have used to injure
US so terribly, by virtue of soldier votes.
When they were elected the soldiers held
the balance of pOwer-ds they do now, and
had they not voted for them they would
have been defeated
Beyond a doubt we hold it in
our power to elect or defeat these
two men. If we stand solidly to-
gether, as we did in 1SG1-'5, we
can determine the issue of the
election.
WI a0e do It.?
If our promises, pledges and professions
have meant anything, they have meant that
we shall exert our whole power against just
such men as these, on just such an occasion
as now presents itself They meant that
we must ignore political ties-we must
forget that candidates were Republicans
Democrats, Greenbackers. Prohibitionists
Protectionists or Free-Traders order K
rebuke at the polls men who deserve sueI
rebuke at our hands.
A vote against Grover Cleveland and
CORTLAND c. Matson is a vote in rebuke 0
pension-yetOing, soldier hating, intense ma
Lightly and deliberate treacheryl
A vote for them is an Endorsement anC
approval of all of CIeveland's abusive utter
ances against us and our comrades, his con
temptuous derogation of the services 0
veterans, his active hostility to Nationa
justice toward them and their dependen
ones. Ii is a commentator Of Courtlan
c. Katson's cold-blooded betrayal of vita
interests conided to his charge in the fun
therance Of his own ambition.
Both these men will regard their election
as an unmistakable approval of their cours
and an encouragement to pursue it NOR
venomously than ever.