The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-03
GEN. HOvEY ON PENSIONS.
He Favors Taking High Ground in Behalf of
Honorably Discharged Soldiers.

He Favors Taking High Ground in Behalf of
Honorably Discharged Soldiers.
Washington Special
General A. p. Hovey, the veteran of two wars
who represents the First Indiana district in Con-
gress, wears his sixty-six years lightly and is
more vigorous in body and mind than some of
his fellow members who his juniors by a
score of years. In conversation with Tribune
correspondent to-day respecting the prospect Of
said:
"The Republicans can carry the next election
30 easily that it will De surprise to themselves
il they will only take advantage of their oppor-
tunities and make the right kind of o latform,
one that will recognize the soldiers ri ghts not
as charity, but as justice. The men who saved
made possible, and l, for one. do not believe in
trying to carry water on both shoulders, espe-
cially mp hill believe in the motto, Dare to
do right And what if it does offend somebody
IL we pension the Union soldiers?"
You made splendid campaign yourself,
General. when you TUNED Democratic major
ity of 5000 into Republican majority of 1900"
II didn's do it; candor, as we'll modesty,
compels me to disclaim it, 1t was this same
policy that would like TO carried into the
presidential campaign that did the work. And
diers are honored by Democratic government
am sent to the legislative hall of my country,
and the door enter is opened to me by a rebel
soldier from Mississippi. / want to send bill
to the Speakers table, it may be, asking relief
for tbs men who lost all in the service of
Union, and the bill is carried there by another
ex rebel from Missouri somewhere
else. Then look at the Presidents mes
sage. Judging by that document this man
whose friends have already reelected him. has
forgotten that any of our soldiers still live. But
the soldiers live, and enough of them, too to be-
come pretty lively factor in politics, and their
comradeship is not a myth. either; they will
stand by their guns every time l commend
the policy that e lected me to the careful consid-
GRAFTON of the Republicans. 1t is true such
South; but we afford to do without it, for
we would carry the whole North
will you please state exactly what that pol
icy is, Generalp
''Is will take few words TO do it. Let every
soldier who served in the late war be given a
OF the revolution, of 1872, of sthe Indian wars
and the Mexican war l do not believe in
dependent pensions, which place the soldier in
the attitude OF mendicant receiving
aims, but insist that all pensions should be
given honorable rewards and that every SOL
der should be proud, be he rich or poor, to be
honored by his government with such reward
of merit Men are not usually afraid of receiv-
ing too much money, and If there are few who
have so much that they cannot use more, let
them receive this just due, aud distrb butte it for
the good of some dead comrades widow or or
phans Better so than locked up in our plethor-
ic treasury-vaults, while the men with whom
England sympsthized in our days OF peril are
making the halls of Congress ring with Eng
lands Golden doctrine of free trade as the beat
possible wav of reducing the surplus. ] would
cnt all the red tape that now entangles the Pen
sion Department, although this might send
many Of the lawyers to the poor house; but
honorable discharge should be the sole basis of a
soldiers claim. and with that in his hand he
need fee no agent"