The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-28
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Political Organization of Soldiers.

To the Editor OF the INDIANAPOLIS Journal
Rumors Of a movement among Democratic
members of the G.. A. r. looking to Q with
drawal OF Democratic members and the forma-
ton of a distinct organization for political pur-
poses seems to be taking form under the lead
ership Of General Palmer, of Illinois, and Ad-
jutant-general Koontz, of Indiana, if the press
articles recently crediting these parties with
such designs are true. Adjutantgeneral
Koontz, Of Indiana. is quoted as asserting that
when the Democratic element is eliminated
from the G. A. r. there will be precious little
left Of the original organization. TIL writer,
for one, says amen to their project. Let them
60, and the quicker the better. Ii will not be
twelve months until the leaders in such q move
ment will he written down as asses. with a very
large A. The writer is in q position to know
something Of the membership Of the Grand
Army, and does not believe over 10 per cent OF
its members are Democrats. and very few OF
these affiliate in that spirit Of comradeshlp
taught and p~racticed by other members OF the
order. If Democratic soldiers think they can
best serve their personal interests and the inter
ests of the Union soldiers as a body b. with
drawing from the Grand Army and joining the
W ~ cO'4 SN1shS ~
the Republican party and General Harrisonis
administration, it is their privilege to do so.
The Grand Army will survive the slight shock
it will occasion, and the friends of honest gov
eminent in Indiana will be the better prepared
to defeat their plans for making Indiana q tail
to the solid South devilocracy in the future. 1t
is believed, however. that several thousands OF
Democratic soldiers with decent war records"
who voted for General Harrison at the late
election. will 'think the matter over" several
times before coming to the conclusion that the
Democratic party. led by the malignant rebels
of the South. and Green Smith and his gang In
Indiana, is the party of the future from whom
the soldiers Of the Union may expect justice or
the preservation of the Nation they helped to
save. No true soldier can or will continue to
vote for and indorse the internal thieving
methods now being used to steal the House
from the Republicans fairly elected in the
South, said methods, bearing the same fruit,
la Indiana, through the Infamous
of this State for legislative and congressional
representatives under the leadership of Senator
voorhees,. Green Smith, ct al. Cancellation ID
useless towards such incorrigible scoundrellsm
as dictates to and leads the Democracy into sue-
tanning the methods by which they have nulli-
fed the Constitution In the Southern States
every day since they were mistakenly forgiven
for their rebellion, which Union Soldier Dem
ocrats," under the proposed Leadership of Gen.
Palmer, Adiutant- general koontz, Senator
Voorhees,, Green Smith and Grover Cleveland,
are expected to indorse. 1t is time for all Re-
publican soldiers and their sons to look the sit
uation in the South and here in Indiana square
ly in the face and prepare to meet 1t, through q
Republican organization of soldiers and their
sons, who will demand that honest methods shall
prevail in protecting the rights of the citizen in
every part of our country; that will demand
that the results of the war be secured under
General Harrisons administration from further
assault by the rebel bourbon Democracy. North
or South. The solid South Democratic plans
for nullifyine tho laws governing the elective
franchise must be crushed, along with the cor
rupt Democratic leadership here In Indiana on
the same lines. or ii will in a few years destroy
the government. This is a Nation, and the first
duty OF the Republican party, fit would hold
and retain power, Is to do full justice to those
who fought 70 preserve 1t. a
II the party had relied, in the late election.
solely on the tariff issue, it would have been de-
feated in Indiana and New York, as
an analysis of the votes of the
cities compared with the agricultural
communities will show. On the tariff
alone the party is liable to be defeated in the
future, as the people are 30 evenly divided on
that question that the loss OF New York. Con-
necticut and Indiana would affect The gains from
new States to come in, and the Republicans may
surely count on a more popular man than Cieve-
~ OOAhS ~ vi " - A0ek Cbh
hence. Consequently. it is clearly the duty of
the Republicans, on regaining control of the
government, to adopt a policy Of justice towards
the soldiers of the Union, that will bind them
with hooks Of steel 70 the support Of that party
in the future. by the early passage Of laws that
shall do full justice TO the Union soldier, as
worthy of the first and highest consideration,
whose claims should be speedily adjusted by
Congress, equalized with more favored creditors,
and paid. The difference heretofore recognized
In our laws between the Investments of
money and the investment OF life
necessary to save the Union must be obliterated
from orr national statutes. Up to June 80, 1888.
the almost uncomfortable sum Of 1862, 000.G00
has been paid to bondholders on account of the
rebellion-$2, 153, O90, 964 81 Of this amount for
interest alone. For the same years. 1865 to 1888,
there has been paid out for the entire pension
list, S946. 1897. $50, but q tribe over one-fourth as
much rs paid the money-lenders This Unequal
ity aud injustice must be corrected by the Re-
publicaps within General Harrison's administra-
ton. The disgraceful ratings in our pension
laws OF 81, 81. So and 81 per month must be
eliminated from our statutes. Many soldiers
left the party four years ago on account or these
things that have returned. since the series of in
sulting vetoes issued by Grover Cleveland,
Thousand of soldiers yet feel that the
Union and the legitimate results of the
war. are unsafe, SO long as mensced by
the reactionary Bourbons of the South
and their doueh-faced allies in the Demo
cratic party of Indiana and other close Northern
OtobCo. L caoOuS IL 10 6GRkc6tG0 I1dL
we form in Indiana and throughout the country
q political organization composed OF soldiers and
their sons, to be known as the Soldiers and
Sailors Republican League of Indiana, which
shall have for its object the uniting into one
body and political brotherhood the men who be-
lieve in preserving the fruits and principles for
which they fought, which have been Endorsed
by the Republican party in the past, with
promise of permanent frution in the future, if
Republicans are true to themselves. OrganiZa-
ton and vigilance at this critical moment in our
history is just as imperative to secure justice to
the soldiers and the fruits of our victory under
General Harrison as it was to save
the Union, 1861 to 1865. Indiana must be re-
deemed two years hence. and taken ont OF the
clutches or the corrupt Democratic ring, that
has adopted, as far IS it dares. the Southern
disfrsnchising plans in our fair State, and whose
administration of the benevolent institutions Of
the State is q disgrace to the civilization of the
age. The Grand Army Is on a secure basis, and
will take care of itself against all assaults from
disgruptled Democrats who cannot use IL for
their purposes. Here at Terre Haute we pro-
pose to make our soldier campaign organization
permanent, for future service against the De
mocracy, North or South, and have adopted a
constitution and bylaws under the name and
title of the Union Soldiers and Sailors Repu0.
lean League of Vigo County. and recommend
that all Republican soldiers enroll themselves
and sons in such organizations, for political
work. 10 every county in the State. Woo.
TERRE HAUTE, Nov. &c.
|
Competent Men for the Ofices.
To the Editor Of the indianapolis journal
a A. 49, g.. $780, .--1