Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-03-08
Senator Fest on The Pensions BuI.


nuskets left of that splendid army which
had faced the world in arms and which had
been battered and beaten back by over.
whelming numbers The South to-day wss
covered with maimcd and crippled soldiers,
who had been shot and shelled and sabre
struck for their honest convictions, and they
asked no pension, and would not take it
God be blessed . They were not in aims
houses, and none Of them had ever been
seen begging Tor bread. Whence, then,
came the talk of Federal soldiers in aims
houses? They were not there. Why the
talk that Congress bad not done enough for
The Union soldiers when Che country had
paid out since 1865 $3.50 100000 for pen
-ions--a liberality unparalleled in the history
6f the world
Mr. Vest went on to say that OF the 2,300-
900 men enrolled as soldiers during the four
wears of the war there were applications
from 100000 for pensions on account of
disability. Such military execution, he
said. had never been known in the history
of tbe whole world. The Coufederates had
thought that they had poor powder and ord
nance stores, and yet. making due allow
ance for the ciiec, of climate in producing
disability, it would appear that one Confed
crate soldier, half clothed and half fed, had
disabled three of bis adyer-arics. There
had been no such destruction iu military
nnals-since the Children of Israel marched
through the wilderness destroying whole
nations in a single day. recent dispatch
from Paris bad caused political candidates
% become rs thick "as leaves in NallAm-
bfoa." Before lbat dispatch had come un-
Ter the ycasty waves Of ocean lhe republican
party had been in the condition OF the man
who, having gone home some hours before
hts usual lime in the morning. aud having
been asked why he had gone home so soon,
replied that every other place in town was
shut up. The doors of The republican par
~ were now open and presidential candi-
,latcs were coming 90 the front without linn
1t as 10 quantity or locality The Senate
lad been engaged for some days past in a
POLITICAL auction Tor the soldier vote. First
had come his friend from Nebraska, (Mr.
Nandrrson backed by the Grand Army of
lhe Republic, and he Mr. Nc,l had listen
ed with real graticuion 10 hi, dulcet and
modula,ed voice from the beginning to the
nd Of his speech Even taat Senator's
dings at the President OF the United States
bad not delrac,ed from the general merit
ofhis bid for the soldier vote, and when he
received a floral tribute ~ a token Of regard
rom is aamiring constituent, behind him,
be Mr. Vest bad but one single suggestion
, make, and that WAS lhal the lilies should
laye been embroidered over ihs portal Of
be White House.
That was the object Of an the debate, Of
all the bidding for te soldier vote Of the
.ountry in thc coming contest When the
senator from Nebraska took OBJ, seat, he
Mr. Vcsu had thought that the bid was in
nis favor Bat then lhc present occupant
os tie chair. the Senator from Maine (Mr.
Fryel had Caught tie cye OF the auction
eer'-the Grand Army OF ihe Republic
and had gone one better" That Senator
wa. prepared to vote a pension to every
man who had served day in the Federal
army. He Mr. Vest wa. about 10 knock
iown the prize 70 thc Senator rom Maine
when his friend from Kansas Nr Plumb
came TO the front and outbld the Senator
rom Maine by am amendment to the bill
which would increase thc expenditure un-
dcr it $4,000. 90 or 100000. lie Or.
Ve-u bad then been strongly oi opinion
that the auction would close aud tie prize
be given to the Senator from Kansas, but the
senator from Illinois Nr CnIIoml came 10
.he front and made bid from that great
prairie Slate which ha. staggered bis Mr..
Ve,t.l convictions 81, TO the propriety Of
closing The sale. Since tbat time he has
been in a condition Of anxiety waiting to
hear from other bidders in lhe great nation
ai auction.
Tie senate bad not not heard from his
lulcei-loncd friend from lowa, Mr. Alisonl
who bad kept Dis scat and mcr Iy nodded
ac1picscence 20 The most extreme PROPOSE
lions for the benefit Of tic cx soldiers. Nor
had the Senate yet heard from the disiiu-
gui,hed Senator from Ohio, llr oherman)
who. in such contest, ought certainly to
come TO the front and bid something for the
vote. which candidate, thought was to de-
termine the contest Neither bad the Sen.
ate yet heard from the Pra'ding officer
lMr Ingalls, who bad been nominated by
Use District Of Columbia and every one
knew that the District Of Columbia acted
rom the most di.interesled and unselGsh
motives
lie 'Mr Vestl would rather have the
+ nomination Of TIE District of Columbia
than from any Stale 10 tAe Union, because
= Cas- every one knew 10 came from the heart
and never from ihe pocket No man. w'.
man or child Do tbc Disrci bad any other
object tLan TIE promotion cl ne national
honor and property And 80 when he
read in Democratic paper o. Washington
e lost sunday l5ei0re attending church, that
e the pre-idiug officer Of fae Senate was the