The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-04-06
INGALLS, TRADE


The speech which Mr.. ingalls, Of
Kansas recently delivered in the United
States Senate on the pensions bill was
extremely malignant Its author dem
onstrated. although the demonstra-
ton was unnecessary. that he i keenly
sarcastic and q master Of invec;iye.
and that there is perhaps no other man
in The American public life so skillful
in the art Of saying trenchant things
in a parliamentary way He insulted
President Cleveland. and also the
memories Of Generals Hancock and
McClellan; and perverted fact to the
extent Of declaring that no Democratic
constituency in the South had ever
elected Union soldier o. either branch
Of Congress The speech was bitterly
partisan. Its purpose was 10 rvile
the Democratic leaders and 10 revive
sectional animo<ities. and Mr. Black
burn fifty characterized il when. in the
course Of his calm and courteous but
vigorous reply. he pronounced il An
insult 10 the dignity II the Senate.
The bill before tie Senate was framed
by the Grand Army Of the Republic.
and provided for the extension u PEN
sions to disabled veterans Whether
the proposed bcneticiarics. who imper-
lied their lives in defense 81 the Union
at the most critical period in its his
tory. should now. in their old are and
helplcssness be protected and sup
ported by the Government they helped
to save or be left dependent on the
charity Of their ncighbors. i a problem
for reason and gratitude and not for
passion to solve. There i nothing in
the proposition that calls for an APP
peal to III. hatrels born Of the war.
Those who fought against the Union
now realize as fully a. those who
fought for it that il was fortunate for
all the struggle resulted as il did. They
are thankful. notwithstanding that the
war cost the loss Of thousands upon
thousands Of lives they held dearer
than their own and the sacrifice Of
their fortunes. that the Union arms
triumphed Had il been otherwise the
condition Of the country would now be
deplorable and lis future threatening
In these circumstances. il itwas Senator
ingalls, desire 10 secure the passage u
the bill and thus assist the old soldiers.
he should have appealed to the judy
ment and sense Of fairness 81 the south
ern representatives Such an appeal
would not have been in vain. But TIM.
was not his desire He did not discus.
I the question from the standpoint 81 tbs
patriot and statesman. but from thai
Of the partisan and demagogue. HI
kpew his speech would be offensive e
4 Northern and Southern Democrats u
Senate and House. and that il wou's
perhaps cmbittcr them against the bill
1 to such an extent as 60 ieopariize q
I defeat its enactment. Yet. conscious Q
this--and he must have been con>ciou
% Il, inasmuch rs he is not a fool b
deliberately pursued = course calcu
lated TO accomplish the very thing b
professed to desire to avoid. Why di'
Mr. Ingalls, do this? Simply becaus
he wished TO create an issue which b
hoped would be helpful to the Reput
lican party. lie fancied that
by insulting and angering theI
he could only goad the Dem
ocrats into defeating the bill
the Republicans would then hare
basis on which to ground an apes
for the support Of all those who fong'
in the Union army. He would subje'
the helpless veterans 20 indefinite IN
poverishment and suffering for II
sake Of m advantage to the politics
organization to which he owes n
present official position and upo
which ne depends for still higher ho'
ora u II any exaggerxtion to -
that this man II the enemy and not "a
!. friend Of the soldier? He pretends
favor the bill yet hopes for its defca
He pleads for tho veteran, yet adopts
. policy which he must know will y
sure denial ~ the veterans dcman
: He hypocriticalIy asks Congress 20
the very thing which he doesa
, want ID to do Professions
: love for the veterans are or }
: lips. but sympathy with the cripple
!. old heroes u not IN his heart Lnga
I Il brilliant, but his briiliancy docsu
!. blind the public 70 the fact that he
y | I.a..~~s ~ .s.sc.s~. !. oahis and n