Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-01

Cleveland's Pluck.

when Mr.. CLEVELAND vetoed last year the
dependent pension bill we said that that act
alone ought 10 insure his reelection 10 the
Office Of President Of the United States. II
required courage such as few public men
possess. IL demanded Inst he should dis
miss all considerations personal to himself.
lie had to lose sight OF his own future and
run the risk OF being remanded TO private
life. He had 20 face misrepresentation OF
his motives. lie had 10 take the chances OF
alternating from himself all the soldier vote.
10 A word. he had TO prove himself q second
"Old Hickory" as ANDREW JACKSON used to
be called.
All these considerations did not move Mr..
CLEVELAND from his firm purpose. Come
what would he determined 10 stand upon
his rights, faithfully perform bis duty. DEFY
opposition and misrepresentation, and IL the
people should condemn him therefor, he
would console himself with the conscious
uess Of having done what his principles and
hts conscience required Of him. But the
people recognized in Mr.. CLEVELAND a
model President, and have made UP their
minds that he shall have the opportunity TO
veto another dependent pension bin II Con-
greSs shall dsre to pass another before 1898.
The President has also vetoed large
number OF bills granting pensions TO indi-
yidtrl persons-soldiers. or their widows or
orphans. OF course be has vetoed no meri'
torious bill, but only those which bad been
passed by Congress upon false testimony or
without sufficient investigation. We mem
toned recently the bin which ne vetoed
granting q pension TO a soldier Tor his
widow who, having been captured by the
Confederates, enlisted at once in the "rebol y
army rather than pine IN confinement.
gentleman at Burkeyille has asked us for the
full details OF that case; but we have not
been atle 10 procure them. We have, how
ever, the details OF another Gaze more dis
credifabIe TO the men who voted for the bill
than the one Just mentioned. This latter
case shows, too, how the Presidents careful
ness IN examining into the merits OF pension
bills has impressed senstors, aud how his
b0IdDcss has been impaired TO them. 1t will
do any sound Democrat good TO read the fol-
lowing from the Congressional Record:
Mr.. cOCKRELL: Now, ] want TO say 10
the senator frOm Minnesota Mr.. Davis that
1 dare him TO make q report back to the SEN
ate recommending the passage OF that bill
over the Presidents veto because Mary Ann
DOugherty was an employe in tue Govern
ment service and injured. ] just dare him
10 do II. We will stand on that issue before
the country. They have a chance to vindI.
cate the correctness OF their judgment.
Well might the Missouri Senator dare the
Republicans to recommend the passage OF
the DoUGHERrY bill over the Presidents
veto. What was the merit Of that billy 1t
had none whatever. The woman (Mrs.
DoVoHERTY) was an impostor. As the
Providence journal says, the President
found upon Investigation that Mrs. DoUGE-
ERTY. besides having bad reputation. hid
applied for pension some time ago AZ the
widow OF a member o, q regiment OF New
Jersey volunteers who was afterwards
found to be alive and well. She actually re.
ceived that pension three months before the
fraud was discovered This is the woman
whose case Mr. CocKRELL dared the Re
pubhcaus in the Senate to make test case As
between tue parties and go TO the country
on IL.
Mrs. DOUGHERTY's last pension was grant
Ell because she set up the claim that she was
q victim OF the explosion In the Washington
arsenal In 1864. INSCRIPTIONS woman that
she l.. sire actually made oath that she was
severely burned and internally injured, be-
sIdes being mentally disabled 10 consequence
Of falsng from tho height to which she
was thrown by that explosion.
The Pittsburgh Dispatch, a Republican
paper. examined into the merits OF Mrs.
DoUGHERTY's claim. She had based II upon
pretended certificate Of Msior MCKEE and
Sergeant CAMPBELL. The former says he
believes his signature is forgery. Neither
of them remember signing the certificate.
The Sergeant settled the question Of impos-
ture. lie said that the few women who were
NOT killed in the explosion were only slightly
injured.
But enough. Our Burkevile friend can.
Ike the President and Senator CoCKRELT.,
defy all corners so far as this pension bill Is
We give the facts for the benefit
OF all. They constitute one Of many proofs
that the President is conscientious aud fear
less and worthy Of reelection. lie is so bold
that be will sign the riwr.and-harbor bill
Of this year though he refused to sign that
passed by Congress last year. He goes where
duty points the way. He Is not ashamed
nor afraid TO say that he Is wiser to-day than
be was yesterday.
THIS is osly one phase OF the Presidents
character. and Is presented TO our readersas
but one out OF many reasons why be should
- reelected TO the high Office which he has
Elkd with so much credit to himself and adj
vantage 10 the country.