The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-08-09
Southern Brigadiers and Pensions.

| REMARKS OF HON. $. l.. MILLIKEN IN THE
HOUSE JULY llTI.
Mr.. Milliken fttingly rebuked a Southern
brigader. who said in his speech that the Re
publican party We're not willing to reduce the
| surplus in the Treasury unless they could dc
| so by eXpcnding it in uhleserved pensions Ii
| should he known that the Democracy, while
| they have allowed favorable reports to be
made 10 the House on many bills recommend
ct by the Grand Army of the Republic, have
| >tudiou>y been on the alert to present any OF
| these bills to he considered by Congress- The
| only thing done has been declaration that III.
| der existing law Il widow is entitled to hcl
| pension from the death of her husband instead
of the time cf filing her declaration, and lead.
ng southern Democrats. both in the Senate
and in The House, declared that they were done
passing tw> favorin!; further pensions. We
quote from the Congressional Record of July
| Iith:
Mr.. MiIIi!l.'n- Mr.. Chairman, am clad tc
have heard the remarks of my friend from
North Carolina Mr, Eowle>l on this occasion
hctaIIs" "h" he does not occupy the floor Of
ten. on very frequently demand the attention
| OF the House in debate. he is one of those who
has the fiankne>S TO speak his opinion as tc
legislation which ha, ,con pending in thi,
House relating to pensions. and has the candor
i'll that respect to voice the sentiment of his
party III di>aprroVli OF pensions.
Air. CowleS-A Allow me 10 say that the gen
ticman il mistaken.
Mr.. Miiken-!Ic SAYS that the Republican
party arc unwilling to reduce the revenues cN-
ccpt they can DO il by spending the money in
the payment of ''ill-de>crvcl PENSIONS
Mr.. Cow!es-Do yon want to pay iIl-leServ-
cd pensions.
Mr.. Mliken Fl! was clad to hear it from him
for one reason, and that is because it shows his
opinion of what the duty of the country is to
Tie soldiers
MIR. Cowles-- Allow me ii moment
MIR. Mlikcn-Let me finish my sentence
first.
Mr. Eowe> The gentleman mistakes my
position.
Mr. MiIikcn-The gentleman exhibits his
opinion Of what the duty oi the country is
toward the soldiers aud il H. 50 wei expressed
in that sentence. hich emhoics what his par
~ has shown 80 he their feelings. that ! wei
come Il in that respect a. being III authoriia-
tive expression 0f sentiment.
MIR. tuNle> If the "rnileman will partlcu
Mr.. Millhrn-l hope my friend will keep
quiet. call my friends attention to that eN-
preston because have no doubt that before
the morning" sun shines the gentleman will, on
reilerticn. see III 10 strike it from the Record,
because It is Too bold and honest an expression
OF his party position.
Mr. Cowics -- The gentleman mistakes me
altogether.
Nlr. MiI'ikcn--i do not desire it to be in the
Record because he said it. but do desire it to
be there because. in two words. nowhere else
TO he found in the English language, can the
position the Democratic party has occupied in
this House since this Congress sat on the first
Monday in December last. so well express
what they have done ana what they have
~hoWn t. !e their feeling upon the subject of
pensions.
1t is known here. if not to the country. that
the Democracy, controlled by the late Confed-
crates. consider all pensions TO Mon soldiers
70 be unde>erved pensions. You give to the
widows and dependents of the old Union sold
er> and To the sick and wounded veterans
some little crumb once in Il long time 80 As to
say" Nour credit rs patriotic men; but every
important measure presented to Congress for
the rciict Of the soldiers. except one. the de-
pendent pension bill You have defeated bv
parliamentary tactics. or direct votes. and that
measure your President vetoed, while he sign
ed the Mexican pension hill tive->NthS of
whose h;notitS 20 to eX-rchels. Your commit
tee for fleet among the soldiers has reported
to this House pension bills which the Grand
AFlny Of The Republic have III their conventions
recommended: but while on reported them TO
the lis'lsc with one single exception they have
been denied cOn>ilrratioli--one amendment to
an appropriation bill which allows widows to
draw their pensions from the time of the death
"f the husband instead OF the date of the filing
Of the application, aud that was but confirms
alton ot then existing law: with that Single eN-
ccpi"n you have done nothing for the pen ion
crS and you Io not mean to do anything.
OH block the way of pension legislation and
vii! not allow general pension bills to be COLI
>iierd in t1i> House No Gl;tn can get rccoy-
milton to cali them UP; or if. by the Grace Of
the Kind. courteous, and wentlcmamiv Speaker.
who has sat in this House since | have been Il
member, any one does get recognition, some
gentleman on the other side is swift to that
those bills are not taken up for consideration.
He tights them, and. if Necessary, uses all the
sources of filibU>'erimg to smother them
''iti-steSorved pensions" Yes; it was the real
expression Of the feeling Of the Democratic
party III the House in REGARD to all pensions as
shown by it> action in this and prior Cong
rc>>e>.
MI. towI">-- Allow me 4 moment.
Nr. Miliken-No,N. ;ts faras that is concern
I'd, will leave. iny friend. when oct through.
to explain himself in any manner hr plcascs ;
bat do congratulate him upon having that
control of the English tongue. that conciscncss
oil express ION which has enabled him to put in
two words the position of his party in this
House upon the granting of pensions to | Mon
soldiers 10 the men who made it possible for
him aud for me to-day to stand Under HE iia"
OF one country and TO L gi>latc here for a 9rcat
republic that tl,atS is banner more proudly in
tie face, "f the naton> of the earth than ii ever
did before Applause.
Here jht hammer fell