Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-08-30
PENSION DEMAGOGY.
A Fruitful Cause of Abuse OF a
Democratic President.
Records showing what fresi"e
Cleveland has Actually Done for the
ola veteraus-.strong Refutation of
Republican Charges.

QlsneQ up ny tho oPuo'Nu P'@oo 10 '""'
in regard to pensions. NOtwithstand'
ing that the record of this bureau under
crease in the number of pensions granted
over previous years during republican
sscendancy, and that President Cleve>
land signed more relief bills than several
of his republican successors put together
the partisan press continue TO howl
about the lack of patriotism and honesty
of purpose displayed by the democratic
executive. And no paper takes more
pains in distorting the truth and max
ing slanderous misrepresentation than
the Rock Island Union, Under its pres
ent slip-shOd management 1t seems PEI
culiarly adapted to the dirty work and
mud>slinging apparently necessary in the
absence of any candid and honest OBJ
lection to President Clevelsnd's policy as
regards pensions. Tuesday morning
the Union worked itself into passion
over the veto by the president OF pen
sion to Manuel Garcia, of Moline. There
is no doubt but that the president had
good reasons for his action; even the
Union admits that his original claim had
been rejected by the pension bureau as
unworthy.
Instead of abuse, President Cleveland
is entitled to the highest praise in possess
ing sufficient courage and determination
TO fulfil his public trust impartislly and
honestly. Every time he refuses to Of
cially endorse pension claim, ne knows
e there will be howl and cry by the parti'
san press and by the rspacious class who
look upon the United States treasury a.
receptacle of public plumber. TIT
policy of the democratic party is to rem
der federal assistance to all those fully en-
titled to it, but it is unalterably oppose,
to granting every claim, whether good o
bad. simply because the government
hDlS W no So. nc GNhuto hbo biiS 5ANo'
est respect and veneration for the old sol
der. He proved himself the bulwark c
the country's safety in the time of danger
and when peace holds her gentle sway, b
should be rendered all the emoluments c
generous impulse and nations graf
tude.
And President Clevelands ADMINISTERS
ton is a strong example of the high es
TEEN in which the great American Peep
bold the true soldier. The question vi
then naturally arise, What has bee
done for the soldiers during the pa
three years and hslf?'
These are the facts
During the first three years of Pres
dent Cleveland's administration, mo
money was paid to pensioners than in al
corresponding period of our history.
During the fiscal year ended July
1Ss4-the last under republican admi
istration-the total number of claims {
lowed was "a, 1872. The number Of clsiT
allowed during the succeeding three yes
was:
1850 90
-........'.'..'...-'4 ~
les7........--....-.--.-..- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
During the fiscal year ended July
1887, the number of claims allowed
the pension bureau was 1902 in exc
of the highest number ever allowed in a
year when the government was in repI
licsn hands. an increase of Utmost fifty
cent.
Now for the pension disbursement
The highest amount paid for pensions d
ing any one year of republican rule y
$50, 431, 972 S.. During the year end
July /, 1887, the pension disbnrseme
were S74.Sl5, 1856 65-more than .tourt
millions in ercess Of the largest disbu
ments for this purpose By republican
ADMINISTRATION in any one year. The
ures for the ten fiscal years 1S7S-1s
inclusive, are;
loIo....-...-.-........- ----....S 2o,Sft.fi