The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-25
fHp oFFIcIAL sLANpERER.

In lower station.
As Mr. Cleveland's predecessors were in
variably truth-telling men, who in their
official utterances used the utmost care to
speak within bounds, people in general con-
ceived high respect for the yeracity of a
Presidential statement.
Mr.. Cleveland has taken a base advantage
of this confidence. He has assailed men
whose only faults were their loyal service
to the Government and present needs
with foul epithets and charges; and these
assaults have the force of conviction in the
minds of most people.
This is the fragrant evil of it. When he
attacks veteran, denouncing him as de-
serter, shirk, coward, drunkard, OF
swindler endeavoring to plumber the public
Treasury, great mass of the people accept
it as the truth. 1t is impossible for them to
conceive of President of the United States
officially stating falsehood. The poor man
who is denounced must bear the odium. No
one can speak in his behalf and repel the
charges, whose words viii have the weight
and attract the attention of an utterance Of
the Chief Magistrate.
Then, too, all the soldier-hating, toadying
press join in the chorus of denunciation,
while the papers friendly to the soldiers,
thinking that perhaps in this particular
case there may have been a mistake-or be-
ing too busy to make an examination-keep
silent. The illuminated veteran has no
redress for the aspersions which have de-
stroyed his character
Take the case of Joseph Romiser, for ex-
ample, mentioned in THE NATIONAL TRI-
BUNE for Oct. II. The President paraded
reasons which would make ROmiser appear
in very bad light, and the sycophantic
press echoed the abuse. Nobody, on the
other hand, gave the unansWerable reason
ing of the House Committee on Invalid
Pensions why RoHiser was entitled to a
pension; nobody took the trouble to publish
to the world that his claim was considered
by Congress so unquestionably meritorious
that the bill was Immediately passed over
the veto, in the House, by a vote Of IT'S to
80; and in the Senate by unanimous vote
This few people know or think of, while
the mass are made to believe that in yetoing
this claim the President punished a gross
dishonesty, and frustrated scheme to fitch
money from the Treasury.
Or, take the case of John w. Farris,
which was mentioned in previous number
of this paper. In his message vetoing this
| bill the President said:
| thereby return without approval bill originat-
ing in the House of Representatives, entitled An
act granting increase Of pension to John w.
| Farris, which bill is numbered 6l38.
/ The claimant mentioned in this bill enlisted in
the month of October. 1861, and was mustered out
| Of the service In August, 1865.
In 1881, I6 years after his discharge, he filed an
application for pension alleging that he was.af-
ficted with chronic diarrhea, contracted in the
army, and in 1855 his claim was allowed and he
/ was granted pension for that cause
In September Of the year, and after this PEN
sion granted, he filed application for in
of his rate alleging that in 1884 his eyes be-
came affected in consequence of his previous all
meats and the debility consequent thereupon.
The ingenuity deUeloped u, The constant and per-
sistent attacks upon the public Treasury by those
claiming pensions and the increase Of those already
granted is exhibited bold relief by this attempt to
include sore eyes among he results Of diarrhea
entirely satisfied with the opinion of the
medical referee who. after examining this case in
October, 1855, reported that the disease of the
eyes cannot be admitted 10 be result of chronic
diarrhea."
On ali grounds it seems to me that this claimant
should be contented with the pension which has
/ been already allowed him.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, June 81. 1885.
This was proclamation to the entire Ma
ton that John w. Farris was an unscrupu-
lous, designing man, who was attempting to
defraud the Treasury by a downright
swindle, which was only prevented by the
vigilance Of the President Comrade Farris
although man Of local prominence-be
ing Democratic leader and State Senator
| of Missouri-and of high reputation
could make no proper answer to this
ealumniator in high place. There is nc
medium which commands the attention like
Presidential message. 1t was not in his
power to give the same publicity to the fol,
lowing report of his case by the Committee
on Invalid Pensions, which is more than
sufficient reply to the Presidential calumnies
Claimant enlisted in Co. K, 4sth Ill., Oct %, 1861
and was discharged Aug. IS, 1865. In 1881 he ap
piled for pension, alleging chronic diarrhea anC
general debility, which allowed, and he was
placed the rolls and received pension OF IS pei
month. Sept. 4, 1885, he applied for az z1zease
alleging that in July, 1884, he was taken with sor,
eyes resulting from the long and aggravated gen
eral debility contracted in the army. Upon this ap
plicalion the Medical Examiner ia the Pension De
partment decided that the disease of the eye
cannot be admitted TO be a result of chronic diar
rhea." DIR. James McComb reputable physician
OF % years testifies under date of jan 81 1886:
:" have frequently treated him for chronic diar
Yhea. and have known for many years that he wa
a sufferer from that disease; that in 1884 when h,
, was first attacked with con- uncivtis l. IN con
nection with my partner, DR.. Billings treated thu
claimant until he went to the city Of St Ious fo
treatment by DR. Michel, professor OF ophthaI
moogy la Missouri Medical College; that in IA,