The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-09-13
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fnhe AND fATtrWZ M
II isa mistake 10 suppose that tWN
yeterans Of the war a4 opposing PrehI
dent Cleveland on the ground That J
vetoed 20 many private penaion blllN
The more intelligent class OF Soldlefhf'
who are not blinded by partisan plelu'
dice, approve OF the Presidents action.
II muat be understood that in oyefy
case OF private pension bill, the claim
OF the soldier had preyionlly been TO-
jected by the Commissioner OF PEN
aiona, on tho evidence presented OF dis
ability. In all the earlier yetoea of
President Cleveland, the claims had all
been passed upon and rejected by the
Republican Commissioner OF Pensions.
The fact that a private bill ia intrOduc-
cd In Congress 10 give soldier PEN
sion, indicates that the claimant has
either failed under the pension laws In
the pension bureau, or that his case 10
entirely outalde Of the laws OF the
United States. We must understand
that pensions are not granted on char
ity alone. The whole theory OF pen.
sion legislation In this country, from
tho war OF Independence down 10 the
present time, has been based upon pat
rIotIc considerations solely. The theory
of u pension ia that the applicant
has rendered valuable service 10 his
country, and has been disabled on
account OF that service, II resta upon
the basis OF merit, The pension Ia
given the soldier because he has earned
II. II Is not bounty or gratuity, but
q just tribute for service earned. The
Dependent Pension bill vetoed by Presl.
dent Cleveland was 10 pay pensions 10
those who were willing 10 file on 0til,,
dayit In the archives Of the PEND ionl
Onice In Washington, there 10 remain
for all time, that they are paupere, Imd
ask this gratuity from the Government
of the u, $, aa the gift Of charity, 10
was a most degrading reQuIaitlon. The
Dependent Peuslon bill was humilia-
tlon and degradation 10 the manhood
Of every soldier who ever carried q
muaket, or o aaber.
II was not a measure 10 provide
pension for those wounded, disabled or
impaired IN the service OF their coun-
try, but those who had become impair
cd In civil life. This kind OF legislation
degrades every true soldier, whose
wounds or disability were contracted
In the line Of duty during the war. IL
placed every gallant penaioner In the
entire list, whose Injuries were con-
tracted In the clash Of battle, on par
with u pauper, whose disability 10 due
TO his designations, or eGcesses, In the
immoraltes of civil life.
For these reasons the best soldiers OF
this country admire and applaud Grover
Cleveland for his bold and fearless
stand for keeping the pension list In
the line Of patriotism and above the
line OF pauperism. In evidence of this
we print below n card from number
Of Republican veteran soldiers NJ Sey-
mour, Ind:
REPUBLICAN SOLDIERS DECLARE FOR
DEMOCRACY.
SEYMOUR, Ind, Aug, 20.-The follow.
ing explains itself:
We, the undersigned soldiers, having
served In the following companies and
regiments, and never having voted any.
thing but the Republican ticket, desire
TO say that we, having examined the
vetoes OF President Clevelandin private
pension bills, approve Of his course, and
wish 10 say 10 our comrades that we
will each OF us vote for Grover Cleye1
land for President and the entire DEM
ocratic state ticket for the FIRST time.
d. J.. PEACOCK, Co, y, 33rd Indiana.
G.. w. MITCHELL, e2nd Indiana,
JOHN SMITH, Co. X, 22nd Indiana.
JOSEPH DINlIAM, 7th and 10th Ind.
WILLIAM KRAMER, Co. ID, ith Ohio,