The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-08
PRIVATE FIFER,s VICTORY
Gen. John C. Blacks Gtatuitous Insult,
and How Ii Was Resented.
A Question the State of Illinois Answered
The Nomination in Washington-Good
Reading from Committees Records.

W. B. s.. in st. Louis Globe Democrat.
THAT fellow Black did it,, We have to thank
him for putting the Republican party in ILL
nois in the very best position it could occupy in
the coming campaign This was the bitter
comment uttered by . very prominent Illinois
Democrat when the news was circulated through
the lobby of the Willard last night that private
Joe Fifer had been nominated. Illinois Demo-
Gratis in Washington, one and all, throw up
their hands. They say that il there was any
chance OF carrying the State II has been thrown
away. They hold Black responsible for it, and
'cussS him heartily.
How BLACK did 1T il . rather interesting
story. Fourteen months ago 'private Joe Fifer'
had not been mentioned rs q candidate for Gov
ernor. Black was on the rack before Senate
investigating committee. ofAwhich Senator Gull
lom and Senator Plumb were members The
Commissioner Of Pensions had made wild as
sertion that there had been improper manage
msnt Of the bureau before he became the head
of it. The Senators demanded proofs One day
in March he sent up 10 the Capitol q list OF
cases which he eaid had been fraudulently al
lowed. In the list was the name OF private
Joseph W. Fifer, OF Mclean county, Illinois.
AS proof that Fifer's pension had been i'm
properly allowed, Gen. Black sent TO the COM
mittee card he had found among the papers.
This card bore date of April 10. 1884, and was
addressed to the then Commissioners. Gen. Dud-
ley. 1t read as follows:
am anxious to have this mans pension increased
to $24 per month BE was one of the trues and best
men God ever made. Was shot Just about Presi-
dent Garfield was. know him we'll A little work
breaks him down and he is sick for . time.
Please give him this attention soon. Yours,
s. Nd. CULLoM
General Black followed up his list by stating.
without qualification, that Filters pension had
been increased to $24 on this request Of Senator
Cullom and AGAINST the facts IN the case. When
meeting of the Grand Army post was held The
Pension Commissioner was bitterly denounced,
and resolutions offered by Democratic mem
Der of the post were adopted without dissent
ing vote.
After setting forth that the facts in Mr..
Filters case were we'll known to them, and that
they believed General Black was also acquainted
with the facts. the members of the post re-
solved:
THAT this attack upon Comrade Fifsr il wanton
and groundless and does great injustice to worthy
and brave Union soldier, who has long struggled
against disability caused by rebel lead.
That such an nsinuation, made. As this without
character of . soldier"
A copy of the resolutions was sent to General
Black. He rushed into print with letter which
he never sent to the Bloomington post but
which he gave to the Democratic newspaper in
letter he reiterated. his insult in even stronger
language than before
''On what was the $24 given. if not upon the
slip Of Shelby M. Cullomr General Black
wrote 'sThe rating given was the precise sum
asked for by him, and mono other"
Fifer replied to this letter Of Black. At that
time the Commissioner of Pensions, himself
drawing pension of 500 month. was posing
as the Democratic candidate for Governor who
could carry Illinois for Cleveland in 1883. The
vicepresidental bee was not buzzinR about his
ears then. He was telling his friends in Wash
ington that he was the man who could draw OF
the soldier vote from its old allegiance, and
make Illinois Democratic.
Twelve months ago almost to-day private
Fifer published his ringing reply to Black. and
Immediately the old soldiers began to say. "Fi-
fer for Governor" His boom began with the
letter to Black and IL has been growing ever
by many as rebuke to Black. It stood for .
principle. But as Filters personality spread be-
yond the boundaries Of his own
county it helped the movement II
would have been dropped when Black declined
the challenge Of the old soldiers, pulled oct of
the field for Governor and began to lay his pipes
for the second place on the national ticket But
'private Joe" had that true merit 10 him which
made his candidacy grow even after Black had
swallowed the sebuke.
While the controversy between the Senate
committee and Black Was on a year ago, Senator
Cullom received . letter which 10 a few words
told the history of private Fifsr bette: than any
campaign biographer will be able to do it. This
letter was written by S. H. West who was the
Democratic Representative from Mclean coun-
ty in two General Assemblies of Illinois. Mr..
West expressed his deep regret at General
Blacks course. and wrote of private Filter as
follows
Il feel IL my duty to express to you something
of my estimate of him. The history of the man
Is remarkable. When the war commenced Jo-
seph w. Fifer WAS . poor boy Of eighteen. SO
poor. in fact, that he walked bare-footed from
his humble home in distant part of Mclean
county. to Bloomington. to enlist in the service
of his country Though only private, his rec
ord In the army is as good as the best OF any
rank. The story of his deathly wounds Is we'll
liver at the battle of jackson, Miss. A comrada
OF his told me, years ago, Of helping to carry
Fifer of the field of battle virtually dead, as all
believed. But aided By his unconq uerable will
power, be survived and went back to the war as
soon as able for light service, and served several
months after his term of three years expired.
At the close OF the war he came home physical
wreck, penniless and without education or iniu-
entail friends. with no prospect ia life except to
hire out as common laboror. His
history from that day to this has been heroic. I
know of nothing in the life of Lincoln or Gar
field. of any other man In all history, that
exhibited such brave and gallant fight against
adverse circumstances as that made by Joe
Fifer since the war. with the hand and shade Of
death lowering over him at all times Bince the
battle of jackson, which has handicapped his
every effort Environed with poverty and lack
of education he has worked his way up to q
good education and position In the Blooming
ton bar that might we'll be envied by the most
favored men in the land. On account of his
wound he is to-day lingering along the picket
line that divides this life from the unknown
realms. Mr.. Fifer 10 the soul OF honor, of chiv-
airy and every generous and manly impulse that
epnobles the human heart. Knowing these
facts as l do, can it be any wonder. Mr.. Senator,
that !, in common with all other Democrats of
Mclean county, keenly feel and resent the I'M
Just thrust made against the man whose heroic
qualities and patient sufferinRs command the
admiration Of all, without regard to partyl'
Such is the man the Republicans of Illinois
have just nominated for Governor, as he 10
known to his Democratic usighbors
Among the papers on file before the Senate
committee is letter from Surgeon Rex, who
attended Fifer and who thus describes his
wound:
1T was eunshot wound. passing obliouely
through the inferior lobe Of the right lung and
then through the upper part of the liver. There
could be no mistake in the diagnosis Of this case.
as the air rushed out of the upper opening at
every respiration and hillary matter exuded
from the opening. You will remember how hot
av~A 1~xr H. - ~ftna