The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-10-26

s1idSii'i' anu iN'NShbc MN w lItc ifIllDt
of hopeless incapables and blunderers.
The ground for Secretary Mobiles
action is simple enough. 1t is the
same in all the 80, 600 cases as in that
upon which the re-rating and increase
in Senator MandersOn's case was de-
clarcd illegal, tO-wit: that there had
been no formal application for the re-
rating or surgical examination, as the
law required.
Well, after such downing" one
would think Tanner ought by this
time to be regarded as Officially at
least pretty effectually snutfed out.
But that is Il mistake. Although
nominally removed, Corporal Tanner
is actually still in the Office. His sal
AIRY goes on just as if nothing had hap
pened, and for forms sake he appears
daily at his desk in the pension office,
though it is supposed he does no work.
And what is wOrse-Or bctter-as by
the terms of his removal" he is to
hold on until his successor is appoint
ed and installed, the chances are that
Tanner may hold on to the end of his
term, as the President apparently can
find no competent man to take his
place. The man, it is conceded on all
sides must be Grand Army man and
one that has the confidence and good
will of that organization, and Private
Dazell says, doubtless no less truly
than energetically, '"Though they rake
hell with 4 tine-toothed comb, they
can find no Grand Army man low and
base enough to take Tanners living
away and impoverish and disgrace him
and his poor children"
Not only no G. A. r. man, but 'no
gentleman will take his place." per-
sists Private Dazell. "The Corporal
has uttered this cry, is there no help
for a solder?' The Grand Army I'M
stands. 1t is like the Hebrew word
Jehorahl It's like the Egyptian word
Fear No one of us dare disregard it
and hope to live in the G. A. r. politi-
cally. 1t is the word of doom. No,
G. A. II. men | say, have said, and
shall repeat as often as | please, not
one ever can take Tanners place eX-
cept to died politically"
1t would be absurd to say that
what Private Dalzell says is mere brag-
gadocio and fustian. He is backed in
every word by the united 100000 of
the G. A. r. After the fuss raised by
Secretary Noble over his blunders, it
was impossible, Private ID. admits, for
the administration to retain Tanner,
"but it is also as impossible for them
to get rid of this Old Man of the Sea.
They wish Tanner at the devil, but
fear the wrath of the soldiers. They
dare not keep him because of his reve-
lations and exposures of their dupli-
city and falsehood; and they dare not
kick him out for fear of losing the
soldier vote. So the Corporal holds the
fort and snaps his fingers in their
teeth and ask them what they are
going to do about it,"
But is there not grave moral to
this? The ADMINISTRATION flndsan official
a hopeless bungler and incompetent,
yet through egotism and pruriency of
fame rushing into endless mischief;
overawed by the threats
of a mighty semi-military organization
dare not remove him? Is this not
Praetorianism in its worst form? If
the G.. A. r. can hold over President
Harrison, or any leading politicians
and statesman, the rod, "NO man who
dares to incure our opposition can ever
hope to be elected, or reelected, Presi-
dent of the United States" would it
not be a step further, and short step
at that, for the G.. A. Il. to set up the
Presidency at auction and knock it off
to the highest bidder, as the old
Roman Praetorian guard put up at
auction and sold the regal tiara of inn
perial Rome.