The National tribune., 1889-09-26
NOTHING BUT THE LAW.


The main efforts of the soldier hating pa
pers are now being expended in trying to
convince the people that the veterans of the
country are trying to force the President,
Secretary of the Interior, Assistant Secre-
tary and Commissioners of Pensions to
empty the Treasury into their pockets in
unauthorized and unlawful "largesses,"
donations" "gratuities," bonuses" etc,
etc.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The veterans expect and want nothing
from the executive officers of the Govern
ment but strict compliance with the law.
They do not desire cent from them that is
not fully authorized by the provisions of
the statutes which have been or which may
be enacted.
There is not in the country class of men
who have higher respect for the law than
the veterans. 1t was profound regard for it
that took them into the army. They went
there to enforce compliance with it by men
who rebclled against it, Their whole serv-
ice was n severe discipline as to the value of
law, and of strict obedience to it. Since
then they have been conspicuous in every
community where they have resided as con-
sistent upholders of thesacredness of thelaw.
They have been regarded by their fellow
citizens rs specially trustworthy in all mat
ters relating TO its execution, and this has
helped determine the selection of thousands
Of them to administer the law in various ca
pacities, from policeman up TO President.
Wherever outbreaks and resistance to law
have occurred, the old soldiers have been
confidently relied upon to aid in enforcing
the law, and never have they failed to JUS
tify that confidence. This has been their
pride, and many times the men who are now
assailing them have felt much more secure
in their persons and property because of
their confidence in the old soldiers as bull
warks of good order.
Is it at all probable that men of this char
acter, so sehoolcd in observance of the law,
and so consistent in practice, should now be
insisting upon fragrant disregard of the let
ter or spirit of the law? 1t would be pre-
posterous TO think So
The complaint of the veterans has been
that the officials charged with the execution
of the pension laws have not given them
the full benefits OF the same. They voted
overwhelmingly for President Harrison last
Fall because his predecessor had utterly
failed to do this, and Gen. Harrison was
pledged TO the contrary course. All that
they require of the President is that the
men whom he appoints in charge of pensions,
shall carefully ascertain what the laws in
tend that the veterans shall have, and then
administer those laws in strict accordance
with their letter and spirit. This they have
the right to ask in no uncertain tones, and
we firmly believe that tho President and his
snbordinates are earnestly DESTROYS that their
rights shall be granted.
Every veteran fnI4y understands that
i,sbsD tho laws do not give rs much as JUS
tice demands, that the exclusive power to
amend them is in the hands of Congress,
and that the President aud all his snbordi-
mates are as powerless as the humblest citi-
zens in the land
Individually, and as n mass, the veterans
do not ask dollar to be paid out of the
Treasury, except under full warrant of the
laws strictly and properly construed. The
Commissioner of Pensions and his superiors
could not do otherwise, even if they would,
and the veterans would not have them do
| 3d. if they would or could.