Evening journal., 1889-08-15
RESCUED FROM POVERTY.

The New York Tribune is doing lively
and persistent work in defence Of cor
Corporal Tanner. The latest effort in
that direction is a gorgeous explanation
to relieve the wild frenzy" Of the dis
loyal Democratic press concerning Sena
tor Henderson of Nevada.
Senator Henderson is a millionaire.
He was not applying for a pension, end
he was not in the line of march TO the
poor house. But out OF pure benevolence
and from a liberal and sort Of inner
temple purer Right Interpretation Of the
pension laws Corporal Tanner determined
that he ought to have large pension on
general principles. Having reached this
conclusion the corporal explained the
situation in his own sweet and melfiuous
language thus;
There appeared to be an idea abroad
that sympathy would control action in
these matters; that IL soldier was
needy and suffering we were not inclined
to look much beyond that fact in consid-
ering the pension claim. But | said that
II in the case Of man of eminent po.
sition and easy circumstances like Sena-
tor Manderson we found that injustice
had been done, and proceeded TO right
the wrong, II would be the best kind of
evidence that sympathy was not runAing
away with the office, and that we were
actuated only by the desire to do Justice.
So the pension was increased 10 $4,000
per annum not because Senator Mander-
son needed the money, not because the
wound in the back, when his face was
turned TO rally his running troops) in
capactated him from drawing his salary
as Senator, or clipping his coupons, but
to relieve an erroneous impression that
the department would not "do justice" to
a soldier, even II he were not in needy
circumstances.
That is a very difficult case to explain,
but the Tribune undertook, and explained
it, too. The explanation was vigorous
and strong. as the explanations of the
Tribune usully are, but the vigor and
strength were devoted entirely to the
disloyal Democrats, who hate TO see a
pension paid TO soldier no
matter if he is rich and in
fuential, and carries slight
wound in the back. The Tribune ex.
plains that he turned his back to the
enemy to rally his troops. SO it is evil
dent that somebody was a little affected
by the presence Of the enemy The
wound Is in Manderson's back, not in the
backs Of the tro .ps, hence the question
lies between him and his troops about
the cause of its being lodged in his back
instead Of in his noble breast His pluck
and valor are demonstrated by receiving
pension Of $4,000 under these adverse
circumstances None but a brave and
rich senator would receive pension with
the least stigma attached to it On the
contrary, the Senator deserves another
pension for the splendor Of Of his nerve
aud all loyal and liberal people should
bend their energies to excite the country
to recognize his distinguished merits.
Meantime, behold Tanner He would
not withhold s., 900 from man simply
because he is rich, is wounded in tn,
back, has been repeatedly refused anC
has no valid claim. Those little impedi
ments served to make an opportunity L
show that sympathy was not running
away with the office, that the Office wal
"actuated only by desire to do justice.
There was no reason for giving Senate,
Manderson pension which was not al
lowed by the laws, but Justice" must b,
done.
Such is Tanners conception of duty
Here is surplus and there is a soldier
That is all Tanner wishes to know.
If the G. A. R. elects Tannera com
mRnder or endorses his course this motor
ious Senator Henderson case is an in
stance of what they are endorsing and il
will show their position.