The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-24
THE ATTACK ON THE VETERANS.
Some Timely Suggestions from a Vermont
Clergyman.

SOIuc AAIucsy CuSkcbtkouo q
Clergyman.
To the Editor of the New York Tribune:
In view of President Eliot's opinion that
"the pension system, instituted for the
benefit of the soldiers and sailors of the
United States, has been prostituted and de-
graded by the whole series OF Republican
administrations and in view of Senator
Manderson's pathetic and manly position,
as given in your own columns: Il have
kept silent under grOssest abuse and most
undeserved attacks that l did not suppose
could come to a man Who had tried to do his
g~rievously injured in that ~endeavor, be-
cause 1 could not by precipitation of ac-
ton reflect upon a gallant comrade who
certainly supposed that within the re-
" and proper act, will you kindly republish
the following letter addressed to and print
ed in The COngregationalist," of Oct. 3.
1t is from the Rev. L. j. Ranslow, of Swan
ton. VT. The attack upon the fighters by
the pon-fighters, a quarter of q century
after the war is over, is as disgraceful a
warfare as was ever waged.
GAIL HAMILTON.
Perhaps you will allow a word of explain
alton and defense from one who is an of
ficer in this organization. and who has GER
tainly a fair opportunity to know its inner
history. 1t is not SO much of q political
III dS Il y tuO OlulUdIl Cuulth 4hO
member of this organization strenuously
oppose any use of it for political purposes.
The rules in this respect are very strict.
and are strictly enforced. In all our posts
there are many Democrats. as well as men,
sertiOn were not true, then there would
The r ! aste%St to !" make s,9ns capital saY ont tn Of
this has been an ignominious failure
had G"sn NO BASIS in fact. The mere Dsi rnmor that
General Alger wished the position Of Com
mander-in-chief because it might be an
aid to him in future political preferment,
will work to his disadvantage when he
my opinion, but the opinion of o very large
part of our body, as l have reason to know.
On this point we are extremely sensitive
No man shall use our organization as o
stepping-stone to political Office, But it is
just as certain that we will work and vote
together for those ends which we believe to
be for the best interests of the loyal sol
diers of this Republic.
In regard to the great gathering at Mil
waukee, While L admit that that city is the
headquarters of the beer interest in the
United States, and. beyond all doubt, vast
quantities of that fluid were consumed;
while also there were many things done
which a large part.of our members did not
the surface. and which may be known to
all men, that approach the miraculous. 1t
is estimated that the attendance aggregated
$780, 600; it could not have been less. A large
very men who, European writers said,
would endanger our Republic when dis
landed Now, with the best of opportunity
for observation, / can report that /
did not see one man intoxicated. l did not
see the police have any work to do except
to try and clear the streets. / verify be-
lieve that neither before nor since would a
girl be so safe from insult in any part of
that great city. 1t was simply amazing:
a country fair but l find some one who gets
pugilistic, and wishes to emulate the ex-
ploits of John l.. For four days / closely
observed these men as / passed back and
forth through the struggling mass of hu-
before proud to call myself their country
man.
Structures have also been passed in your
column upon the Grand Army of the Re-
who has never. asked for a pension, and at
the same time knows something Of the hor-
rors of that great war, i believed have q
right to speak. The reference to the hard
ships" of those who remained at home must
passed through one such battle as the Will
derness. The awful strain of one such day
IN take years from the life of n man.
On the other hand, never in the history of
the country was there such opportunity to
make money as that given to those
who remained at home, and never
was an opportunity better employed.
Looking back upon the horrors of
those DAYS, even as they came under my
limited observation. it is bnt natural that
I should be FESTIVE at the criticisms of any
n who. by experience, knew nothing OF
them. Then. too, even in the matter of de-
~serters, there is danger OF doing rank in
Justice. For the professional desertsr no
soldier has any mercy. But let me state
the case of thousands. A boy. accustomed
to all the comforts of home. enlisted in an
| pushed through the slaughter of the cam-
paign that began at the Wilderness and
continued to the great surrender, Now,
patriotism and courage will endure a great
deal. but not everything While. there
seems to be q chance for life, men will stand
] mp and be shot at. But when one battle