The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-24
the Conspiracy Against Tanner.

The Conspiracy Against Tanner
Shortly afer he Inauguration Of Presi-
dent Harrison leading Democrats concocsed
q scheme 20 attack the administration in de-
tail. They desps;red Al the outset Of injsr-
ing the Republican party by straightior-
ward. manly charge upon the breast-works,
aud determined 20 try the effect Of concen-
trniion upon isolated spots, with the hope
that they would BE- able 10 bowl over the
oufposts or separate batteries one by one,
and thus discredit The administration. They
argued that the President would easily sue
cumb to assaults Of this character and lose
faith in bis own apPointees. Corporal Tan
ner. owinsfo ,he nature Of his duties, and
the difficulty Of outlining policy upon the
crude and confused odds and ends belueath-
ed 10 him by Democratic administration
was selected as the first victim.
The work Of the Pension Bureau was the
fasorite make for the jibes and sneers OF
Cleveland, aud il was natural for his disap-
pointed followers 10 turn their arrows in this
direction. Tanner las ever since been the
target Of the mugwump and Democratic
press. The assault has been skilfully engi-
neered. Nothing that falsehood could in
vent or malice distort 10 injure the energetic
Commissioner Of Pensions has been over
looked, and all has been ingeniousiy con-
trived to create an impression that there was
a public demand for Tanners removal Pres
ident Harrison has thus far appeared 10 esii-
mate these attacks at their real value, and II
will be well for the administration if It fully
realizes the signidelnce of the conspiracy
for Just as surely as one victim is yielded to
this dishonest clamor will the head of anoth
er be demanded, and demanded with all the
more brazen assurance because of its success
in the first instance.
Corporal Tanner is attacked for doing his
duty, and practically enforcing that portion
Of the Republican platform which insists
upon the proper recognition of the soldiers
services 10 the country, and 50 long as he
confines his energies TO this work he should
be steadfastly upheld. Any soldier who be-
came the victim Of casualty or disease while
fighting for the country should be maintain
ed by the government, either in a home or
by an adequate pension. This is not only
an obligation but sacred duty. and the PEN
sion is not a tax but qiid pro quo, which the
people pay for inesiimable benefits received.
All the people could have enlisted and run
the risk of being manned and diseased in
saving the life of the nation, but they dida't,
and the man who did and suffered for il,
asks as a right that ne be taken care of for if,
through the exigencies of war, he is unable
to care for himself
This appears 10 be the keynote of Tan
ners policy, aud with it he couples design
10 weed out the pension lists and strike from
them every hummer whose name has been
surreptitiously placed upon them through
political intrigue OF the connivance Of dis
honest agents. 1t IS this policy which the
mugwumps and Democratic press is insidi-
ously attacking By means Of venomous per-
sonal onslaught upon Tanner 1t is pro-
posed to beat down Tanner and then go for
the next conspicuous parapet in the out
works of the administration, bat we do not
believe that the President will be the instru-
ment Of the Dsmocratic conspirators, and
their scheme will, we hope, meet the fate it
deserves. baltimore Aaericaa.