The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-22

The Helena, Mont, Indepcndent Of July
18th furnishes striking example of the
bitter feeling entertained toward the Union
veterans by the Democratic party and its
Newspaper organs. Very appropriately it
takes for it's text remark made by the war
minister Of Great Britain as to the action Of
his government In regard to theSurvivors
of the Light Brigade which made the
famous charge ct Baiaklava. at must be
borne in mind" said he, "that in many
cases those now unprovided for are men
who, either through misconduct. or in
efficient services, are absolutely disqualified
for pensions. and It IL manifestly impossl-
bic to require the taxpayers to provide
funds for their support"
It win be observed that this declaration
is carefully limited. I'm many cases" i'm
plies that the remark does not properly
apply to "all" Of the survivors. Consider
ing the transcendent herolsm of that
brigade, and the lustrous page their feat
added to the history of England, there can
be no two opinions about the coarse bru-
tality Of such a generalization in respect to
the few survivors of that command. Some,
he tacitly admits, were entitled to exemp-
ton from his sweeping aspersion. They
had right to demand that he should make
his aspersion specific against those only
who deserved it, and his failure to do so
was disgrace to his country.
But the Independent makes no such COM
ment. 1t rolls the broad declaration as
sweet morsel, commends them as "firm,
outspoken words" and makes haste to
give them equally broad and sweeping in
1t invokes las much moral backbone" in
this country, and proceeds to charge the
Republican party with having ''gone out
into the hedges and byways. "where they
have gathered in deserters and faint
hearts. and. not content with the ignoring
of heaping pensions upon undeservers.
they have tried to prostitute the sturdy
labor of the country and pauperize it for
their own party purposes"
As in the case of the British minister.
here is resort to generalization which is
simply infamous. 1t is substituting for
liberty of the press monstrous exhibition
of insulting RIGHTEOUSNESS. In the alb
sence of specifications 1t includes among
Me "deserters and fainthearts" all who
have been added to the pension rolls BY re-
cent legislation. for which the Republican
party has gladly become responsible. 1t is
doubtful whether the country is to be com.
plimented on the complacency with which
are thus hurled at those who helped to
save it.
1t Is wrong and dishonorable for any
newspaper or any individual to declare
that '.deserters and fainthsarts" are draw
ing pensions. except upon actual knowl-
edge of specific instances. II su,h cases
are known. nobody can object to their
being mentioned and denounced. II is
entirely proper for the Democratic party,
through its newspapers or otherwise, to
hunt up and parade every instance to
which the Independents sweeping and gen.
eral charge is at all applicable. But q re-
sort TO generalization, without citing one
single specific case to sustain it, affords
pretty conclusive proof that they have no
knowledge Of even one such case.
Says the Independent: Every soldier
who, in the upright discharge of his duty
during the late unpieasantness.' incurred
wounds or disabilities that have prevented
or nov prevent him from earning his own
living. 10 fully entitled 70 the gratitude and
aid OF his fellow-countrymen No honest
man and no honest party wishes to dis
own that responsibility But neither that