The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-25
BEFORE THE PRESIDENT.
The Dependent Pc nsion Bill Await
ing tho Signature Of tho Chief
Executive.
When Grant Left the White House
tho Sluice Gates Were
Opened.
Other Countries Have Been Saved by the
valor of Their Soldiers-Other
Pension ListA

dependent pension bill. The president will
undoubtedly sign it. We have only had
one republican president since the days OF
Andrew Jackson, the president who vetoed
the imitation bill in spite of the menaces OF
his own party, who would have refused his
approval. And yet President Harrison
would add to his fame and strengthen hii
own party, says the New York Herald, were
he to send in veto, and, in doing 50, take
the ground assumed by President Grant
namely, that any pension measure which
contemplated provision for those who SUI
fered in the war would be approved, but
that all such schemes as back pay, service
and dependent pensions would be frowned
upon as highway robbery. It was not until
Grant left the white house and the country
fell into the hands of poor, weak discredit-
ed Hayes that the slQices were opened and
the stream had its way.
The Herald believes in the largest meas
ure of Justice. recognition, generosity even.
to the soldier. To him every honor and
reward. These pension bills are not in his
interest, but in that Of q remorseless lobby,
who rob the treasury in his name.
History has no such scandal. The cry is,
of course: Everything to the soldier who
saved his country There have been other
wars and other soldiers, and other countries
have been saved. Prussia was created by
Frederick after a series of wars, and yet
Frederick's pension list did not amount to
aweek of our expenditure. England waged
twenty years. war against Napoleon, adding
to her debt more than three Thousand mill
ion dollars. Her army did not demand
extra thousands of millions for pensions.
Fifteen years of war, during the most glor-
ious period Of her history, cost France lit.
a.. NJ
dollars-about the amount We shall be pay
ing annually for pensions when the claim
agents are through with their raid. Ger
many has fought three brilliant wars since
1864. She has dismembered Austria, Den.
mark and France, and become the master
power of Europe. Yet her pension fund is
not quite nine millions year. If Germans
patriotic deeds without being quartered fol-
life upon the treasury as mercenaries, why
should not Americans?
In moral sense this raid upon the treas
ury degrades the old army, takes the bloom
from its glory and stains its once stainless
banners. What more memorable sight
under the lead of Grant. Sherman ane
Meade, than that mighty host which wen
swinging down Pennsylvania avenue before
the president and cabinet on the day of thu
great review. What more abject sight thar
this same army, under the lead of Tanner
Dudley and gang of hungry. money grab
bing pension sharks, marching in raic
upon the treasury.
If the dependent pension bill, with tn.
limitless millions which it adds to thu
treasury, were to end the business we nigh
bow the head in shame and say: well
let it be; we know that most of this none,
goes to pension agents, money sharks ant
professional soldiers. but the robbery hal
been done by using the honored name O
the soldier, and such a name may ever
atone for crime" We have only to reat
the pension newspapers and the speeches o
the pension demagogues in congress to SCI
that the dependent pension bill is but thu
beginning, a small installment of ''justic'
to the soldiers" Grant held that twenty
Garfield believed little later tina
thirty-eight millions would be ;
splendid evidence of the nations gen
erosity. No men were more willing tx
serve the soldier than Grant and Garfield
none were better informed as to thu
lobby gang knew better, and after coercinI
poor Hayes into the back pay iniquity ther,
was nothinf impossible. The treasury wal
open. Back pay, dependent bills, service
bounty reimbursement, special act restor
ing ever cashiered hummer and deserter tt
rank and pay-any scheme that ingenious
knavery could devise has appeared befor,
COASIcbbS do dA4 OSu VI JuoeAOV w pAAs
SOLDIER
We believe in justice to the soldier. Blu
it is not to be found in these rascally meas
ures devised by Washington lobby. Presi
dent Harrison should veto this bill. Con
gress should repeal every pension act.
special commission should be appointed
composed of eminent men without regard t.
party-men like Sherman, Cleveland, Ad
miral Porter, Joseph E. Johnston, AMI
Hamilton Fish-WhO would go into tn,
whole question, devise logical, generous
plan, doing ample Justice to the soldier
and not bringing financial ruin upon tn.
country he saved. If the award of such ,
commission were to be, let us say fifty mil
lions year, we should be satisfied, although
it would SO much exceed what was proposed
by Grant and Garfield.
We have no idea that Mr.. Harrison vii
veto the bill. The republican party woule
not permit him. The only republican pres
ident who would have done SO sleeps a
Riverside. The first of American soldier
would never have approved a measure
which is stigma upon the devotion, pat
riotism and self-denial of the glorious arm.
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