Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-02
AN OLD soLDIBA,s 0oMpLAINr.


Under tIhe Present Communication
the VeIers.n Faas "a POor Chnmce.
10 the Editor Of tas Ne,o York Times
Having had various opportunities to Bet
the workings of tho departments here
with reference to the employment OF mer
who served their country during thu
dark days OF the reballlon, am more
than ever convinced Of the injustice dons
to thsm and fore bly, reminded of the
dosgorel written some Yeas ago, VIII Oh
runs as follows.
When war Is rife and danger nigh,
God AID the soldier" ~ the peoples cry
When peace is made and all things rlghted,
1od's forgot and the soldier slighted.
Ihis government, democratic in form
and open TO all, irrespective of political
oFeed: shculd have questions 60 pro-
pound to all applicants aud suggest the
Following; First-Have you an honor
able discharge fron the army ? Second
Can you ill the position You seek? The
latter should BIO made subject OF investl-
cation.
Nov the questions ero: "What are
your politics? WSo 10 your ConRregs-
man or hackers ~ adding, "Yoa Ind
better see your Congressman about it.D
Politie5 nowadays, and not military
- NT-A FNANaAAl " III us HAtUbN, Is
tins requirement for obtaining Offices
under the government. AT tho entrance
TO the rooms of one OF The cabinet uti-
GERS you meet the information that IL
you are seeking appointment In certain
branches OF the service ',No admission
unless accompanied by member OF
Congress," go that you must Shave n
pun to get in. Merit, capability. or
former valuable service has nothing 70
do with entrance.
IL lS6l-5, when che soldier enlisted in
tine defence OF his country, he was not
required to bs accompanied bv ODn-
gressmln, (Oongressmen we're not going
III that direotiOn.) Nor were they egsad
Are you Republican or Democrat ?'
The only requirements were to take tbs
oath ''to snpport ard defend the govern
plent against all it's enemies, foreign or
domestic" and item to pass an examirg.
ton to prove that they were phystcally
able 10 perform their duties on soldiers.
Now that many are FIR advanced in yegr4
Gnd more or less physically disabled. yhy
should they be questioned ns 10 their
political standing when applying for
places under the government they riakej
their all to defend in its hours Of psril ?
When President Lincoln commissioned
Bsnjamin f. Butles, John A. Logan and
many oilers rs brigadier-genersis of vol
uhleers he cid not ask, care YOU Re-
publicana ~ for he we'll knew thev had
done all in tEoir pcwor 30 dsfoss bid siso-
ton. II WAS sufficient for him that thew
offered their services to the government.
His war secretary, L. M. Stanton, had
Deen Democrat; SO had General Grant.
but that was no objection to them when
1t became o question OF appointment TO
very responsible Office. In 1863 1 was in
Democratic congressional convon ion
10 Illinois that nominated the man
(Robert G.. IngeraolD who made the
nominating speech for the "Plumed
Knight at Cincinnati In 1876. Ingersoll
was doomed to defeat, az tho district
(Third Illinois) was at that time Repub.
lican. Yet when he came forward offer
ing his services at the head Of a regiment |
OF cavalry. they did not ask, care Won q |
Republican ?"
/ have seen In this city one.armed ex.
soldiers Of the Union army seeking 70 be |
restored to their places in one OF the d. |
pRrtments, while others who were years |
in the southern cause are holding i'm
portant places under the "Grand Old |
$3.50 SSNoto ~ HuuGu VI D6llE tn0 |
soldiers friend.
l can point out one person who sought
an office under the present ad ADMINISTRATION
that was held by a man who was an Off. |
GER IN the regular army until after the |
hrst battle of Bull Run, and who then
tegdered his resignation and went into
Missouri and raised a Confederate repi- |
ment and fought during the rebellion On |
that side. The person seeking this place |
served over tour years during the war on |
the Federal side aud l6 years in the Yegu-
lar army sfterward, yet he was denied the |
place, ard the Confederate soldier and
Democrat was retained.
The civil service law is good one in
many respects, but certainly it should
not apply to the old soldiers when thew
are competent to ill the places. Besides,
the civil service is manipulated in favor
Of the party in power, which should not
be. GpINan
WAsH1NaToN, D. O., Friday, September
10Th, 1890.