The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-22
THE IMMINENT DANGER

have appealed TO the country against the
whole pension system, and it can not be
concealed or mistaken that this is one Of the
main and living issues in the present cam
paign. II they can construe the verdict at
the polls next month as in any sense an
Endorsement Of their intensely malignant
assaults upon pensions, there is no length
TO which they viii not attempt to 60. If
any comrade is blind 10 the intense impor-
lance Of This, then he is wilfully ignorant,
for his enemies have been vociferously out
spoken rs to their feelings and intentions.
The whole mass Of the false and malignant
assaults upon the pension system, upon the
Pension Bureau, upon the Secretary and
Assistant Secretary Of the Interior, upon
the Commissioner Of Pensions, and upon
pension attorneys, is a regularly organized
campaign to discredit the pension system
and all connected with it in the eyes of the
people. Everything and everybody in any
way connected with pensions is systematic
ally villifcd in order 10 arouse a popular
prejudice which will result in the overthrow
Of the entire system. These assailants have
asympathetie audience. Virtually the whole
Of the whites Of the South are bitterly OPP
posed to pensions, and eager TO vote to wipe
them out. The same is true Of the Free
Trade element Of New York City, and the
old Copperhead gang throughout the North
The soldier-haters have already formu-
lated the plan by which they will begin the
work Of tearing the pension system TO pieces
and undoing all the many years Of work Of
those who have been battling for justice 10
those who saved the Nations life. More
than a year ago one Of the leading organs Of
the soldier haters-the Philadelphia Times
published the program in full, and presum-
ably by authority. ii is as follows:
!. Repeal the disability feature o. the pension
law u last year, aud make IL apply only 20 cases
Of dependent soldiers who have rendered actual
military service.
2. Repeal all pensions granted by special acts 81
Congress, excepting those granted TO widows al
soldiers who shed exceptional luster upon the hero
ism Of the Nation. Under our present exceedingly
| liberal pension laws al who cannot obtain a pen
sion by regular application should be excluded.
3. Repeal Hll pensions to soldiers who are award
cd only s. OF 81 per month. such pensions imply
no such stability Hs should be necessary to obtain
a pension.
Is,sry ,s.tsforoa so19i,r ,rl,o hold a civil
Office National, State, local. that pays a larger
salary than bic pension should have his pension
suspended during his official term.
.. Every soldier provided Tor in a Soldiers Home
should receive no pension while thus cared for If
his disability caused by military service. and
he has a dependent family. Il should be provided
Tor.
6. The attorney or pension agent fee in every
pending case should be reduced TO 81 for each
| application, and 10 Zee whatever should be allowed
in any new application. This would save the SOL
ders Of the country many millions, aud tear up
] pension frauds by the roots.
2. Competent tribunals. composed entirely Of
! civilians, should be authorized Ia every conmu-
nifty 10 receive and perfect every pension Rppioa-
/ tion without cost 90 the applicant. aud also to
review every pension already granted. on applioa-
lion " amy citizen presenting probable cause for
such inquiry.
The outrageous character Of this scheme
becomes clearer the more il is studied. IL
is meant to disrupt the pension system from
top 10 bottom, and take away from tens of
thousands Of pensioners the meager stipends
that they and their friends have worked for
years TO secure. IL is meant, too, only as
the beginning, aud If once put in operation
it will be followed by still more drastic
measures, which will totally abolish pen
sions Behind ii are the whole array OF
pension-haters, who viii be satisfied with
nc less sweeping measure, and viii demand
what is stiil more destructive Representa-
tive John C. TaBney, Of Missouri, who will
in all probability be the Chairman Of the
Invalid Pensions Committee Of the next
House, is preaching up aud down the land
IN favor Of an even more subversive policy
The comrades must rouse themselves "a
a full appreciation Of this danger, and act
unitedly and resoutely, if they would pre-.
serve what has cost such infinite trouble e
gain. They must show the same ACTIVITY
in repelling these assaults that their enemie,
do in making them. They must meet theil
opponents in a solid phalanx, and div,
them back. They must make their infu
ence strongly felt in the campaign now
going on. Every man who is a candidat,
for any Office should he asked 10 define hi
position on the pension question, and tina
with precision. No glittering generalitie
about the Nations gratitude 10 its defend
ersn will answer lie should answer cate
gorically whether be is in favor Of retainin,
and enlarging the present system, OF 0
repeating or narrowing down those laws
II viii be a grave mistake 10 let him elud
the direct issue by palayer about "purgin,
the pension roll Of undeserying men," w
are all in favor Of that, and the instant al
unworthy man is shown up every one Of u
will vote for looping him off, But the mel
; who talk 30 much about "purging" believ
in their hearts that substantially all pen
sioners are undeserving, and they woul
"puFpe the FOIlD Of ahout 90 man o,