St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-07
VIEWS OF THE REVIEWS.

IeerS, contributes the leading article, in
point of position, possibly of Importance,
on the Degradation by Pensions" Pre-
missing that feeling, mixed with politi-
cal dread and fear of misconstrued mo-
tives, that justice joins gratitude in de-
handing that the nations eX-soldierS be
treated justly, and indignation at the
persistent and ever-lncreaSing demands
OF certain class of the ex-Soldiers, has
kept men silent and Opposition still, he
thinks that the scandal has reached a
magnitude that calls for protest, and
that this can come from no better source,
because free from all doubt of motive,
than the eX-sOldiers themselves In
the courageous and indignant protest
against the odium which the soldiers
have largely brought upon themselves,
Lleus. Foote but gives expression to an
opinion prevalent among the survivors
of the army to much greater extent
than is generally believed, and which is
almost unanimous among the business
classes, especially those of them to
whom the war is but legend. If hon
OraDle service in the war, from its open
ing to its close, pensioned for wounds
received in battle, confer any right to
have and express any opinion contrary
TO the popular one, then Lieut.. FOOte
has that right, and he makes very full
use of it. He repels with Indignation
the later claim that pension is merely
the payment of a debt which remains
unrequited. did you," he asks, lat
that time volunteer to defend the old
flag at the rate of SIS a month or for
any other mercenary consideration,
either present or prospective? If YOU
did. you have 10 right to pose as loyal
defenders of your country, or to share
in the gratitude of the nation.'' He
says it soldier sustained in the serv-
Ice any impairment of his earning ca
pacity, society owes it to itself TO see
that he does not suffer by it: but
this does not imply that a pension should
be granted. Occupation, opportunity
to earn living, may be given and ac-
cepted with mutual benefit. No soldier
possessed of means of gaining a liveli-
hood should ask or be given a pension.
For the helpless abundant provision
should be made. He regards it as
most humiliaUing admission that under
the dependent pension act there have
been granted 114,75 pensions. with 1872
ISL additional claims filed. Nearly $780,
900 eX-S0idierS who are willing to adj
NIT that they cannot make a living and
must be supported. Three-fOurths of
the 1,20S, 707 soldiers are now pensioners
or applicants. If any of them can earn
a respectable living, why shouldn't he?
If they are not willing to, why should
they be put OH roll of honor? He
would have a county commissioner of
pensions to cooperate with the citizens
in seeing that no worthy volunteer is
without AID and that the unworthy got
none. If those able to make living
and the unworthy ones are eliminated
from the rolls, the pension budget will
be one hundred millions less than the
estimate for the year ending June 80,
1892.
Gov. Russell tells what is the "Signifi-
canoe OF the Massachusetts Election"
Beginning with President Clevelahd'S
tariff message in 1887, the political issue
in that state has been the tariff. In
1888 on it the Republican plurality was
$1,000, and ten congressman. In 1899 it
was 1000. In 1890 this was reversed to
a Democratic plurality of 5000. with
seven OF the twelve congressman. In
'9l, after supreme effort of the Repub-
licans of that state. aided by those of
other states, and on a vote $1,000 larger
than last year. the Democratic plurality
was over 5000, and the candidate for
governor had 5000 more votes than were
ever given for a Democratic candidate.
The last campaign was on national
raw material and reduced taxes on
products, and tor the old party policy of
hard money. The Republicans stood for
Mckinleyism and the silver rag baby.
On the money question the Republicans
were on the defensive. The result is
due to the action of large and growing
body of independent voters who have
left the Republican party on these
issues. While he does not regard the
state as Democratic, still 1.-THE two last
elections have shown that she is a state
where the balance OF power is held by a
body of Independent voters whose
political action is guided by prin-
ciple, and who are firm supporters
of tariff REFORM" TO retain these votes
ard afford any hope of carrying the
state next year, lit is of paramount im-
pOrtance that the tariff question be kept
at the front in the next congress, and that
1T should be made the one great issue
Of the next campaign" The governor
does not touch on the fact that he was
the only Democrat on his ticket who
was elected. Possibly consideration
for the feelings of his associates on the
ticket precluded him from noting this
as one feature of significance, but it
has not deferred Republican papers
from pointing to it as indicative that
the state is at heart of its old political
faith. But it is capable of another in
depreciation, and more reasonable one.
To the intelligent Republican of MaSsa-
chusettS the question was: How, by
my vote, may | most strongly empha-
size the fact that [ do not approve
party? If vote the whole
Democratic ticket it will show de-
crease of our party vote, and it will be
credited simply to the stay-at-home vote.
If l vote for the Republican candidates
below the governor and for the Demo-
cratic candidate for that office, our party
will know that | was at the polls and
Staid with it on state issues, with which
L had no disatfectiOn, and against it OH
national issues" In this view the pos i
ton of Gov. Russell, that if the tariff is
the sole issue next year the state will
probably go Democratic, gets additional
strength.
Jacob Il. Schiff offers a criticism on
the action of the New York chamber of
commerce in demanding a repeal of the
silver act of July, 1890, instead of wait
ing for the report of its committee OH
finance, which was instructed in April to
report by what measures deprecia-
ton in the currency, as created by ex-
listing laws, could be prevented, and
what additional legislation would be re-
quired to carry such measures into
effect" While he considers the Bland
act of 1878 and the Sherman act of 1890
essentially unSound measured by prin-
ciples of sound finance, still they nave
served to keep the currency of the
country in pace with its growth.
Were it not for these measures. he says,
we would not now have twelve million
more people and $40, 900, 900 less paper
in, hut ho Joo
take into account the boards of gold and
silver which became part of the circu- !
latiOn again on the resumption of specie
payments in 1879. 1t was serious de-
feet in both the laws of 1878 and 1890 |
that the notes authorized by them were
not made redeemable in silver bullion
at its market value, as Secretary Win