The sun., 1891-09-03
Truo Patriots Again to tho Front.

For all Union veterans who are as patrl-
otto In peace as they were In time OF war,
there is now an opportunity to render their
country another splendid service.
The pension scandal has grown to its
present magnitude by successive steps. and
through the reluctance OF tho makers OF the
laws and the newpaper press to assume an
attitude seemingly hostile to the just claims
OF the nations defenders. In consequence.
tho pension expenditures OF the Government
have gradually increased to an annual ng-
gregate which threatens to bankrupt the
national Treasury.
Seven years after tho end OF the war the
list OF pensioners had mounted to nearly
quarter OF q million, and the annual dis
bursemcnt for pensions WAS $300oO0O0 At
that time Gen. GARFIELD. Republican
veteran OF the war and Republican men,
Der OF Congress. declared In tho House
Of Representatives that the maximum was
aiready reached. ave may reasonably ex-
pect" said Gen. GARFIELD, that the ex-
penditures for pensions will hereafter stead
lily decrease, unless our legislation should be
unparrantably extravaganza" Almost twenty
years have passed since then. The list
OF pensioners has grown from 232.229
to about 100000; while Gen. RAUM, the
Commissioner OF Pensions, has recently
boasted that his bureau Is disposing OF new
claims at the rate of 360,0 0)) n year. At the
Same time the annual expenditure has swol-
len from the S3O.0O0,O0O which GARFIELD
regarded as the high-water mark. to $l25.-
900. 100 a year. with schemes pending which
will carry it up to 5000. 900 900 or more. thrice
the annual Government expenditure for all
purposes in the years Immediately prcccI-
Ing the civil war.
The protest against this colossal fraud
perpetrated in the name Of gratitude has
already como. It Is heard on every side,
and gallant soldiers Of the Union are among
the most indignant in their denunciations.
The movement to check the rapidly grow
Ing evil, to rectfy the gigantic mistakes
OF Legislation duo to forbearance and
timidity when blunt honesty should have
spoken, to purify the pension lists and to
bring the annual expenditure back to rea-
sonablo dimensions, is already shaping it
self. 1t Is sure to develop irresistible force.
Now Is the time for the honest veterans of
the Union armies to show themselves us
ready to save the Federal Government from
financial ruin as they were to draw the
sword and shoulder the musket in defence
Of its political existence.
There has recently been organized at
Washington a society OF Union veterans
who have In view this very purpose. Their
platform. IN brief. Is that fully one-third OF
the 100000 pensioners are drawing money
to which they are not entitled; that
another third OF the 100000 pensioners
are not In need OF Government charity; and
that the remaining 100000 pensioners, COM
prising the meritorious class, get less in
pensions than they really deserve. In other
words, the disabled veterans and tho widows
Of veterans who have a legitimate claim
upon the Treasury are plundered, together
with the entire body OF citizens and tax
payers, for the beneti5 OF greater army OF
pensioners whose claims are bogus either rs
to services or present necessity.
Let tho movement spread from Washing
ton to every part Of tho country where d
Grand Army post exists. and where there
are veterans who respect the faded blue
cloth. and prize the badge Of corps above Its
monthly value in elcemUsynary dollars.