The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-08
The Pension Grab.

| Secretary OF the treasury renaFheu ~
personal friend ths other day: IF it was
not for the pension grab we should have an
abundance OF money! From this it is fair
to infer that the condition of the treasury
is far from satisfactory, Notwithstanding
the rather reassuring reports with regard 70
it which the secretary has been making
lately. The truth probably is that the sec
rotary does not know exactly where the
money is to come from to meet the demand
upon the treasury during the present fiscal
year. He knows how great those demands
are. but he can't figure out where enough
money is to come from TO satisfy them. 1t
is reported that be is not paying any more
of the appropriations of the billion dollar
congress than he can help. He is putting
off paying all the claims that he can with
the hope that some way will be found event
ually to moet all obligations promptly.
To the pension grab, of course. is largely
due the present condition of the treasury.
Both republicans and democrats have gone
on from year to year voting pensions IN
I'll even the republican leaders are getting
alarmed at the amount of the pension
charge. The democrats have protested
time and time again against further in
crease in the pension burden, but without
avail Mr.. Cleveland, when President, set
his face firmly against pension eXtrava-
gance, and vetoed pension bills without ask
ing whether be or his party would suffer in
popularity by his course. He did what he
believed to be right. He was satisfied that
nearly ali the pension bills we're proposed
aud introduced into congress by pension
sharks, who have grown enormously rich in
Washington cut of the pension business and
| that these same sharks worked up sentiment
among the veterans in favor Of the bills.
But Mr.. Cleveland's course with respect
to pensions did not make either him or his
party unpopular. The people honored him
for his independence and applauded him for
making vigorous fight against pension
frauds. And if democratic members Of
congress would make a determined stand
against any more pension grabs they would
not only strengthen themselves with the
people but they would make their party
stronger.
The pension sharks and few blatant
demagogues among the grand army people
make a great deal of noise whenever there
is opposition to psnsion bill, but their
noise does not attract the attention it once
did Public sentiment with respect to the
pension business is undergoing a change.
And one Of the reasons is that there are so
many pension frauds. II the truth were
known it would appear probably that there
are thousands of people drawing pensions
who are not entitled to any assistance what
ever, and that thousands Of pensions are paid
in the names of persons long since dead.
Late London dispatches state that Dadab-
hal Naorowi, the noted Hindoo capitalist,
residing in London and famous as
Lord Salishurys "black man ~
term at which scores of millions OF the
queens subjects took umbrage-has been in
terviewed in regard to theosophy, which is
d burning question now on account of Mrs
Besant, as it was some years ago on &C
count of Nine. Blavatsky's sensational do
ings. Though India is the home of that oc-
cult ism which theosophy claims to hold the
key to, this Hindoo, one of the most
learned and cultured of his race, sueers at
the ''fad" and places very slight es-
innate upon Mrs. Besant'S inspiration. He
says he was in Bombay when Nine. Ba-
vatsky was creating a furore in certain cir
cles there, and heard her lecture But
he was never able to believe that theosophy
was genuine. Its so-called miracles were
ridiculous, and were but grotesque imita-
tions Of the mystic deeds of the wise men OF
the east Nevertheless, it was undeniable
that theosophy was taking a strong hold on
the Hindoos, owing to their being taught that
theosophy was the original and highest type
of Hindooism. Only the comparatively I'M
educated classes would be influenced by it in
considerable numbers. 'Mahatma, the
term so much dwelt upon by the theosoph-
ists," said Mr. Naorowi, "is Sauscrit for
The Great Soul 1t is customary to call
any venerable tradition OF parsonage
'Mabatma.' Occultism in any guise has a
strong attraction for the Hindoo mind.
Like wise the mystical attracts the ignorant
Caucasian mind. Superstition feeds upon
anything plausible that is at the same time
| intangible. Theosophists will probably con-
tinue to theosophize Notwithstanding the
Sahib Dadabhai Naorowi