The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-07-15
PAW PAW. MICH, JULY 10, 1891



The veteran soldiery of Michigan and
of the loyal states in the rebellion are
almost upon the eve of another National
Encampment. 1t will be held in the
metropolitan city of this state-a state
whose second democratic governor in
thirty-six years refused to permit dol
lar of the states revenues To be used for
their entertainment. More than this
the democratic press of the entire coun-
try has for months been teeming with
vicious assaults upon the pension pay
ments of the federal government, and
upon the righteousness and justice of
giving these old soldiers (the nations
true saviors) financial aid in their disa-
bility and declining years. The demo
cratic press undoubtedly speaks for the
democratic leaders, and both may be
fairly presumed to voice the sentiment
of the democratic party.
In this view, is it not parliamentary,
even of the gravest importance-that
the grand army of the republic, in this,
its national council, should resolve to
ask, and To demand plain answer to
the question, what will the demo-
cratic party do in respect to pensions if
it is entrusted with national control?
The democracy denounce the system
as outrageous-will they repealit? They
assert that the payments are too large
will they stop them?
This pension matter is almost an issue
of life or death to a very large number
of the crippled and grizzled men who
will appear upon the streets of Detroit
in the coming days of this national en-
campment. They went into the army
with the promise of the government
that in event of death their families
should be provided with sustenance,
and that they themselves should not be
allowed to suffer by reason of their
sacrifices Of business and opportunities
to better themselves. The republican
party has fulfilled that pledge loyalty
and justly. Nearly $4,000 pensioners
are borne on the rolls, and in spite of
democratic charges that camp followers,
suffers and bounty jumpers have their
names on the list no proof has ever
been produced to show that a single old
soldier drawing a pension is not en-
titled to it, does not need it, and does
not deserve it. The presentation of
proof would cut him off at once, and
yet the democratic cry continues that
the system is faulty.
Let it be borne in mind that of the
II, 300, 600 voters of these United States,
$50, 900 are pensioners-voters in both
parties, and scattered mostly over the
northern states. Under republican leg
islation these pensioners are receiving
little more than 800, 600, 600 annually,
or an average of less than 81 week
each. Up To January 1, 1891, there
were ,353, 100 claims for pensions filed
showing that over one tenth of the
voters of the whole country are inter
ested in pensions, or possibly one-fourth
of the voters in the states north of the
ChiO iNOi' ihO ooiiu oOubi, tHdl
fought these veterans, stands ready to
cut off these pensions whenever their
northern doughfacc brethren will fall
in line. Is it not highly proper that
these Union veterans should take
prompt measures to put these northern
democrats squarely on record? And
what better time could be selected than
during the national encampment? Let
them ask the question boldly, "Will the
democratic party repeal the pension
laws when it comes into power?" We
venture the prediction that no demo
cratic paper or leader will dare answer
it squarely.-Lansiag Republican.