The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-30
The Ex- Presidents Treatment ofthe Defsn ders
of the Union Compared with the Con-
duct of Benjamin Harrison.
Insultand Wrongs from One and Friend
ship and Justice from the Other.
Tammany Hall and the nti-Snappers Still at
Wharf.-The County Democracy Decides to
Nominate an Independent Ticket
ODIOUs COMPARISONS.

Character and Deeds OF Harrison ana Glove.
land, as Viewed by Veterans.
Special Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Sept t29.-Comparisonsm may
sometimes be made doubly odious when ap-
piled to individuals. 1t would seem that
the veterans who attended the g. A. X. en-
campment here last week were fully aware
of this fact. for they insisted upon making
constant comparisons between the charac-
ters, as public and private citizens. OF Gro
yer Cleveland and BENJAMIN Harrison.
AT no time during all of his four years in
the White House did President Cleveland
ever utter a word or do an act indicating
that he cared any more for the boys who
saved the Union quarter Of . century ago
than he did for the Fin Islanders. The
veterans recalled and frequently referred
to the fact that every possible evidence was
now apparent about the executive mansion
that it was inhabited by q oomrade. by one
who not only loved them but was one of
them. They were welcomed into that
house at all times and although its occu-
pant was kept away from them by the
shadow Of death. they know his heart and
thoughts were with them. 1t was his pur-
during all of their encampment, to CON-
mIngie with and speak to them ct their
meetings and around their camp fires. He
sent them tender messages when he found
he could not come, and they knew he was
deeply panied because he could not come
TO them.
But what of the ex- President at Buzzard's
Bayf What recognition had he taken of the
reunion of the boys in bluef What words
had hR
in recognition OF the services they rendered
their country. his country. over which he
presided for four yearsf Why had he not
sent message to them. expressing his de-
votion TO them and the cause for which
they fought! They finally concluded that
the life he led, the acts of omission or COM
mission upon his part during the war did
not license him to take such liberties And
yet the ex-President was writing 90 many
letters each day. could he not indite one IN
dicating q change of heart, o moro kindly
feeling for the boys? They waited, some
really expecting that he would In some way
express himself for them in some degree
like President Harrison, especially since
the oam paign was on and he could not hope
for success without them He had not. 1t
was true, ever done such thing as say q
wo 4. for the veteran or the cause for
which they fought, but he might now. some
thought No word ever came. There was
q dead silence. What a contrast, they all
said, between the occupant OF the execu-
tive mansl0n now and four years ago.
1t was here that the odious comparisons
tunIty was given to show some feeling for
the veterans if he wished. or If he felt it.
But not even O friend attempted to apollo
gize or explain away the indifference. 1t
was now that the boys said:
= President Cleveland, during the first
year of his term. went fishing on Decora-
tion day. while General Harrison parfici.
pated In the exercises OF the day with vet
Grams and patriotic citizens in IndianapO-
lis
Grover Cleveland hired substitute and
sent him to the front in 1862, as did Adlal
Stevenson. while benjamin Harrison rode
to the front at the beginning OF tho war
and fought till the surrenSer at Appomat-
tox; and Whitelaw Reid carried musket In
tho battles through West Virginia.
President Clev Gland instituted the great
est veto war upon pension bills ever
known, signing none he could veto. and
during his four years refusing his ap-
proval 20 524 pension bills while President
Harrison, during three and half years,
had vetoed no pension bills.
President Cleveland. in his letters OF ac-
ceptance. MESSAGES to Congress and pub
lie utterances, had never advanced the
justice due the veterans, never indicated
the least friendship for them, while Preei-
dent Harrison had never missed oppor-
tunity TO remind Congress, the party aud
the country of the debt due the soldiers,
ana advocated measures of justice for
them.
When Grover Cleveland again fished in
the waters of New England . Decora-
tion day. President Harrison reviewed ard
commingled with soldiers demonstration
in the ex-Presidents own State.
A man who had never shown any feeling
for veterans could not be expected, at this
late day, to do them any justice, while one
who had always. even at times when pub
lie office was foreign to his thoughts. stood
by the boys. could be depended upon.
Grover Cleveland had more than onoe
shown lack of patriotism, while Benja-
min Harrison every time had taken the cp-
posite direction. Cleveland had ever advO.
Gated the interests of England against
those of America, by free trade free action
and tawdlinR TO British interests. while
General Harrison had stood for America
and Americans.
Indiana soldiers and Indiana citizens re.
called the fact that President Cleveland
could not find time to attend the funeral
obsequies oyer their honored Vice president
Hendricks, but in almost, if not quite. the
same week he found both the time and the
opportunity to 20 fishing. while General
Harrison paid his humble recognition 70
the services of his fellow. citizen by attend.
ing the funeral
After years of close contact with General
Harrison and q neighbOrly intimacy with
him. they were enabled TO say to the boy
from New York, in exchanging information
upon the two men, that In almost every in
stance there was in the Indiana patriot
soldier and statesman the very opposite OF
character found in the New Yorker.
P.s.H.