Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-10-14
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
THE DEMOCRATIC VETERANS AWAKE
TO THE ISSUE.

Comrade Amos j. Cummings Experiences
in the Great Grand Army Review-Bri-
gade Upon Brigade of Democratic Vet
erans-An Shouting for Cleveland.
No sensible man will take any stock
In the assertions that the bulk of the
Grand Army vote will be polled against
Cleveland and Stevenson. The man
who makes this assertion does not know
the composition of the Grand Army.
Without the muskets of the Demo-
cratic soldiers from the north the Union
could not have been preserved. The
Democratic veterans are still in line
They are as devoted to Democratic prin-
ciples now IS they have been in years
past. The allegation that either Mr..
Cleveland CT tlo Democratic house has
been opposed to pension legislation is
untrue. The record shows it. Mr.
Cleveland vetoed about 800 private pen
sion bills while he was president. His
veto messages are on record. They
speak for themselves. Deserters and
those unworthy of pensions alone can
more pension bills during his term of
Office than Mr.. Harrison has signed.
Honor is the heart of the Grand Army
organization. Mr.. Clevelands pension
vetoes appeal directly to its spirit of
honor. Grand Army veterans recognize
this and will reward it. The Republic
ans have dared to pass only fifty Of the
300 and odd pension bills vetoed by Mr..
Cleveland, and no more.
A majority of the Democrats in the
Flfty-tirst congress voted for a service
pension bill. These votes are on record.
If they had been sustained in their &C
ton by the Republican members of Tom
Reeds congress, service pension bill
would have been passed, and this is
what the Grand Army has asked.
I attended the Grand Army encamp-
ment at Washington as member of
Horace Greeley post, New York. I met old
army comrades from nearly every state in
the Union. l saw no Democrat among
them who was not heartily in favor of
the national Democratic ticket. Thou
sands Of Cleveland buttons were worn
by those in the parade, and there seemed
to be as many Democratic veterans in
line as there were Republicans.
General Daniel E. Sickles, the hero of
Gettysburg, was among them. Manned
for life, he was cheered to the echo by
his army comrades. All knew that he
had repudiated the falsehoods concern
ing his opposition to the Democratic
ticket, and that he was heartily in line
among its supporters. No Grand Army
veteran has brighter record and is
more devoted to Democratic principles.
He is true Democrat. His fight against
Mr.. Cleveland ended when Mr.. Cleve-
land was nominated, and like true
Democrat he heartily supports the
ticket. He was the orator of the day
when the veil was drawn from the monu-
ment to the Tammany regiment at Get
tysburg; he has presided at meetings O.
the Tammany Hall organization in New
York, and his voice will be heard in
Tammany meetings in advocacy of Dem
cratic principles and of the Democratic
ticket hereafter.
Another Democratic veteran in line
was General Henry W. Slocum. He
commanded q corps in the Army of the
Potomac and led one of the armies of
the west to victory. No man has ever
questioned his devotion to Democratic
principles. With the Brooklyn Democ-
racy today he stands at the side of Hugh
Mclaughlin, battling nobly for the
Democratic cause. His example alone
will inspire every Democratic veteran
throughout New York.
Another Democratic hero in the pa
rade was General William S. Rosecrans.
He won his straps early in the war in
the campaign in West Virginia. At
Iuka, Corinth, Stone River and on many
another battlefield did he prove his de-
votion to the Union. Democracy means
home rule, and William S. Rosecrans
will never be found among those who
advocate the force bill and the central
ization of power.
And gallant General John M. Palmer
was among the Democratic veterans. 1t
is absurd to question his fealty to the
Democratic ticket. He is an enthusi-
astic supporter of Cleveland and Steven
son. In days past he has struck many
sturdy blow for the cause of Democracy,
and in days to come these blows will be
repeated. It was John M. Palmer who
carried Illinois for the Democracy two
years ago, and John M. Palmer, I ven
ture to say, with the aid of the Demo
cratic veterans in Illinois, will carry
that state for the Democracy this fall.
He expresses the utmost confidence in
Democratic success there.
There were two Democratic soldiers
in Washington unable to participate in
the parade. One was the heroic General
Joseph J. Bartlett, of the Army of the
Potomac, and the other that brilliant
trooper, General William W. Averill.
Both were on sick beds. General Bart
lett was minister to Stockholm under
President Grant. General John G. Black
made him chief of division in the pen
sion Office. After the election of Presi-
dent Harrison he was turned out of his
place because he was Democrat. The
blow was cruel one. He had a par
alytic stroke soon afterward and was
left with very little resources. Today
he is living upon pension granted by
the government. General Averill was
more fortunate. In his old age congress
placed him upon the retired list and he