New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-21
ONE KIND or PATRIOTS.

All. thanks. MeSSrS. Democrats of the House,
by all means cut down appropriations for the
! now Navy 1t has appeared To the somewhat
eypericnccd observer that even Democracy had
exhausted lis capacity for making itself odlous
and hclping the Republicans. He owes and
tenders an apology. 1t did not occur to nm
that any American would be found to oppose
measures for the defence of our SeaportS, our
commerce and the honor of our flag. But
Democrats are found, il seems, to have chosen
this additional way to make the country under-
stand and appreciate their kind OF patriotism
When the Hon Cheese-Parng Holman is at
tbc front. it may be expected that peculiarly
Democratic stripe of patriotism VIII be Illus
tratcd. 1t is the kind Of patriotism which cuts
down the pensions due under the law to Union
veterans and their widows and orphans, so that
the appropriations for the coming year, rs iixed
bv the Democratic House are likely 10 be
about S15 600 900 short. The widows and
ornbaus of soldiers must wait until after the
Presidential election. for Democratic patriots
think il much moro important 10 make fraudu-
lent prctcnce of economy than 10 provide the
money f. meet a sacred obligation. There Is
= po.sibilitv that the deficit may not be aS much
= ID NUN.NVU. I'I IL lAl4' VI NV "lB' 'I'''
lion for the current year may remain unc1-
rcndod. But not the slightest harm would
have been done to anybody If, out OF the several
hundred million, lying in the Treasury there
had been appropriated enough 10 avoid all iiNk
Of suffering and humiliation Ia the pensioners
Of the Nation If tho whole had not been re-
m,irfd i, would have remained in the Treasury
subject to future demands, The point was that
Mr.. Holman and his party would not then nave
been able falsely to pretend that Democratic
economy had saved the country Sl3'O0OooO.
Yes: il is an interesting variety of patriot
ism. II is that which takes the side OF Great
Britain in every controversy between Great
Britain and the United States. and Of Italy IN
every controversy between Italy and the nitcd
states. and Of Chill when mob murders
American scamcn in the streets Of Valparaiso.
ALWAYS deeply in sympathy with foreigners
ALWAYS profoundly convinced that this coun-
fry muSt be i'm the wrong and that II ought to
ap,iocizc or get thraShcd these peculiar
ratriots are lovers of Chilli, of Italy. Of Canada
and of Great Britain 10y turns. bat have never
been detected in taking the side of their cohn-
try. Lord Salisbury, in their estimation. has
the best Of it all the time and so has any other
foreign minister or ruler who happens 10 be
con,csting a claim against this Nation. Truly,
it j., beautifully patriotic for these Democrats
10 save their sympathic> for "A foreign Power.
They profess TO be the only sincere and true
ratriotS in the country. But they are not the
kind that in some other countries obtain much
honor. or meet patient liberation.
A wear ago if any ill-conditioncd Republican
had asserted that "A Democratic House would
refuse essential help to the new Navy, and
would cut down pensions for widows and
orphans Of Mon soldiers, he would have been
scornfully rcbullcd as a Slandcrcr and pointed
to cx-Sccrctary Whitney, under whom the new
Navy grew splcndidly, and 10 Physical Wreck
Black. who was 50 much in favor of pensions
that he drew about the biggest hmsclf-in
addition 10 his salary. But now Mr.. Holman,
As chairman of the House Committee has cX
blamed his conviction that the people can i'm
proviSc in a few hours all the dcfcnccS they
may ever need, and Democratic House has
come near agreeing with him.