Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-11
The PanSiOn-List.

There is no tyranny more Odlous than
public sentiment which compels the law
makers of u country to vote for measures
which they know they ought TO oppose,
and against measures which they know
they ought to support 1t 10 very easy TO
say they ought to vote Alright and take the
consequences, but it is difficult to find the
men who are ready and willing to sacrifice
their prospects and their popularity upon
the altar Of duty. Every congressman, for
example, reasons with himself and his
friends that it would he useless and unwlse
and unnecessary for him to attempt to
stem alone the current of extravaganza,
seeing that be would be sure TO have TO
suffer for refusing to favor spending
$50, 100000 to S20O,000,0O0 annually TOR
the benefit of the soldiers who fought
in the war of the rebellion" as
Mr.. HARRISON and all other northern
Republicans are so fond of styling the
Confederate patriots. The Democrats IN
Congress are the victims of this sentimental
tyranny of which we write, The northern
Democrats are afraid that their consti-
tueuts will rate them as sympathlzers
with the southern people; and the south
ern Democrats vote the same way the
northern Democrats do in order to help,
aid. and assist these latter IN their con-
stantly-repeated efforts to protect the
southern people from tyrannical laws and
Federal interference with the rights OF the
States. When we remember how true TO
principle the northern States-rlghts Demo-
4.
selves to be, we cannot find Il in our hearts
| to censure them even for eXpendlng
$50 900. 900 or $500 900 in pensionIng
persons little entitled to be supported at
the public expense.
| President HARRISON in his last annual
message spoke admiringly or deceit
| fully Of the $4,000 veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic who some
| time ago marched down Pennsylvania
avenue in Washington. We felt like
asking him, What are $4,000 veto
rams" so called, to the grand army "
| borne upon the pension rolls ?-n namely,
| 800. 600 men claiming to have fought tor
their country and not for money, but who
nevertheless are constantly crying, Give
Give" to Congress. and constantly dis
| credtlng themselves as patriots and build
| ing up a reputation as money-grabbers!
The New York Sun says that this outgo
! from the Treasury must lie stopped or the
government will be bankrupt. 1t already
amounts to very nearly the total revenue
| derived from customs duties. Every
item of government expenditure is insig-
nihcant in comparison. The central
point in the nations finances, the chief
problem of ways and means, 10 to raise the
| stupendous sum now annually expended
on account of war that ended nearly
! thirty years ago" 1t would indeed be
surprise TO the grand army of pensioners
il the issue between the two parties at the
! next elections should be free sugar and
free breakfast table as against corrupt
pension list. How would the people vote
If called upon to abolish the tax Of $780,
Og0,00O collected annually at the CUSTOM
houses, and make up for its abolition by
also abolishing the pension-lIst so far as 1t
is based upon bogus patriotism and con-
taIns the names of so many thousand per-
sons not entitled 10 be borne upon it?