The Globe-republican., 1892-10-07
THE VETERANS.
6OMETHiNG OF WHAT THEY Z.
FINDING IN WASHINGTON.

4 Prs6re,sS1 c<>.try--T eaderfui "a
crease In Wealth and Comraerce-Th
Nations Tribute to Its Defenders-The
Contrast Two Presidential Records.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-This is a grea
week liz Washington. The old soldier
are here in full force. Never since the,
marched up Pennsylvania avenue at tn
close of the war has Washington seen s,
many Of the veterans who saved thu
country. And there is no less enthusiasm
for the flag and the country among tht
thousands who tread Pennsylvania ave
nue. today than there was a quarter of 6
century ago behind the battle stained
banners.
Changed Conditions.
But what change they find.
Instead Of treasury burdened with a
debt of So, $50 ,0OO, 900 they find tho treas.
ury now with interest bearing debt OF
less than $500, 600, 000
Instead Of an annual interest charge
Of $50, 000, 900, which the government
was compelled to pay at that time, they
find now treasury whose annual inter
est payment is in round numbers but
$50, 900.
Instead OF a government SO reduced as
to be compelled to pay more than z per
cent. Oh tne money WHICH it borrowed to
carry on its war for the preservation of
the nation they find one able to float its
bonds at par at 9 per cent. per annum
interest
Instead of debt of seventy eight dol.
Lars for each individual in the United
States they find an Indebtedness Of thir-
teen dollars fer each individual, and in
stssd Of per capita interest rate Of
90 they now find an interest rate of
fhirty-fve cents per capita.
Reduced Taxes; Inoseassd Commerce
All his they find interesting.
They dnd instead of . country con-
PEELED to raise $519,0OO,O00 by tax
alton in . year one which now taxes its
people less than $500, 100000 . year,
although her population hes nearly
doubled meantime and the expenses Of
government naturally increased.
They find a country with forsign com
merce of nearly $4,000, OOO, 900 agains. a
total of less than $500, GOO, 900 in 1865.
They find instead of balance Of trade
against the United States of $15, OOO, 900,
as was the case in 1865, that the balance
6 trade in our favsr now il moro than
$1O0, 100000.
They find instead Of domestic exports
amounting to $l36, 0O0, 600 then that our
exports during the past year were more
than . 81, OoO, 900. OO0
4 Aas,iaesst Pension System.
And ~ is ~ all.
Thsy Aad magnificent pension Office
M thSaands of clerks employed in
exauinlnG hA and paying the claims
for ps4oA Of the men who fought to
save tAe conAtxy.
Instead Of q pension roll of 81, 900 men
and WIDOWS which they found in 1865.
~ find to-day a pension roll of 750, 900
SoD0lers and soldiers widows.
Instead Of an annual payment of S.
1000 for pensions which they found in
Dos, they find the government paying
e180, 000, 00Oa year for pensions, and that
1t has paid to them and their fellow
soldiers or their families 81, ESQ, OOO. 900
in pensions since they marched up Penn
sylvanis avenue at the close of the war
. quarter Of century ago.
One Painful Thought.
One thing more they find, and it
brings sorrow and pain to every heart.
1t is that in the record of all this pros
perity, in the record of the nations gen.
crosby toward its defenders and their
families, the one man who has lifted his
hand against the soldier in the quarter
Of century which has passed since they
were last here did SO from the presidents
chair in the White House, and did SO
as the only representative of the Demo-
cratic party who has filled that exalted
station since the war.
1t is q painful thought to these old
soldiers as they gather here that the only
representative which the Democratic
party have had in the White House since
the country was reunited quarter Of a
century ago should have been the only
man to raise his hand against them, and
to strike down with the official power
placed temporarily in his hands the evil
dences of affection which the congress of
grateful nation had voted them.
That the one Democratic president who
has occupied the White House since thev
marched up Pennsylvania avenue twen-
ty-fve years ago should have welded
the veto power against them hundreds
OF times in a short four years term and
deprived 10000 soldiers homes and
families of the pittance which the con-
gress of grateful nation had freely
voted them throws shadow, even at
that long distance. over this gathering
Of comrades
Silver Lining to the Cloud.
But there is a silver lining to this
cloud
The man who occupies the White
House today they look upon as friend
and comrade. And they have reason
so to do. His words and acts have ali
been of kindness and affection. He ex
tends to them the cordiality of a com